Intercontinental Aqaba at the Red Sea

This photo above gives you the best look at where the Intercontinental Aqaba at the Red Sea in Jordan sits, right on the bright blue waters of the Red Sea and nestled in between two hotels under construction and the Kempinski Red Sea.

Aqaba & the Red Sea is where Jordanians go to vacation, akin to the beach towns of Florida or California-the royal family has a home here and as beautiful Queen Rania says, "If you want to cool down, you can take a dip in the Red Sea, diving coral reefs and old wrecks." I liked visiting the Red Sea, though it's definitely a place where you come to kick back and get your tan on.  There's not a great downtown or restaurant scene, so your hotel choice is very important.  The Intercontinental has beautiful public spaces, a fun pool area, nice if slightly chaotic restaurants and you can easily access the water.  I took a boat tour and dove in to swim-very salty but if you come here, you have to leave saying you swam in the Red Sea!

The rooms are nice though not unique, and I'd recommend booking one with a full water view. My room had a partial water view and seeing the massive, empty hotel being constructed next door was a little odd.  I definitely didn't lounge on the balcony to catch the warm nighttime breeze with that eery view!

Lobby

Lovely flowers in the lobby

My room

View of construction from my balcony

Great View of Eilat, Israel

Love seeing the Jordanian Flag

Exterior

National Geographic Intelligent Travel: One Perfect Day in Amman

Click here for my third and last dispatch on Jordan for National Geographic's Intelligent Travel, "One Perfect Day in Amman." From the Four Seasons Hotel Amman to the Jordan River Foundation and the Royal Automobile Museum, I really did have a perfect day in Amman. 

"I couldn’t stop staring at the skyline of Amman, the capital city of Jordan, from my hotel room. It seemed ancient and utterly modern at the same time, an organized chaos with thousands of white limestone buildings, busy traffic circles, and small pockets of green trees.

Amman thrived at the crossroads of ancient civilizations for thousands of years and is now educating a worldly Jordanian citizen, some with Palestinian roots from their families that fled to Jordan as refugees after the 1948 and 1967 wars. Buildings touting logos like Microsoft, Deloitte, Apple, and Starbucks blend with run-down shacks in the souks and wafting smells of spices and falafel. A perfect day in Amman showcases the juxtaposition of old and new.

Breakfast at Four Seasons Hotel Amman

 The Four Seasons Hotel Amman is a stylish oasis, a central meeting point for business and leisure travelers alike. The international East-meets-West breakfast buffet serves pancakes, eggs, fruit, bagels, and American coffee alongside local delicacies like foul(simmered beans and spices), labaneh (soft cheese made with yogurt), black olives, falafel, halloumi cheese, Arabic bread, and Turkish coffee."

Read more here on National Geographic's site 

National Geographic Intelligent Travel: Coffee With the Bedouins

My second post on Jordan is up on National Geographic-go check it out here! This was one of the best nights of the trip: staying at Feynan Ecolodge & talking for hours with someone with a lifestyle so completely different from mine and yet we found common ground. 

"Sitting beneath a starry sky in the Dana Biosphere Reserve in Jordan, 65-year-old Bedouin tent dweller Muhammed Amareen looked at me with a twinkle in his eye and said, “If you’re 28 and not married, you’ve lost it!” It wasn’t the first time that my stomach hurt from laughing during a three-hour conversation about life, work, love, and marriage with the kind, smart Bedouin clan leader. (Bedouins, by the way, typically get married at 25 or 26 so 28 is not so over the hill!)

How did I get to be sitting in a Bedouin tent in the middle of the Jordanian desert? I was with a group of hotel guests from Feynan Ecolodge, a vital support line to the area’s three main Bedouin clans of around 400 people including 45 children who attend the local school. One of the hotel’s employees, Khalid, invited us to his father’s tent, a ten-minute walk from the 26-room lodge, for an after-dinner coffee.

As I sat on pillows overlaid with colorful homemade rugs in Muhammed’s tent, I felt blissfully far away from my chaotic life in New York City and lucky to get a glimpse into a way of life that may cease to exist in the coming decades. Most Jordanians can trace their roots to Bedouin origins, those traditionally known as “desert dwellers,” who have learned how to survive and thrive in the harsh desert climate. But the modern world continues to threaten their way of life."

Read the rest here 

National Geographic Intelligent Travel: Cultural Treasures of Jordan

My first post is up on National Geographic's Intelligent Travel, about the incredible cultural treasures of Jordan.  Many travelers pop into Jordan only to see Petra and it is a huge mistake.  The country deserves at least a week of exploration.  Click here to read the post on National Geographic. 

The Otherworldly Desert of Wadi Rum"Jordan still flies under the radar of many travelers today, conjuring a sense of isolation and wonder. Once uncovered, the country is easy to fall in love with, as I did during a recent ten-day visit. I was captivated by the landscapes and the friendly Jordanian people, from the Bedouins in tents to the young professionals in Amman (60 percent of Jordan’s population is under the age of 30, which provides a striking contrast between modern lifestyles and deep-rooted traditions.)

My favorite discoveries went far beyond Petra, the bucket list destination and ancient Nabataean city featured in Hollywood films such as Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. Here are four treasures I found on my trip..."

Read more here 

Jordan Hotels: Feynan Ecolodge

Feynan Reception LodgeFeynan Ecolodge was one of my favorite places to stay in Jordan.  I wanted to give a quick overview here before my piece goes up on NatGeo.  It's in the middle of the Dana Biosphere Reserve in Jordan...in other words, the typical middle of nowhere. 

Madaba Church, Home to the Oldest Map of the Holy LandWhen we left Evason Ma'In, we drove to the bustling town of Madaba. Madaba is home to the oldest map of the holy land, dating to the 6th century A.D.  Really, really old. The mosaic map covers much of the church and it's especially cool to see how they depicted Jerusalem. 

Oldest Map of the Holy Land

We had a great traditional lunch at Haret Jdoudna in the lovely courtyard, just around the corner from the church, before heading to Mount Nebo.  Whatever you believe in, standing at the summit of Mount Nebo is a spiritual experience.  This is where Moses stood and saw the Promised Land and where he died.  I always pictured the "Promised Land" as lush and gorgeous, but it is very...brown. Still, Mount Nebo is a must-see in Jordan. 

I'm on Mount Nebo!As we were driving out to Feynan and the landscape significantly changed, a friend on the trip remarked that it looked more like a moonscape.  It's the best way to describe it.  We were on the moon.

Feynan Truck and Local Drivers

We got to the reception center, which is a 30-minute drive from the lodge.  Locals own the trucks and keep the money from driving guests to and from Feynan. Feynan is passionately dedicated to being a sustainable ecolodge in every sense of the word, from using purely solar energy to being the sole support for an entire Bedouin community. 

Sunset Near Feynan EcolodgeCandlelit EntranceMy room, lit by candlesBathroom, lit by one solar-powered lightbulbIncredible Evening with Local Bedouin FamilyLooks very different in the sunshine! Notice some of the "moonscape" rocksFeynan Courtyard