The ancient city of Petra is located near Wadi Musa in southern Jordan and is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
There are not many options for redemption of your points for a hotel stay in this area. There are no hotels in the region of the ancient Nabatean capital that is more than 2,000 years old.
During a recent trip to the Middle East, my wife persuaded me to add Petra to our itinerary, since my previous visit to this ancient wonder happened on a solo trip before we married. We booked two nights at the Petra Marriott Hotel so that I could requalify for Marriott's Titanium Elite status and use points to reduce our out-of-pocket costs.
The high quality of the service and excellent meals we enjoyed at the hotel transformed what might otherwise have been a mundane stay at a tourist attraction into a truly unforgettable trip.
The rooms at this hotel haven't been refurbished in a decade. The hotel surprised us with other ways that compensated for mediocre guest rooms, like in-room sockets and furniture. The meals we enjoyed at the hotel's restaurant were included.
There was no chance of a room upgrade on arrival because the hotel was fully booked. Staff members at the hotel gave us extras, such as complimentary access to the sauna and free meals, in order to make up for not receiving a room upgrade.
Those who are loyal to Marriott will find this a great place to stay, as well as those who are visiting Petra. It's an excellent option for people who want to relax after a long day at work, because you can swim, eat and get pampered at the property.
Two small problems with staff communication, a surprise charge for drinks and attempts to convince us to pay for a ride in place of the free shuttle paled in comparison to our positive interactions with staff and enjoyment of the property.
The Petra Marriott Hotel doesn't get a lot of guests with high levels of Marriott Bonvoy status, and staff members made an extra effort to provide service they thought was appropriate. The communication hiccup would be further improved by a few small adjustments.
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It is possible to get to the hotel via shuttle from Amman or AMM, with many guests arriving on buses. It is easy to find a rental car at the Amman airport. We were able to take the scenic route along the Dead Sea for four hours to get to the hotel while taking the more direct path through the desert when we returned.
Ryan Smith is from The Points Guy.
The Petra Marriott Hotel is located on a hill overlooking Wadi Musa. The entrance to Petra and the path into the Siq can be seen from the deck behind the property. Most people don't want to walk to the Petra entrance since it's nearly 3 miles of uphill and downhill travel. There is a complimentary three-day drop-off at the hotel's ticket office each day.
Points and miles are the best ways to get to Jordan.
Ryan Smith is from The Points Guy.
Standard rooms at the hotel were priced at $500 per night because the hotel was full in November. Rates are as low as $187 per night during the summer months.
We were able to use free night awards from my Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card and Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card because we had 30,000 Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card and Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card.
There were only two double beds in this room, which was booked 10 days prior to arrival. If you reserve in advance, the rooms with two double beds are the same price as the rooms with one king size bed.
Ryan Smith is from The Points Guy.
As soon as we entered the front door, we felt warm and airy.
The staff members were very friendly. Our interactions with them were filled with authentic smiles and gut- busting laughs. They displayed a genuine sense of humor, such as joking with us at meals, and taking extra time to show us elements of their culture whenever the opportunity arose.
Ryan Smith is from The Points Guy.
There is a feeling of open space in the hotel. As soon as we entered the lobby, we felt this. The open archways on the second floor made the lobby feel larger than it really was. The hotel has a mix of Arab and Western design elements.
Ryan Smith is from The Points Guy.
There is a large area next to the lobby. Open archways overlook a small courtyard in the hallway leading to the guest rooms.
Ryan Smith is from The Points Guy.
Foreign tourists fill out the hotel at night because of the open-air spaces and staff personality. People of all ages are welcome at the hotel. The Petra Marriott Hotel is a good choice for tourists looking for a quality stay, but not willing to pay more for a hotel overlooking the entrance to Petra.
Ryan Smith is from The Points Guy.
There isn't anything inherently wrong with the guest rooms. The room we were in felt very standard, even though it was billed as a "deluxe guest room". Everything we needed for a two-night stay was provided by the standard room.
The large windows overlook the rear deck and the valley beyond the hotel.
The beds were comfortable and provided a good night's rest, but the pillows were the type where you lay your head on them and immediately sink to the bottom. The sheets were light and soft.
Ryan Smith is from The Points Guy.
There is a TV on top of a six drawer wooden drawer. There is a glass-topped wooden desk next to this that is more like a table than a desk and an ergonomics chair that doesn't have a seat. I sat in the chair because I wanted to check it out for myself.
Ryan Smith is from The Points Guy.
Since the other plugs in the room are not universal, the sockets above the desk were limited in how many plugs they could accept. Only one plug type is accepted by the single outlet between the beds. It was difficult to control the room lights because some of them didn't have any use.
Ryan Smith is from The Points Guy.
There is a closet on one wall and a panel of switches on the other wall in the entryway of the room. There are several shelves and a ironing board in the closet. There is a laundry bag and price list. The price is per item and the cost to wash a T-shirt is $3.
Ryan Smith is from The Points Guy.
Coffee and tea supplies can be found on the counter next to the fridge in the mini fridge area. Tea bags, sugar and instant coffee are included. It was nice to have the option of a mug or cup. New daily bottles of water were provided by the housekeeping to keep us hydrated.
Ryan Smith is from The Points Guy.
Everything is in the small bathroom that makes sense. When using the bathroom, my wife and I didn't trip over each other, that's a good sign for a large bathroom.
A small amount of counter space next to the sink was complemented by a shelf above the toilet where there is a hair dryer. The corner next to the door has a shower box next to it. It's easier to get in and out of the shower with the bathroom door closed than it is with the door open. The features of the bathroom were easy to understand.
There are pump bottles on the wall that have This Works products on them.
Ryan Smith is from The Points Guy.
