Where To Stay in Aqaba
There’s a lot of construction at the moment to expand Aqaba’s Dubai-style offerings of apartments, resorts and man-made holiday communities. Ayla, the man-made lagoon complex 10-minutes from the city centre, is the clearest example of this, but there are big plans for more of this along South Beach as part of the literal masterplan of the ASEZA to develop Aqaba as an international holiday destination.
Given the desert conditions, where water is such a scarce resource, we aren’t sure how sustainable or desirable such a rate of expansion will be, or how much of a market there is for it.
Regardless, the location and style of your accommodation in Aqaba will really shape your overall experience. The city centre has some very tired hotels and some good new ones for all budgets, whilst the west side is were all the resorts and luxury hotels are situated.
If you’re arriving for a holiday or winter sun relaxation, rather than as part of a Jordan road trip, we recommend focussing on the resorts and hotels. One final piece of advice when looking on booking sites – don’t accidentally book somewhere across the border in Eliat, Israel!
The dive schools, some of which have really nice accommodation with nice pool + social areas whilst others are on the basic side, are a taxi ride away from the city but not situated on the beach. Unless you’re here to dive specifically, we think they’re really only a go-to option if you get a good deal or it’s a place you really like the look of, and you’re not too bothered about being in the city itself.
The aqaba City Hotels + Hostels
Baity Boutique Hotel | We stayed here, and it’s a good value option with a decent rooftop sunbathing and bar area (plus small pool). The receptionist also went above and beyond when we had a flat battery on the rental car. The location is however a little out of the way. Find out more here.
DoubleTree by Hilton Aqaba | Smack bang in the centre of Aqaba.
Hakaia Home and Haikaia Community | The very first hostel in Aqaba, Haika Home offers dorms, breakfast, and communal kitchen, whereas Hakaia Community is the newer companion, focussing a little more on creativity and co-working spaces.
Both are highly-rated and popular.
The aqaba Resorts
Cloud7 Ayla | In a sea of 5* hotels, the 4* Cloud7 Ayla stands out for its contemporary design. Additionally, the apartment-based nature of the resort may well suit some travellers better. Find out more here.
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