HOTEL: AMMAN MARRIOTT, AMMAN, JORDAN
THE HOTEL Set on the edge of central Amman between the bustling downtown and business districts, the Amman Marriott makes a convenient base for forays into its pleasantly buzzing streets and souks of the city, while also having easy access to the Queen Alia International Airport via the city’s wide highways.
THE CHECK-IN I arrived in a large group so we were invited to take a seat in the grand reception area where the hotel manager joined us and handed us room key cards individually. My suitcase arrived at my room before I did, and there was a sweet welcome gift of Dead Sea products waiting on my bed, as well as fresh fruit on the table.
THE ROOM A welcome message on my huge flat-screen television read ‘Welcome Mr Wood’ which made me chuckle. My room was bathed in light through wide windows overlooking the city, with heavy curtains and ambient lighting for the evening. The king-sized pillow-topped bed was deeply comfortable and the Egyptian cotton sheets and airy duvet helped me get a good night’s rest. The marble walk-in rain shower and generous amenities were ideal for the kind of regular refreshing washes necessitated by the hot dusty heat in this part of the world. In Jordan, Marriott hotels offer Dead
Sea mud products in its bathrooms, which are a really nice perk.
THE FACILITIES Five-star facilities include a lovely Arabian-style pool and terrace that’s an outdoor oasis of calm in the heart of the city, while the on-site Oasis Health Club is an indoor haven with a cool circular pool, saunas, steam rooms and fluffy robes. Guests looking for some peace and quiet or the finer things in life can head to the elegant Library Lounge and Cigar Bar for premium tobacco and artisan cocktails. I dined at the Italian Il Terrazzo restaurant that opens out onto the pool area with live cooking stations serving delicious Italian cuisine, including yummy gelato for dessert. There are ten meetings and event rooms, the largest of which has capacity for 400 people for receptions.
THE VERDICT This trusty Marriott offers a reliable and comfortable retreat that’s well located for all the key spots in this thriving, inviting city.
THE DETAILS Issam Al-ajlouni Street 11190, Amman, Jordan. Rates start at £87 per night.