We had two pairs of bath shoes. Our feet were grateful for something other than hiking boots when we moved about the room using these.
There are switches next to the bathroom that can be used to control the lights on the wall outside the room. There is a light in the entryway that could be improved on. There is no overhead light behind the door so we used the lights from the bathroom. We took off our boots when we came back from Petra. Adding an overhead light would make this area better.
Beer, wine, and mixed drinks as well as soft drinks and a full coffee bar can be found to the left of the living room area.
The Dushara restaurant is located on the same level as the outdoor deck and serves breakfast and dinner each day. We were told at check-in that we could eat for free at the Dushara restaurant if we wanted.
I don't like hotel dinner buffets very much. We were impressed by the range of offerings at both breakfast and dinner, as well as the fact that options weren't the same every day.
Ryan Smith is from The Points Guy.
At more luxurious hotels, Dushara's breakfast buffet is more popular. Along with standard fare, you'll also find an employee making pancakes while another whips up made-to-order omelets at the end of the buffet.
There were a lot of bakery items and fruits on the other side of the room. Zaatar is a bread dish that can be large or small and is covered in seasonings and spices. Staff members joked that they would need to order more supplies for Zaatar if my wife stayed at the hotel longer, and this is the type of interaction we enjoyed with staff, rather than simply asking if we enjoyed our meals and then clearing our dishes.
Ryan Smith is from The Points Guy.
Middle Eastern dishes such as pilaf, foul, meat carving station, potatoes, pastas, salads and many more were served at dinner.
Ryan Smith is from The Points Guy.
There were Middle Eastern and Western options in the dessert bar.
Many dishes will change if you dine at the Dushara restaurant for more than one day. While other salads and items on the hot bar changed from the first night to the second, fresh selections of hummus and olives remained.
We had a problem with the staff at dinner. The waiter told us that our meal was free. Your dinner is free to include the drinks. We got a surprise bill for my drink and my wife's lemonade because they meant it to be only food. It was an inexpensive misunderstanding and it would improve interactions with guests if they knew what is and isn't included.
Ryan Smith is from The Points Guy.
A boxed lunch from Dushara is available as well as room service. You can save money by ordering a lunch to take with you when you visit Petra. Each box could be enough for a couple of people. Fruits, chips, water, juice, and a cheese sandwich are included in the cheapest box. Fruits, a turkey and a beef sandwich, a piece of cake, water and juice are included in the most expensive option.
The Al Matal Bedouin Tent can be found from May to October. The hotel's website says it has traditional food and drinks in a Bedouin tent. This was not open during our visit.
Ryan Smith is from The Points Guy.
A path to a small walking trail can be found on the hotel's rear deck. The Dushara buffet restaurant and two floors down from the lobby are the same location as the deck. The views of the valley and sunsets were great.
The internet worked well in the hotel and you didn't have to rejoin the network when your phone turned off.
Two shops are located next to the lobby. One sells snacks while the other sells gifts and handicrafts.
Ryan Smith is from The Points Guy.
We used to be able to get cash at the ATM. There are still times when cash is needed and we were glad we didn't have to go to an ATM.
There is a gym and a spa at the hotel.
Ryan Smith is from The Points Guy.
The hotel allowed my wife and I to use the spa's steam room for an hour each day at no cost, which was a great way to relax after a long day at work. There are a lot of services at the spa.
Ryan Smith is from The Points Guy.
Upon arrival, we were given a welcome gift and room snacks. We had the option of 500 bonus points, a drink from the bar, or a selection of sodas and fruit in our room. After returning from Petra the next day, we kept the fruits and drinks in the mini fridge in the room.
Ryan Smith is from The Points Guy.
We inquired about the coffee items on display as we waited for the van to pick us up from Petra. My wife was invited to mash the coffee beans as we prepared coffee over hot coals after several staff members walked us through the process. When the van arrived to take us to Petra, an employee came with to-go cups.
The genuine warmth on display here was an example of how friendly employees are. If there was little time until the van left, they could have said a few words about the items. They shared a portion of their culture with us in a short amount of time.
The gateway to Petra can be found in the town of Wadi Musa, where there are many restaurants and cafes. You might stay in the area if you want to visit the ancient site. There is a free shuttle to the Petra entrance from the hotel. It allows you to avoid expensive taxis, navigate parking and other logistical issues.
Ryan Smith is from The Points Guy.
You can explore the desert on your own or on a guided tour. It's possible to sleep out in the desert with a variety of options ranging from rustic Bedouin camps to luxurious encampments with plush beds and round- the-clock service.
There are many reasons to visit the Wadi Rum desert in Jordan.
The King's Highway and Desert Highway can take you north to Amman, Jordan's bustling capital, or south to Aqaba on the Red Sea, where more cruise itineraries are visiting. Dozens of museums, UNESCO sites and historic curiosities throughout the country are included for free if you access Petra through the Jordan Pass instead of buying tickets only to Petra. The cost of your visitors visa is included in the Jordan Pass.
The hotel is large and being built on a hill. The floors are small and accessible via elevator.
Ryan Smith is from The Points Guy.
Since there are many steps needed to move between floors, the fact that there are elevators is positive. There are no stairs needed to get to the pool and outdoor patio behind the hotel. While it is possible to access the pool area, getting in and out of the pool would be difficult for those in a wheelchair.
It can be difficult for people who rely on these features to use the hotel's features. The hotel is due for some updates and should include them in the next refresh.
We felt relieved to have saved money through a points redemption near a major tourist site and thought the hotel was nothing special. We had a great time at our stay. The staff members apologized for their inability to upgrade our room at check-in and worked hard to make our stay better. They came through as authentic as possible. I would not hesitate to book here again if the chance arises, even though I don't have any plans to return to Petra at the moment.
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