This was my first ever luxury vacation. I love to budget travel but this time I needed a little more. There is nothing wrong with treating yourself every once in a while. Heck, if you can afford it, do it all the time.
I had a bit of a rough end to 2022 and start to 2023. I was not in the planning mood, nor was a wanting to drive. So I looked into some tours. What I didn’t want was to be stuck on a tour bus, so we decided a private tour. Now, was the affordability part. Could I find a less expensive company? Yes I did. To be honest I was shocked at the price and a little worried. Was this company legit?
What tour company did we use
After reaching out to 3 other companies I had found Jordan Direct Tours. The communication was amazing to say the least. I heard back from Asra within 24 hours. She sent a full itinerary plus a choice of extras if we wanted them. This is where I was so impressed with them. There were some changes that I requested and right away she sent it back with everything in check.
Now I will say there was a bit of a mix up during the vacation. The hotels had changed from what was originally discussed. As a person who has to have everything organized and know the plan, I was a little thrown off. If you have seen any of my blogs on anxiety you will I need to have control at all times. With this said, I had full trust in the company and our guide. This made this small error (which would have been huge) roll off my shoulders. Esra was very quick to apologize and I will say we lucked out. The hotels were stunning and the service was amazing.
Mowafak was a our guide during our 9 day luxury luxury vacation in Jordan and I couldn’t be more happy with his knowledge and his experience in this industry. He truly made us feel welcome and respected during our entire time there. He was the highlight of this journey through the stunning country of Jordan.
Where we stayed
We spent 3 nights in Amman at AlQasr Metropole Hotel. This hotel is located in the financial district of Amman and is a little ways from downtown. It was about a 15 minute drive to the market area. If you are looking for something closer you can always request it.
AlQasr Metropole Hotel was a little gem. The rooms were spacious and had amazing views from the balcony. The breakfast was so yummy with so much to choose from. I would suggest the omelet station and the fried cheese.
Next was Wadi Musa. We spent 3 nights here and will say this hotel was amazing. Again, we were a little ways from the town and from Petra but the views at sunset were worth it. Petra Canyon Hotel is newer and it shows. The rooms were very large with great views from the window. The food was incredible and the service was amazing. The hotel is built into the cliff which can be seen from the dining room.
Now we did have a couple people that were nothing like the rest but this did not spoil it for us. Ahmed, who is the chef, was such a gem. He was there greeting you at every meal to answer any questions. Abed, who was our server, was a delightful young man.
Next up was Wadi Rum. Now if you have never been here, put it on your bucket list and be sure to add Martian tent to it. We stayed at the Rum Oasis Luxury Camp with the top tent. I will say for here and most of our trip we were treated amazing, like VIP. Here they also serve buffet style but with a exciting twist. They also cook a portion of the meal in a traditional manner. Earth oven! This is where the food is cooked underground. It was amazing and a cute show.
Wadi Rum is the red desert that truly looks like Mars. Our tent was very large with stunning views over looking the camp and the desert. It was so refreshing to wake up, make a coffee and watch the sun rise and camels march their way through the red sand.
Lastly was the Dead Sea. Now Movenpick was the most luxurious of them all. Meaning it was super expensive to stay here. I will say this, it was a gorgeous hotel and the service was good. The entrance to the dead sea, which is really what you are there for, was really nice.
The hotel grounds are very large and great for walking around. There are a lot of pools and lounging areas so you are bound to find a nice area to relax. The food was amazing and there was so much you could choose from. I would suggest the buffet, but I love a good variety in my meals so I will always say that.
The rooms were adorable and had a really nice porch to enjoy your morning coffee on while hearing the beautiful morning doves.
All in all, the hotels were perfect! Again, I don’t have a lot to compare it to but I will say, each made you feel welcomed and respected.
What daily tours we took
This was another thing that sold me on Jordan Direct Tours. When you fill out your information request form they ask what you are looking for in a tour. Beach, history, scenery, hiking, etc. My goal, which like most visiting Jordan was the Dead Sea and Petra. There were a few stops that I would have never even thought of and was so happy they including them.
Day 1 when we arrived we got to our hotel and just relaxed while trying to get over our jet leg. When our driver dropped us off he asked what time we wanted to start, we told him whenever. Which again, this was way out of the ordinary for me as a control freak. So he suggested 8am and that’s what we did.
Check the video here of Amman
Day 2 we visited the Citadel which is Roman ruins perched up on a hill with amazing views of the valley. Next up was the Roman Theatre, both of them. There is actually a smaller one next to the large one. Then we walked downtown around the market area. Here our amazing guide Mowafak treated us with Falafels and Kunafa and let me tell you they were amazing. Then we ventured to the city of Salt to check out the Ottoman period.
Check out 2 days in Amman Blog
Day 3 we were up early, but not early enough. We visited Ajloun Castle and then made our way to Jerash. Now if you haven’t already check out that blog as you will see why I say we didn’t get up early enough. Both of the wonders were stunning and a must if you are visiting Jordan.
Check out the video on Aljoun here
Day 4 we made our way to Wadi Musa. On the way we made a few stops. First was Madaba for a quick visit to a church. Next up was Mount Nebo which was a spectacular place. Then we made our way to Shobak Castle which lies in heavy ruins but still amazing to see. We also made a little stop at the small hotel in the world and it was such a delight.
Check out the adventure video from here and Petra
Day 5 and 6 we finally we made it to Petra. This was one place I was really looking forward to visiting so we decided to do 2 full days here. Our first day we had a guide as part of our luxury vacation and he was truly a gem. His knowledge was incredible and was so great at taking pictures and even video.
Check out the video of Petra here.
I really enjoyed the pace we were able to keep knowing we had 2 full days here. There was no rushing and we still had enough energy to see Petra at Night. Now this was an extra that you could pick from. Although I wasn’t a big fan of the show I would suggest going to see it as it was still nice to see Petra during the night hours.
Day 7 was off to the red desert of Wadi Rum. We arrived around 2 and met with our guide Awwad, again another guided tour as part of our package. Awwad was a great tour guide as he drove us around in his Toyota pickup through the desert.
Check out our adventure in Wadi Rum
I’m sure all guides make note of how to use every kind of camera and know every place to grab that amazing picture and Awwad did not disappoint. This was by far my favorite tour during our whole time in Jordan. I fell in love with the desert, the Bedouin people and their tea.
We also did another extra while in Wadi Rum and that was the stargazing tour. Now, this was a fun and entertaining tour. However, if you are not afraid of heights like me, I would suggest doing the hot air balloon.
Day 8 we made the long journey to the Dead Sea. This is about a 6 hour drive with a few stops along the way. When we got to the hotel we made ourselves comfy and hit poolside. We saved our dip into the Dead Sea till the next day.
Check out how NOT to float in the Dead Sea
Day 9 was our time to float, or like me struggle to float, in the Dead Sea. This was the perfect way to end our vacation. We relaxed poolside most of the day, enjoyed a lunch and some drinks and just sat there thinking back on the past 9 days,
What is included
Included
- Hotel
- Entrance to sites
- Tours that are listed in itinerary
- Car and guide throughout your stay
- Breakfast and meals which are noted in itinerary
- Guided tour at sites stated in itinerary
- Visa and meet and greet at airport
Final thought
There is no denying I loved working and traveling with this company. They were so professional and well organized. We paid less than 1800.00 USD each for everything I have told you about. I never thought I would find this type of service for this price and was blown away.
Mowafak has over 25 years experience in the business and is an amazing representative not only for Jordan Direct Tours but for the country as a whole.
If you are sitting there thinking that you can’t do this I promise you can and you should. Jordan is a beautiful country with amazing and friendly people. Don’t wait on this trip, as you know, there may not be a Dead Sea for too much longer. Get up and go!