Picture the scene: you’ve been up since the crack of dawn to make it into Petra before the bus loads of tourists arrive. You’ve walked miles, scaled rocks, and climbed endless steps to the hilltop monastery, and your feet can barely carry you any further. This is the moment you realise how sensible you were to book the Mövenpick hotel in Petra.
Mövenpick Petra is about as close to the entrance of Petra as you can get – literal steps away, its illuminated sign glistening like a beacon to welcome you back after a long day of sightseeing. And the experience once you do get back inside might make it difficult to leave again.
Petra is one of the seven wonders of the modern world, and to visit is to be transported to the times of its re-discovery (“re-discovery” as the Bedouin communities living there were perfectly aware of its existence!). This essence of old romance and adventure permeates through the carved stone walls of the hotel’s lobby bar, and through the accents of colonial design mixed with Arab traditions.
The element of tradition also translates to the good old fashioned hospitality provided by the hotel’s team, from the suited doorman to the assistant offering to-go cups of cardamom coffee as you set off for Petra.
No sooner have we arrived in our room and there is a knock at the door to gift us a platter of handmade chocolates and a hand-written welcome note. The attention to detail is commendable.
We’re staying in the hotel’s best room: the Junior Suite King. It’s a spacious suite with sitting area, plenty of storage space, a large bathroom, and balcony the full length of the room, offering views over the pool area and to the valley beyond. The Junior Suite King is situated on a corner with curtains that can be drawn back to reveal wall-to-wall windows on two sides, letting in plenty of natural light.
The suite is also situated on the top floor but a well-stocked tea station (and the Mövenpick signature complimentary soft drink bar) limits having to make the journey downstairs too often.
Depending on just how many miles of Petra you covered, the idea of walking up the hill to the town centre might seem too ambitious. No need to venture anywhere, with plenty of facilities and eating options on site.
We visited the Al Maqa’ad bar each evening for the hotel’s happy hour where Jordanian alcoholic drinks (and Amstel) are available half price against a backdrop of wooden panelling and the most impressive carved bronze ceiling. A live musician entertains us with soulful covers of classic piano hits. Everything about the ambiance is timeless.
There are two more formal restaurants for dinner, as well as a couple of tearooms and a café. In summer, the Al Ghadeer roof terrace is the perfect spot to catch sunset over the surrounding hills.
And not forgetting our favourite perk from the Mövenpick brand: the famous chocolate hour, offering guests unlimited access to a Swiss chocolate fountain for one whole hour per day.
After our Petra adventure we wanted nothing more than to soak our weary muscles. Fortunately, the hotel’s Zara Spa is on hand – a haven of marble and warmth, offering specialist Jordanian treatments such as a Dead Sea salt scrub and Nabatean massage. The outdoor pool must be an oasis in the blistering heat of summer (a little less inviting in January when we visited), and there’s also a fully equipped gym… but surely you’ll have done enough exercise?
Speaking of exercise, you’ll need a hearty breakfast to give you the energy for a long day of hiking. Rest assured, you won’t go hungry with the Mövenpick breakfast; From the healthy section full of fresh fruit, smoothies and granola pots to the pastry table, with literal metres of cakes and croissants. Our personal favourite was the traditional Jordanian table where guests can fill up on hummus, flatbread, tahini, flavoured labneh, and fuul (bean stew).
The convenience element alone is enough to justify booking Mövenpick Petra – trust us, you’ll be grateful. But we were very pleasantly surprised by the whole experience in its own right. This is our second stay at a Mövenpick hotel and, once again, they’ve managed to capture the essence of an independent hotel through small extras and personalised service.
It doesn’t take much cost or resource to offer guests a cup of coffee as they leave the hotel, nor to provide a minibar free of charge. But the impact this has on the guest – in an industry where many five star hotels don’t offer so much as a bottle of water free of charge – is significant.
There was something quite magical about staying in this hotel that has been difficult to put into words. Perhaps it’s the proximity to mysterious Petra just beyond that creates the sense of bygone times. Perhaps it’s the traditional Arabic hospitality or design features that wouldn’t feel out of place in a historical qasr. Whatever it is, we wouldn’t hesitate to return.
We stayed
In the Junior Suite King, priced at around 350 JOD per night including unlimited buffet breakfast (price for low season)
For best rates, book directly through the Mövenpick website.
This was a press stay – all opinions are our own.
Discover more from
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
thewanderluxe.co.uk 