Sofitel Petra Taybet Zaman, Petra

Advantages: stunning sites, wonderful walks, petra by night fantastic experience
Disadvantages: need to be pretty fit, hassle to buy things

...Stunning and magical, especially worth doing the walk in on the evening when the central area is lit up with hundreds of candle lanterns, and there is music and entertainment for visitors. During the day, climbing up to the top and looking down into Petra is also fantastic but not for the unfit! You also get quite a lot of hassle from local people trying to sell jewellery and stuff which can be trying after a while, but the actual place and all the sites more than make up for it. The walk in is quite long and hard going in places, and you will need to carry plenty of water with you. It photographs beautifully well, and the colours really are amazing.... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: The only positive thing is it's closeness to Petra itself
Disadvantages: Dirty, dusty,noisy.

...of the day. Meals were taken in a restaurant which was upstairs, with no lift access. We had to come down to reception and then climb this staircase. Not good, if you are disabled. The choice of food was minimal and not particularly well presented. We didn't try the bar ourselves, but some in our party did, and said that the beer worked out at around £9 a pint. The only thing going for this hotel is that it is within walking distance of the city of Petra and it stands on a main road where there are shops that you can purchase eats, drinks, etc. We were only there for 2 nights (thank goodness) and certainly wouldn't recommend it to anybody. Perhaps when they have finished the refurbishment ( Goodness knows when that will be. They work SO slowly) it might improve the place, but in my opinion there are plenty of other places to stay... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: a unique experience
Disadvantages: may be a hard journey for some

..."... match me such a marvel, save in Eastern clime A rose-red city, half as old as time." These are the words that Dean Burgen was inspired to write about one of the most mystical and magical locations of the ancient near east. The Jordanian site known to history as Petra, lies about 3-5 hours south of modern capital of Amman and about 2 hours north of Aqaba, the countries only port, on the edges of the mountainous desert of the Wadi Araba. There is a modern town of about 15 thousand inhabitants perched on the mountainsides and valley floor of the region and the landscape alone is breathtaking before you even consider the ancient grandeur that lies hidden within its keep. The surrounding mountains are of such scale and otherworldly design that the film "Mission to Mars" was actually filmed here to simulate the geography of the red... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful