Ein-Gev Holiday Resort, Jordan Valley

Advantages: Unique experience, luxury spa, real get-away-from-it-all
Disadvantages: Not cheap, long way away from anything else, could be boring?

...Introduction The Dead Sea is the lowest place on earth. The water surface of the Dead Sea is about 410m below sea level right now (it is dropping by about 1m per annum at the moment – more about that later). It is a unique place. Most of us can’t get to the highest place (the top of Everest) but we can get to the lowest – if you get the chance, do go. There are well established hotels and resorts on the Israeli side of the Dead Sea, but this is only newly being opened as a tourist location on the Jordanian side, with facilities really only being created in the decade or so. There are other hotels very near here (the Movenpick Dead Sea and the Dead Sea Spa being two others that are already reviewed on Ciao) but this review looks at the Marriott. By the way, both a Crown Plaza and a Holiday Inn are currently under construction, so... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Wonderful country, with fantastic scenery and history
Disadvantages: Dangerous at present time (Jan '06)

.... The buildings are all made from white or cream stone and are very closely located to one another, helping to generate a tight community. The city is one of the oldest "continuously" inhabited cities of the world, steeped in history. Due to the city's Roman heritage, at which time it was renamed from the ancient Ammon to Philadelphia (Just had to look this up again ... but, in Greek, means The Brotherhood Love) before later being renamed Amman after the Romans had departed, there are many heritage sites and ruins around the city, including Roman amphitheatres, also visible in others areas in the Kingdom of Jordan. ~~~~~~~~~ DEAD SEA ~~~~~~~~~ From the Mediterranean climate of Amman, the next place I visited was the Dead Sea located in the Jordan Valley, which - for me - was quite a spiritual experience, especially with Jerusalem no more than... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: friendly staff, on the beach, shuttle bus into city,
Disadvantages: 45 mins from city centre

...We visited the Holiday Inn Resort Damai Beach whist on a package tour of Borneo. We stayed for 4 nights in May 2006. The hotel is located about 45 mins from the city centre - they is a mini bus which we take you in to the city. (if you veggie try "Thank Food Vegetarian" it's a chinese restaurant in kuching and so far the best meal ive eaten in my life. everything is veggie lots of mock meat things ) The hotel complex is quite big but the staff were genuinely pleased to help you. The reception staff were particularly friendly. If you want to put your bills on the room you need to give them your card details when you check in. It was our honeymoon and we were upgraded to a room that was 100 metres from the beach - it was a huge room - very clean - in the welcome booklet it said you could use the hotels electric mozzie device... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful