InterContinental Resort Aqaba is one of the biggest resorts in the city, with 255 rooms set around gardens and pools on King Hussain Street, in the city centre and right on the water. It has a private beach with towels and umbrellas, three outdoor pools plus a children’s pool, a full-service spa with four treatment rooms, and a choice of dining that includes The Corniche, a deli cafe and a Lebanese restaurant, along with a beach bar, a poolside bar and a coffee shop. A nine-hole golf course sits next door, with tee times arranged in advance. For travellers who want the pools, sand and restaurants in one place after a hot day of sightseeing, it is the most complete resort setting in town.
Location and getting around
The hotel is in the centre of Aqaba, so it is far better placed for walking than the newer developments further out. Early Islamic Ayla, the archaeological site that marks the old port, is about an eight-minute walk, Palm Beach and the Saraya waterpark are roughly fifteen minutes on foot, and the mosque is a little further. King Hussein International Airport is around seventeen minutes by car, and the hotel can arrange a transfer on request for a fee.
For Wadi Rum and Petra you will want a driver or tour pickup, which the front desk or an independent operator can arrange. Reef areas and beach clubs lie south of town, so a taxi is the easy way to reach them on a diving or snorkelling day.
Rooms and who it suits
The room range runs from standard rooms with mountain or city views to classic rooms with balconies and pool access, premium rooms with sea views and, in some cases, club lounge access, and a ladder of suites that finishes with a Royal Suite and a Presidential Suite. If the water matters to you, ask for a sea-view or pool-access room when you book, since views differ by category.
It suits families, who get a children’s pool and a private beach, and couples who want a resort stay with a spa and a choice of restaurants. Children up to five can stay free using existing beds, and cribs are available on request, so confirm the details for your party when you book.
Good to know
Self parking and valet parking are both free, which helps if you have hired a car for the desert. A buffet breakfast is served in the morning for a fee, though some rates include it, so compare room types before you pay. Check-in starts mid-afternoon and check-out is before midday, with early arrival and late departure possible for a fee when space allows. Guests must be at least eighteen to check in, the health club and hot tub are restricted by age, and pets are not accepted.
Beach cabanas carry a surcharge. Aqaba is hot for much of the year, so winter and spring are the most comfortable times for sightseeing, while summer is best planned around the pools and the sea. Check when you book whether any renovation work is affecting rooms or restaurants during your dates, and book early for holiday weekends, when regional visitors fill the resort.
Why stay here
- ✓Private beach with towels and umbrellas
- ✓Three outdoor pools and a children’s pool
- ✓Full-service spa with four treatment rooms
- ✓Four restaurants plus a coffee shop
- ✓Beach bar and poolside bar
- ✓Nine-hole golf course next door
- ✓Free self parking and valet parking
- ✓Free in-room WiFi
Good questions
How far is the hotel from the airport?+
King Hussein International Airport is about a seventeen-minute drive. The hotel can arrange a transfer on request for a fee.
Does the hotel have its own beach?+
Yes, it is on a private beach with towels and umbrellas provided. Beach cabanas carry a surcharge, so check the cost when you book.
Is breakfast included?+
A buffet breakfast is served each morning for a fee, and some rates include it. Compare room types when you book.
