red sea in Aqaba

Hi all, me and a couple of firends are planning a few days in red sea on
november/january we are thinking in Aqaba as a budget option of red sea, far
from high prices of Sharm anf Urghada, anyone has been there?? how is it? is
it a real option? or like Egypt coast there's no other choice. I heard coral
Aqaba's reefs are worst than egypts ones...

Thanks in advance !
Albert
albert.faXXX@terra.es
(remove XXX)

On Wed, 20 Aug 2003 10:00:48 +0200, "Albert F." <albert.faXX@terra.es>
wrote:

>Hi all, me and a couple of firends are planning a few days in red sea on
>november/january we are thinking in Aqaba as a budget option of red sea, far
>from high prices of Sharm anf Urghada, anyone has been there?? how is it? is
>it a real option? or like Egypt coast there's no other choice. I heard coral
>Aqaba's reefs are worst than egypts ones...
>
I've been diving in Aqaba three times, last time in 2001. Unlike the
reefs of Eilat, the corals were pristine, the macro life (seahorses!)
is overwhelming, but do not expect any big critters (except from some
turtles or rays). Overall, I found the diving absolutely worth the
trip. The last year, the Jordanian tourist industry has suffered from
the terrorist attacks etc., so there are hardly any visitors/divers
around.
I must however say, that Jordan is not a cheap place to stay compared
to Hurghada. If budget is your main concern, book a cheap package deal
to Egypt. You can however cut the cost quite easily by booking a
cheaper local hotel and eat out in Jordanian restaurants only. Flights
are however more expensive, but booking a cheap charter flight to
Eilat and going to the border by taxi is possible. Passing the
Jordanian border is no problem at all, visa can be bought there.
Getting back into Israel for the flight back could take somewhat
longer: it took us from 15 minutes to one hour.
The people are nice: easy going, polite, no hassling or whatever. The
town and hotels are clean.
We dived with Seastar in Aqaba and stayed in the Alcazar Hotel
(http://www.alcazarhotel.com/ for hotel and dive center). Good
operation, nice hotel.

Petra and Wadi Rum are definitely worth a trip (rent your own car for
a day or two).

Georgina

In article <bhv9qv$dmm$1@nsnmpen2-gest.nuria.telefonica-data.net>,
Albert F. <albert.faXX@terra.es> writes
>Hi all, me and a couple of firends are planning a few days in red sea on
>november/january we are thinking in Aqaba as a budget option of red sea, far
>from high prices of Sharm anf Urghada, anyone has been there?? how is it? is
>it a real option? or like Egypt coast there's no other choice. I heard coral
>Aqaba's reefs are worst than egypts ones...
>
>Thanks in advance !
>Albert
>albert.faXXX@terra.es
>(remove XXX
Hola Albert,
We were in Aqaba last Christmas. The coral reefs are pristine- the coast
has been a marine park for many years (King Abdullah is a scuba diver).
The marine life is at least as varied as Egypt, if not more so. The
Jordanian people are very hospitable and don't hassle you, as in Egypt.
Also you can hire a taxi and make a day trip to Petra. E-mail me if you
need more info. >
>

--
David G. Siddall

"Albert F." <albert.faXX@terra.es> wrote in message
news:bhv9qv$dmm$1@nsnmpen2-gest.nuria.telefonica-data.net...
> Hi all, me and a couple of firends are planning a few days in red sea on
> november/january we are thinking in Aqaba as a budget option of red sea,
far
> from high prices of Sharm anf Urghada, anyone has been there?? how is it?
is
> it a real option? or like Egypt coast there's no other choice. I heard
coral
> Aqaba's reefs are worst than egypts ones...
To consider (previously posted) ...From Dominic Cote: I was in Ras Mohammed
which was undisputably beautiful. But, last month, I dived off Hurghada and
the crew took us to "the Aquarium"
(shallow dive). I know the Aquarium is part of a larger region, but any
local dive shop will know what I'm talking about. I was more than amazed by
the varieties and quantities of marine life found there. There's a daily
boat from Sharm to Hurghada. I think it's worth the trip! Happy Diving!


>
> Thanks in advance !
> Albert
> albert.faXXX@terra.es
> (remove XXX)
>
>