Table of Contents
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Introduction and Booking
Nestled along the northeastern tip of the Red Sea is Aqaba, Jordan’s sole coastal gem. It’s renowned for its pristine beaches, vibrant coral reefs and water sports. After our trip to Wadi Rum, it was the ideal next stop for some sun and relaxation.
You’ll find many luxurious resorts here from Movenpick to Kempinski. I booked the Al Manara, A Luxury Collection Hotel, Saraya Aqaba to leverage my Marriott Bonvoy status. This five star resort opened its doors in 2018.
Al Manara has 207 guest rooms, which includes 43 suites and 2 villas. Both the Prestige Villa and the Penthouse Villa come with a private pool and beach access. Guest rooms and suites have a terrace or a balcony, with some offering a view of the Red Sea and the surrounding mountain ranges.
I booked a two-night stay. I paid 200 JOD ($400) for the first night and redeemed my 40K Free Night Award certificate for the second night.
Al Manara Aqaba – Exterior
Arrival and Check-in
Entering the expansive lobby, we admired the elegance of the Islamic-styled arches and white marble floors. They were contrasted by the rich wooden furnishings and oriental red rugs throughout the lobby area. Walls were adorned with paintings of Bedouins and lantern styled lighting hung from the ceiling. For the final Arabesque touch, and what brought a smile to my face, were the traditional Palestinian embroidered accent cushions.
In the lobby area, facing the reception, is the Aqwas Lobby Bar. If you want a drink or a bite at Aqwas, you have the choice of sitting in the lounge area in the lobby or their outdoor seating. The outdoor area led to the pool and private beach.
The check-in process was seamless. The front desk associate provided us with an orientation on the resort’s amenities. He also acknowledged my Bonvoy Platinum status and proactively upgraded us to one of the suites.
Al Manara Aqaba – Lobby
Bedouin Art
Al Manara – Bedouin Art
Al Manara – Lobby art
Al Manara Aqaba – Reception
Superior King Suite and Premium King Suite
We were appointed Superior Suite 1442. This was one level above the Junior “Classic” Suite. Stepping into the suite, to the right were French doors that unveiled a bathroom that had all the amenities including a rainforest shower and marble bathtub. Bath products were by Jordanian brand, Trinitae, the same ones featured at the W Amman.
Across from the bathroom was the minibar area. Further into the suite was the living room, which continued with the traditional Arabian theme found throughout the property. We loved how spacious it was and that it extended to reveal a balcony with amazing sea views. Across the living room and separated by sliding doors was the bedroom.
Al Manara Aqaba – Bathroom vanity sink
Rainforest shower
Bathroom
Al Manara Aqaba – Bath products
Superior Suite – Entrance
Superior Suite – Living Room
Living Room
Al Manara Aqaba – Welcome Amenity
Superior Suite – Balcony with a view
Al Manara Aqaba – Sea view
Al Manara Aqaba – Mountain ranges
The generously sized bedroom included a comfortable king-size bed with Frette luxury bedding. To the side of the bed was a corridor that led to another bathroom. This corridor had large closets, full-sized mirrors, and a vanity with another mirror.
Overall, we found that the suite was comfortable and had everything we needed and more. But there was one major hiccup. The first time one of us showered, the water didn’t drain properly and flowed all over the bathroom floor. Fortunately, they sent us a technician to address the issue and we thought that was that.
Yet, when I went to shower after a day out in the heat and humidity, the same issue reared its head again. This time, the front desk offered to move us to another suite. Reluctantly, we accepted, given the hassle of packing and unpacking our belongings.
The room they moved us to was the Premium Suite. It was very similar to the Superior Suite but with a larger living room and balcony. Thankfully, everything was in order and we didn’t run into any other issues for the remainder of our stay.
Superior Suite – Bedroom
Superior Suite – Bedroom closet
Superior Suite – Closet
Superior Suite – Vanity and mirror
Premium Suite – Living room
Premium Suite – Living room
Premium Suite – Living area
Premium Suite – King Bedroom
Breakfast
The resort’s flagship restaurant, Taybeh Al Manara is where breakfast is served. “Taybeh” means delicious in Arabic. While I can’t speak for the lunch or dinner they offer, I found the breakfast to be very ordinary.
Waiters come around to take your drink order, and for food, you help yourself to the buffet. They did have a large spread of Levantine and Western dishes, but I found the quality wasn’t quite as good as the one I experienced at the W Amman. This is especially so for the baked goods.
Taybeh Al Manara
Taybeh Al Manara – Buffet spread
Buffet
Facilities
There are multiple places to eat and drink at this resort. Besides Taybeh Al Manara, there is Kubba Levantin. It’s a Middle Eastern restaurant that’s only open for dinner on the weekends.
If you’re looking for something more casual and with a varied menu, Amwaj serves multiple cuisines. It’s open daily for dinner and is a great place for sunset views. For drinks or if you want a late dinner, you can try Aqwas Lobby Bar, which is open until midnight. We only had dessert there, and it was okay.
If you’re interested in trying out a restaurant outside of this resort, I recommend checking out Ayla. This is an upscale area where you’ll find restaurants, cafes and shops. We had dinner at one of the restaurants there. Making a stop for a refreshing mint lemonade smoothie is also a must!
For activities, Al Manara has an outdoor pool as well as a private beach. You can sign up for different aquatic activities. If you fancy snorkelling and scuba diving, then you’ll want to make the trip to the Aqaba Marine Reserve, which is south of the city centre. It’s considered to be a protected area with a rich diversity of 500 fish species and corals.
This resort offers a fitness centre that has all the essential cardio and weight equipment to satisfy fitness enthusiasts. When it comes to rejuvenation, you can indulge in a spa treatment at their Heavenly Spa. Interestingly, this spa will be shared with the new Westin next door that was still under construction at the time of my stay.
Image Credit – Al Manara Kubba Levantin
Aqwas Lobby Bar – Cheesecake
Aqaba – Ayla
Aqaba – Ayla restaurants
Mint lemonade smoothie
Image Credit – Al Manara outdoor pool
Al Manara Beach
Al Manara Aqaba – Gym
Take Away
Al Manara Saraya Aqaba stands as a beacon of luxury along the shores of the Red Sea. If your travels bring you to the ancient port city of Aqaba, this resort is worthy of your consideration. You will especially enjoy it if you have Marriott Bonvoy status, as elites are treated quite well.
We thoroughly enjoyed the spacious suite they provided us. The service was friendly, and the staff showcased their warm hospitality. However, the one shortfall is that the pricing of dining options needs to be more competitive. Yet, if you’re looking for an upscale retreat with captivating views of the Red Sea, then look no further.
