Maswada Plaza Hotel — Hotel in Aqaba

At the end of this review are some travellers’ tips.||||OVERVIEW: This hotel, with its wonderfully accommodating and very friendly staff, (we were all able to communicate in broken English) served me well for my 5-day visit to Jordan. I would have liked to have flown into Amman but the flights were very expensive, thus my EasyJet flight to Aqaba was reasonably priced and once having been to Amman, I much preferred staying in Aqaba with its warmer temperature and small beach.||Everyone in Aqaba says: Welcome to Jordan! They are really helpful and friendly people (except for one female working at the Jett bus station and the security baggage checkers at Jordan airport upon leaving) moreover, there are lots of police and tourist police to make you feel safe. ||This is not an upmarket hotel like the DoubleTree Hilton and Movenpick hotels down the road.||||LOCATION is great: The hotel is well situated within a 15-minute walk to the beach, on the main drag and a 15-minute walk to the Jett bus station for trips.||It is on one of the main roads going in and out of Aqaba therefore, I moved from a balcony room which faced the palm tree, water-filled roundabout with noisy traffic and taxis beeping horns to a room facing a back street (which was also noisy but much less). Neither room smelled of residue smoke which I can't abide. There is a Mosque directly opposite the hotel where you will hear the calls to prayer, including 5 am. ||I took a taxi from the airport for 10JD and it was approximately a 15-minute drive. It's usually between 10-12JD. There is no meter, just agree on the price as they tend not to rip you off which is a nice change from other countries.||As I was out early every day on excursions I didn't spend any time in the hotel other than to sleep and have breakfast but upon arrival at the hotel after my excursions, the staff offered me a beverage in the foyer because they said it was my home which I found endearing and very much appreciated. ||Breakfast has basic choices but is a late start at 7.30 am but finishes at 10.30 am although, I wouldn't rely on a wake-up call so bring your alarm clock. The MacDonald’s down the road does breakfast from 6 am if you are out early.||There are plenty of mini-markets but I preferred the one a few doors up as you turn right out of the hotel because it was larger instead of the smaller ones heading towards the beach.||||ROOM: Basic, non-fancy but comfortable and functional. There is a lift to all floors. Like an apartment-style room with beds, desk, chair and table, sheets and towels are not changed and toilet paper not replaced but if you need anything extra you can ask for it at reception. I found my room clean and basic. Beds weren't top mattresses but absolutely fine, basic curtains and worn furniture which didn't bother me. I took my own rubbish out each day because no-one comes into the room and I brought food in. There's a fridge (which I turned off), no safe but you can use the large safe at reception (I carried my valuables with me including passport because you are asked for ID when on trips as there are checks on the roads), no in-room tea/coffee facilities (you can have tea or coffee in the foyer if you ask) some basic bathroom products BUT no bottles of water supplied. Poor Wi-Fi in rooms but the one in the reception is better, with plenty of lounges, where I uploaded all my photos.||Check out is at 12 pm and they can store your bags at reception. ||The hotel doesn't organise tours as such because there are tour companies down the road which can be quite expensive. ||I did all my trips travelling on the Jett busses.||This accommodation suited me well because I didn't need much more than this and the fact the location was great that the staff were so helpful and friendly made it worthwhile.||||TRAVELLERS' TIPS: I had to show my passport a few times: when booking trips and once on a coach to and from Amman. I used Jett buses to and from Petra over 2 days and a coach trip to Amman. ||The buses to Petra leave 8 am (or thereabouts as there are many buses to different destinations) from the bus station, cost 18JD return and pick up at Petra 4 pm. ||One day we left at 8.20 and arrived 10.47 and the other day we left at 8 am and arrived 10.21 am.||There is a toilet/snack/view stop about 1.5hrs into the trip for 20 minutes going to and a 15-minute stop coming back. One passenger commented the roads were bumpy and there's loads of road humps but this didn't bother me.||The Jett coach to Amman (more spacious) was also 18JD return (17.21 if you pay cash at the station) and was a 4 hour trip there and 4.5 hours coming back depending on weather and traffic. There's a toilet on board which can be messy but you can purchase, for a cheap price from the host, snacks and drinks on board. The buses/coaches stop at checking stations where they check luggage for goods transportation and I'm assuming suspect items. I did 2 days’ trips to Petra because it took a day to do the main trail and climb sections but I couldn't fit in the ascent to the Monastery which I did on the second day. ||Book Jett buses online to use credit cards because the stations only take cash and if you need a tour guide they are available on site.||You can get taxis for these trips and negotiate a price for around 100JD plus.||||Leaving Aqaba airport can be brutal as I found out. More so because I was a single, female traveller who felt victimised. There are 3 separate cabin bag searches if you are travelling to London but not just for liquids and phones/tablets etc. The bags are screened then everyone must open their bags where security bag checkers take out every item including underwear. I was questioned about absolutely everything including swimming shoes and goggles, headache tablets and asked if I purchase anything in Jordan because it could be confiscated. I purchased nothing but my ordeal was most distressing. Other women had beauty products confiscated. Be aware that this could happen if you travel only with a cabin bag but if not, my advice to would be to have a handbag with only a purse, phone and hairbrush in it, if you...

