Hotel Jordan Valley Marriott Resort & Spa

The Jordan Valley Mariott is near the Kempinsky and Movenpick hotels on the shores of the Dead Sea. Aqaba is a 2 hour car journey away and the Jordan Valley, Mount Nebo and Bethany are about 30 minutes away by car.

The Jordan Valley Marriott Resort & Spa, which opened in 2002, offers its guests the opportunity to make the most of the Dead Sea's beneficial properties. Whether you choose to bathe in the salty waters of the sea or head for treatments and massages in the spa, the benefits of the Dead Sea will leave you with baby soft skin. The spa has a Mediterranean ambience and contains a sea-water swimming pool. The hotel has three swimming pools, each with a specific purpose. The first has water massage jets and a jacuzzi, with the pleasant tinkle of decorative waterfalls in the background. The second pool is smaller and ideal for families (there is a children's pool just next to it and a jacuzzi for adults). The third pool is an infinity pool reserved for bathers over 18 years of age. Cocktails are served at the nearby bar, and can be enjoyed on big white sofas as you take in the view over the Dead Sea.

The 251 rooms are all decorated in the same way, the only difference being the size of the beds (small, large, double, twin, etc.). The decor is satisfactory, but could be improved and brought more up to date. The green fitted carpet with pink patterns darkens the room and makes it seem smaller. The paintings on the walls and the bed covers bring an Oriental feel to the room, while the colonnade lamps are more akin to the Roman style. The furniture is made of dark wood and there is a thick duvet and soft pillows on the bed to help you have sweet dreams. On the practical side of things, there is a huge cupboard for you to store your luggage and all the rooms have a television, a telephone, a minibar, internet (payable), a safe, air-conditioning, and tea and coffee-making facilities. ALL the rooms also have a balcony with a table and chairs overlooking the Dead Sea. As for the bathrooms, they are decorated in beige and brown tones and have a bathtub but no shower. Hospitality products are provided, along with a hair-dryer and dressing gown.

The main restaurant, Mosaïco, serves breakfast as a buffet, while lunch and dinner can be chosen from the buffet or 'a la carte'. There is a different theme at every evening meal. There is an Arabic theme on Saturday, Monday and Tuesday, while Sunday is Italian, Thursday Asian, Wednesday Mediterranean and Friday international. The large room is decorated in a modern Oriental style, and extends out onto a terrace with a view over the swimming pool and the sea in the distance. In the evening, you can also go for a steak at Jo's Steakhouse, which serves cuts of Australian meat in a cosy, intimate setting. The wood-clad Champions Sports Bar & Restaurant has an altogether different atmosphere, with televisions showing football matches, basketball, baseball and so on. It serves up American-style food (hamburgers, fries, etc.) and a DJ mixes it up on the weekend, transforming the restaurant into a dance floor. An Italian restaurant, Il Terrazzo, serves typical Italian dishes at lunchtime (pizzas, pasta, antipasti, etc.) in a 'dolce vita' setting (red stone, wooden furniture, etc.). As its name suggests, this restaurant has an outdoor terrace so you can enjoy your meal with a view of the Dead Sea. Barbecue fans can head for the Cascades restaurant of an evening from the 1st of April to the 30th of June, when fish and steaks are grilled and served up with a sauce of your choice. If you are just a bit peckish, sandwiches and various snacks are prepared at the Acacia Bar & Lounge. Ice cream, coffee, cappuccino, tea and other drinks can also be ordered there. The best place to relax by the sea is the Oasis Pool Bar, where you can also smoke a hookah pipe on the terrace and enjoy live music in the evening.

The hotel beach is quite long and wide, but the sand is neither white nor fine. Straw parasols and loungers are set out, perfect for a long siesta by the water. The beach is screened off from the hotel by greenery.