Exquisite gardens, a romantic village ambience, great restaurants and a nod to wellness tourism enchant guests at Jordan’s 5-star Mövenpick Resort & Spa Dead Sea
Basking in luxury at the lowest spot on earth certainly was a high point of my trip to Jordan with Goway Travel.
Modeled after a traditional desert village, the Mövenpick Resort & Spa Dead Sea sprawls across acres of gardens on the eastern shore of the briny lake that separates Jordan and Israel. At this oasis of tranquility, guests enjoy floating effortlessly on the super-salty Dead Sea, lounging around poolside, indulging in spa treatments and dining at fine restaurants.
In the two-story village complex behind the main building, my ground-level room overlooked a courtyard with a lagoon-like swimming pool, and the patio had cushioned seating in a cave-like nook perfect for relaxing over a good book. Beyond the nook were my own lounge chairs and an umbrella for shade. Second- floor rooms have a private balcony.
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Rustic architecture mirrors visions of a desert village. (Photo credit: Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts)
Exploring the Dead Sea Resort Village
Casually poking around the resort’s courtyards and winding pathways, I spent time admiring the rustic architecture, lush vegetation and expert landscaping—and occasionally getting lost. Stucco walls in shades of pink and tan, graced with stone- trimmed archways and windows, are accented by flaming bougainvillea, oleander, majestic palms, and olive and citrus trees. Amidst fountains and waterfalls, chirping birds and prowling cats add to the enchantment.
Embedded in building exteriors are informational plaques with thumbnail descriptions (in English) of towns and historic landmarks in Jordan and the greater Holy Land, places like Wadi Rum, Qumran and Mount Nebo. At one point I stumbled upon a garden that grows broccoli, eggplant, peppers, and other vegetables and herbs used by the resort’s chefs.
Dining Choices Abound at This Dead Sea Resort
One night our Goway group dined under the stars at The Grill, a Lebanese-inspired restaurant offering a wide choice of grilled meats, chicken and seafood. Seated at candle-lit tables facing the Village Square, we shared a variety of hot and cold mezzes (small plates) to start. I savored minced lamb pastry pockets as a main course.
Also on the Village Square are Chopsticks, a pan-Asian restaurant, and Luigi’s, which serves wood-fired pizzas, homemade pastas and other Italian specialties.
Bring your appetite to the resort’s lavish breakfast buffet. (Randy Mink Photo)
Mövenpick guests need to save room for the bountiful breakfast buffet in the main building’s Al Saraya restaurant, billed as a “Mediterranean country kitchen.” The spread includes an incredible array of meats, cheeses, yogurts and pickled vegetables, plus a salad bar, omelette station, pancakes and waffles, and a decadent bread table laden with croissants, donuts and rolls.
For tastes of the Middle East, help yourself to manakish, a disc of soft dough topped with shredded cheese or a spice mixture called zaatar. Or try labneh (a thick, creamy yogurt cheese) with walnuts. Al Saraya also offers lunch and dinner buffets along with a la carte dining.
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The sumptuous lobby of Mövenpick Resort & Spa Dead Sea. (Photo credit: Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts)
Resort Decor Evokes the Spirit of the Middle East
Artwork in the restaurant includes a camel caravan and other desert scenes from antiquity, a theme carried out in the resort’s palatial lobby, whose multiple areas are adorned with mosaics, antiques, filigree lanterns and chandeliers, screens in intricate arabesque patterns, and richly carved furniture inlaid with marble and mother-of-pearl. A fez-topped man, dressed as a traditional water carrier complete with an elaborate brass jug slung over his shoulder, circulates in the lobby, pouring lemonade and patiently posing for guests.
On our Goway group’s December visit, the lobby was decked out with a Christmas tree, Santa figure and other decorations, and we were serenaded with piped-in songs like “Jingle Bells” and “Joy to the World.”
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Dead Sea Resort Guests Enjoy Beach and Spa Time
The Dead Sea shore, accessible from the lobby via golf cart service or a long walk, is lined with chunks of sparkling white salts and minerals whose therapeutic properties are said to be beneficial for the skin. It’s virtually impossible to sink in the Dead Sea, so you can pose for a picture in the buoyant water while floating on your back. (The sea is devoid of marine life because it’s 10 times saltier than the oceans.) Those brave souls who don’t mind getting dirty can dig into pots of oily black mud from the sea floor and slather their bodies with the mineral-rich muck.
A raised platform of sand beach overlooks the Dead Sea shore and, across the water, the Judean Hills in Israel. (Randy Mink Photo)
Various products derived from the Dead Sea are used in treatments at the resort’s Zara Spa, which has an outdoor hydro pool overlooking the sea and an indoor heated flotation pool with water from it. Spa facilities also include a fresh water infinity pool on the terrace, steam rooms, tropical scent showers and a traditional hammam.
Salt and black mud treatments are among the most popular at Zara Spa. A black mud body wrap is reputed to cleanse and stimulate the skin, relieve muscle and emotional tensions, improve blood circulation and ease rheumatic pain.
Switzerland-based Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts has more than 120 properties in 35 countries. In the Red Sea port of Aqaba, our Goway gang stayed at the Mövenpick Resort & Spa Tala Bay Aqaba, one of two Mövenpicks in Jordan’s southernmost city.
For groups of 10 travelers or more, Goway Travel’s Groups Only team customizes trips to more than 100 destinations around the globe. Suggested Jordan itineraries include the 5-day “Taste of Jordan: Dead Sea, Petra, Wadi Rum & More,” 6-day “Authentic Jordan” and new 9-day “Jordan Odyssey.” Also new: the 12-day “Best of Jordan and Saudi Arabia.” For groups with three weeks to spare, there is the 20- day “Ancient Wonders of Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia.”
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By Randy Mink, Senior Editor