For the price i think this is a very good value hotel with inclusive breakfast. Its well positioned in central Aqaba. Be prepared for a bit of street noise as its on a main city roundabout, this should somewhat be expected based on the location. There was at times a very small amount of noise from neighbouring rooms but this was a non issue. Just bring good ear plugs which should be a standard accessory for any traveller anyway. I suggest Hearos NRR33 ear plugs, if you fit them properly they just about block any noise. We had a balcony road facing room so the street noise was more prominent but we enjoyed the opportunity to sit out there and watch Aqaba life.|Our room and bathroom was clean, the bed was comfortable, aircon effective and plenty of hot water. Yes its dated but for the price its good value, don’t expect 5 star quality when you book and pay for 2 star. There is a bit of a cigarette odour around reception and hallways, they are heavy smokers in this country, but no odour in our room. Wifi was a bit up and down but it was usable. |The men at reception were helpful and pleasant. If you are pleasant and patient, 95% of the time you will also receive it. Having a joke or laugh with them always helps. Some had limited English but they always tried to help and Google Translate bridged any communication gap. |The included breakfast is typically Arabic, salads, eggs, dip, some cold meat, flat bread so don’t expect more than that. This is understandable as the bulk of the guests appear to be local. It was fine to just fuel you up to start your day. |We went to the Berenice Beach club, book it online at their website (12 JOD) and ask the hotel reception to call them to book the free shuttle pickup. Dont buy the tickets from a hotel as they are marked up (was quoted 30 JOD). |I am an Western international visitor, not solely budget driven and would...

We were two friends traveling together with our beloved dog, and from the very first moment we arrived at the Maswada Plaza Hotel, we felt a genuine sense of warmth and welcome. This hotel represents the true soul of Jordanian hospitality — traditional, generous, and full of heart.

The entire team was kind and attentive, but Mr. Yahya Mass, the hotel manager, truly stood out. He is an open-minded, gracious, and incredibly helpful gentleman who goes above and beyond for his guests. Every question we had was met with patience and a sincere smile. It is rare these days to meet someone who treats visitors not just as customers, but as friends.

Our room was clean, cool, and comfortable, offering a peaceful place to rest after exploring Aqaba. The hotel’s central location is perfect — close to shops, cafés, and just a short walk from the beautiful Red Sea. Traveling with a dog can sometimes be difficult, but here, our furry friend was welcomed with kindness and respect. That meant the world to us.

Breakfast was simple but fresh and satisfying. Every morning began with a smile from the staff and a good cup of coffee — a perfect start to our day.

In summary: Maswada Plaza Hotel is not just a place to stay — it is a place to feel at home. The kindness of Mr. Yahya Mass and his wonderful team made our visit truly unforgettable. We will always remember the warm hearts and open hands of Aqaba.

We highly recommend this hotel to anyone who values sincerity, tradition, and real hospitality. We will gladly return again and again. 🌞🐶✨

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5...