jvr20

Anyone been?

I've been looking it up, but all I see is plugs for Dead Sea spas... but surely if it's based on the mud, the mud itself should be free to anyone who walks down to the beach and scoops it up? Or have the big hotel/spa crowd bought up all the beach access for themselves?

any idea on realistic driving/bus times from Amman to the DS and back again on a Friday?

I'm planning on going back to basics in a hostel type, never do the big hotel thing when I'm on holiday anyway - so I'm confident there'll be lots of local info and friendly touts on hand, but always good to have something of an idea, and research so far only throws up the top-end stuff... Maybe I should get a Crowded Planet and have a looksee in there

lionheart

Sadly I think the overwhelming majority of punters on this forum are of the minimum 4star hotel variety and wouldn't know what a back-pack was if it jumped up and bit them on the ass. Try looking at a more specialist hostelling type website. I have been to the Dead Sea but it was the year that Elvis died (as I was on a bus crossing the Golan Heights when the news broke) so things have probably changed since then...including the sea water level, which I believe is shrinking at an alarming rate.

MataHari

met any of us have you...

lionheart

Little do you know...

MataHari

oh please.

andrewpops

Last went in late 2005, there is/was a public beach just down from the five star hotels but the facilities are pitiful with no showers (you will need them). Stick to the hotels - you can get day access to the hotels for around 20 JD a day (£15) but weekends (Friday/Saturday) get very busy and you will probably be turned away so stick to week days.

Choice of three hotels, Marriott, Movenpick or Kempinski, I've stayed at the Marriott/Movenpick and are fantastic. Kempinski was being built when we were last there. All can be booked online.

Travel time is 45 minutes to 1 hour depending on traffic. The Marriott used to run a shuttle bus from the central Marriott, don't know if this is still going.

Private accomodation is limited around the dead sea therefore its either day trip or five star all the way!

weescot

I was at the Dead Sea last June. On the Jordanian side there are three hotels - kempinski, Movenpick and Marriot. You can go as a day guest to the Movenlick and the Marriot. No youth hostels, but there is a public beach next to the kempinski. Fridays it gets very busy. No buses - but a taxi from Amman is cheap (can't remember exactly how much) and what most people do. Only 30 mins from airport/city. The higher oxygen content in the air makes you very happy and chilled out also, plus you don't need to wear sunblock because it is the lowest point on earth and all the harmful rays get filtered out. i didn't beleive it until I experienced it. a truly amazing place.PM me if you need anything else. i loved it there - but I did stay at the kempinski....

Grace O Malley

Oh you really are such a charmer these days

jvr20

thanks guys... looks like my mate has bailed anyway so probably won't be any time soon anyway it looks like Thursday 2pm -> Saturday 3pm isn't really enough time to do it justice...