Petra Marriott Hotel is the pick in Wadi Musa for couples who care most about the view from the room. It sits high on the hills above town, less than two miles from the Petra gate and almost every room looks out over the valley toward the mountains that hide the ancient city. At sunset the sandstone turns orange, then red, then purple and you can watch it all from your window or the outdoor pool.
The hotel has about 100 rooms, a Turkish bath with a sauna and massage, an outdoor pool facing the Petra mountains and a Bedouin tent for dinners with music when it is running. Reviewers often praise the staff and the food more than the décor, which is comfortable and international rather than distinctive.
It suits couples who want a quiet base with a view, who do not mind a short taxi ride to the gate and who like to unwind in a hammam after a long day on Petra's trails. If walking straight into the site at dawn matters more, choose a hotel opposite the Visitor Center instead.
Highlights at a glance
- Valley and mountain views from most rooms
- Hilltop setting away from the town bustle
- Turkish bath, sauna and massage
- Outdoor pool facing the Petra mountains
- Bedouin tent dinners with music
Why Couples Love the Petra Marriott
The view is the headline. Wadi Musa itself is a busy little town, but from up on the hill you look past it toward a jagged wall of sandstone peaks. Because the rooms face the valley, sunset comes to you. Many couples make a ritual of it: back from Petra in the late afternoon, a swim or a soak, then drinks as the mountains change color.
The height also brings quiet. Away from the main street around the Visitor Center, evenings are calmer and the air is a little cooler, which you will appreciate in summer.
The Turkish bath is the other draw. After hours of walking and climbing the 800-plus steps to the Monastery, a hammam scrub and steam followed by a massage is the most sensible thing you can do. Guests also regularly mention friendly, helpful staff.
Rooms to Book
The hotel has about 100 rooms and travel writers report that they have been renovated. Most face the valley and mountains and those views are why you are here, so when booking ask specifically for a valley-view room and avoid any category described as facing the road or the town side.
Rooms are spacious and comfortable, with the standard Marriott layout and bathrooms. They are not dramatic in design; the window does the decorating. If a suite or higher floor is available at a reasonable supplement, take it for a wider outlook and a little more space to spread out after a dusty day.
Bring a light sweater even in shoulder seasons. The hotel sits at altitude and evenings in the hills can be cool from October to April, with occasional cold snaps in winter.
Food, Drink and the Turkish Bath
Dushara Restaurant handles most meals, with a breakfast buffet before your Petra start, Middle Eastern dishes at lunch and Italian favorites such as pizza and pasta in the evening. Reviewers tend to rate the food well and the buffet is a good place to load up before a long day of walking.
The Bedouin Tent offers Bedouin cooking, drinks and music with the valley as a backdrop. Travel writers note that it has been closed at times for upgrades, so check whether it is running during your stay before you plan a romantic dinner around it.
The wellness area is small but useful: a Turkish bath, a sauna and massage services. The outdoor pool looks toward the Petra mountains and is open in the warmer months. For both partners, a hammam session and a massage on your second evening is an easy way to recover between Petra days.
Why guests fall for it
Things to Do
Take a taxi or hotel car down to the Petra Visitor Center for opening, then walk the Siq to the Treasury in the cool of the morning. Continue past the Street of Facades and the theater to the Royal Tombs. If you have energy, the Monastery climb in the late afternoon rewards you with soft light and fewer people.
On a second day, hike to the High Place of Sacrifice or take a guided trail to the viewpoint above the Treasury. Petra by Night, with candles lining the Siq, runs on set evenings and is worth catching once.
Little Petra is a short drive north and makes a quiet half-day. Wadi Rum is around two hours south for a night in the desert. Cover shoulders and knees in town and at the site, wear good walking shoes and carry plenty of water; the trails are exposed and shade is rare.
Getting There
Most visitors arrive at Queen Alia International Airport (AMM) near Amman and drive about three hours south. The Desert Highway is quickest. The King's Highway is slower but beautiful, passing Madaba, Mount Nebo and Kerak Castle. A private driver arranged through the hotel or a local tour operator is the easiest option.
King Hussein International Airport in Aqaba (AQJ) is about two hours away and suits itineraries that include Wadi Rum or the Red Sea.
From the hotel, the Petra gate is a short drive downhill. Taxis are inexpensive; agree the fare before setting off or ask reception to book one and arrange your return pickup for after Petra by Night. Entry and visa rules depend on your citizenship and can change at short notice, so check the official government website before you book.
Is It Worth It?
For the price, often yes. Rates are approximate and vary by season, but rooms here have been seen from around $150 a night on booking sites, which is good value for a branded hotel with a pool, hammam and valley views.
The trade-offs are distance and age. You will rely on taxis to reach the site and some reviewers have felt parts of the hotel were due for a refresh, though recent reports mention renovated rooms. Service, food and views consistently score well.
Pick the Mövenpick Resort Petra if you want to walk out the door and into the Siq. Pick Old Village Resort for stone-built character. Pick the Petra Marriott if you want to end each day watching the mountains glow from a quiet hilltop, then soak away the miles in a Turkish bath.
Insider tips
- Ask for a valley-view room when you book; it is the whole point of staying here.
- Book a hammam and massage for the evening after your Monastery climb.
- Arrange a return taxi before Petra by Night so you are not waiting at the gate.
- Check whether the Bedouin Tent is running before planning a special dinner there.
