Before flying back to Abu Dhabi, we had a day to spend in the city of Aqaba, Jordan. There are many luxury properties in this city but we chose Double Tree by Hilton as we had to head to the airport early.
If staying longer, there are great hotels such as Intercontinental, Kempinski and Luxury Collections.
Double Tree By Hilton Aqaba Location
The hotel is located a few minutes from the Gulf of Aqaba. It is nearby and within walking vicinity of numerous local restaurants. But as the public transportation system is not convenient, I would recommend you rent a car to travel around.
The hotel is also only 14 minutes from the airport during non-peak hours so you do not have to rush to get to the airport at all.
Double Tree By Hilton Aqaba Check-In
We arrived at the hotel from Wadi Rum Reserve around noon and were welcomed for check-in. I booked the half-board rate which included dinner and breakfast for 89JOD (US$125) which was not that bad for two buffet meals and a room.
The check-in was swift and we were on our way to room 216 with welcome cookies in our hands. The staffs at the hotel were friendly and explained all the member and facility benefits one by one to us.
Double Tree By Hilton Aqaba King Bed Guestroom
The hotel has 173 rooms and suites with a contemporary style, an array of upscale amenities and warm Arabian hospitality.
The King Bed Guestroom featured a 322 sqft or 30sqm standard size with a city view. Although the hotel is turning 12 years this March, the rooms are kept modern. Of course, there are signs of aging on the wooden frames, but that’s nothing to be worried about.
As we enter the room, the short entryway is furnished with a sliding wardrobe, mini fridge and a bathroom on the left side.
Inside the closet, there are a safety box, iron materials and hangers equipped. No slippers are provided although if you request one, the housekeeper will bring it for you.
Beside the closet, a mini fridge and in-room amenities such as a water heater are placed.
And there is a King bed which was comfortable except the pillow was too small and high for us to use. You can separately request pillows if you have hard with unsuitable pillows.
A large flat-screen TV is installed opposite the bed onto the wall. I was surprised there were quite a lot of international channels.
On each side of the bed, there is a nightstand with an alarm clock and a telephone.
Beside the bed, there is a glass work table with another phone and wall sockets. Keep in mind that Jordan uses 230V plugs so you will need to bring or buy a universal adapter to charge your devices if you do not own the Type-G chargers.
And opposite the work desk, a small armchair is placed.
The hotel has guest rooms with a few different types and some rooms have bathtubs instead of shower stands. The bathroom was similar to most Double Tree hotel designs with Crabtree & Evelyn bath amenities.
Double Tree by Hilton’s Crabtree & Evelyn bath amenities are easy for the skin and I find them great to use.
Double Tree By Hilton Aqaba Gusto Restaurant
Breakfast and dinner are served at Gusto restaurant which is located on the second floor. The restaurant is spacious with a lot of tables and designed with a luxury theme.
The buffet area is dedicated on the right-hand side of the restaurant with a bright white-toned space.
The restaurant offers a combination of well-balanced seasonal, international specialties and local cuisines. While the buffet options were a little limited, their quality was fresh and impressive.
You can find soups, and salad corners on one side, mains on the adjoining corner and dessert on the opposite.
Summary
Though I did not have to visit other facilities due to our short stay at the Double Tree by Hilton Aqaba, the hotel had a great rate both on a cash and point basis. The rooftop bar is also a place to visit during the stay as it shows a panoramic view of the gulf and the surrounding city.
For a short stay, if you are traveling with a specific budget, I find this hotel a great place to stay in terms of pricing and service. We had a great stay before returning to the UAE the following morning.
