Sun and Fun in Aqaba
Days at the beach.
In Aqaba, Jordan meets the Red Sea. Here you can enjoy pleasant swimming and snorkeling from April to October. We were here in March and went swimming every day. There are a few hotels with good sea access that are also child-friendly. We were recommended the Mövenpick right in the town or the Mövenpick further out in Tala Bay. We chose the Mövenpick Aqaba Hotel and Residences because we wanted to explore the town a bit. For our last few days in Aqaba, we chose the Hyatt Regency Aqaba Ayla Resort. A very nice 5* hotel with a kids club, artificial beach and right next to the new promenade in the modern Ayla district. If you are looking for something authentic, the Mövenpick in Aqaba itself is definitely the place for you.
3 days in Aqaba with the family
Day 1 - Arrival and exploratory walk
From our hotel in the center of Aqaba we were able to go straight into the Red Sea to cool off. Anyone looking for a pure beach holiday might be a little disappointed. Beautiful white sandy beaches that slope down into the turquoise sea are difficult to find. However, the beach at the Mövenpick Hotel was very nice and child-friendly. The public beach was very busy and dozens of glass-bottomed boats were waiting for guests. When visibility is good, the reefs right by the beach offer a good view of the underwater world. A hit especially for children who don't snorkel yet. A wald along the promenade to the big flag, the Aqaba Fort and the cruise terminal was worth the while. In the center we ended our first day with a delicious Jordanian dinner.
​
Day 2 - Tala Bay and Berenice Beach
Better snorkeling opportunities can be found further south towards the border with Saudi Arabia. The Berenice Beach Club is an ideal starting point. We also spent a day at the Mövenpick Tala Bay Resort on recommendation. We didn't pay an entrance fee, but had a leisurely lunch there and used the varied pool area. If you like diving and can leave your children in the kids' club, you will find various good diving spots on the coast.
Depending on the kids' energy levels, you could also go on a glass-bottom boat trip or visit an after-market.
​
Day 3 - New Ayla and Saraya Waterpark
We had a wonderful day at Saraya Waterpark in March. If I remember correctly, there were almost more security staff than visitors. So the kids' safety is taken care of. In March it can sometimes be quite cold. We were lucky and it was almost 28 degrees Celsius. The only thing was that the water was a little cold for the little ones.
In the afternoon, it is worth visiting the artificial world around Ayla. For us, it is a contrast to the center. There are artificial beaches (such as the Hyatt beach), a beautifully designed promenade with bars and a neatly decorated marina. We had a great stay here at the Hyatt, which has a very nice complex with a pool, kids club, playground and water playground. Ayla also has a great ropes course (Rise Adventure Park), which also has a long slide. In the evening, delicious restaurants beckon and, depending on the evening, the day can be rounded off with a stroll through the craft market.
Aqaba
Aqaba is a port city, a tourist base and a free trade zone. We chose Aqaba as a base because we could fly directly there, there is a varied program for the kids and it is an ideal base for trips in the south of Jordan. For example, for trips to the Wadi Rum desert or to Petra.
Aqaba itself is relatively small and manageable. From our hotel, the Mövenpick in Aqaba, we were just a few steps from the waterfront promenade and in another world. Here we met a lot of locals. A completely different feeling than in Egypt, for example. In general, we felt safe from the start and were not harassed, as in other holiday destinations on the Red Sea. The sights in Aqaba are quickly explored, such as the huge flagpole on the waterfront or the few remains of the ancient Islamic settlement (Ayla).