In the print dialog pick “Save as PDF” to keep it on your phone. A5 makes a pocket booklet; A4 suits a desk printer.
Voykit pocket guide · Jordan
Tala Bay
Spend 1–2 days: walk the 1 km marina, dive or relax on the beach; no night‑life beyond the resorts.
Tala Bay is a small resort on the Red Sea, 15 km south of Aqaba. The whole town fits within a 1 km stretch, so a short stay covers all activities – beach, marina, dive centres and a few restaurants. It’s quieter than Aqaba but pricier; most visitors stay 1 night and use it as a base for diving or a beach break before heading to Aqaba, Wadi Rum or Petra.
- Country
- Jordan
- Best months
- Oct–May (warm sea, less heat than summer)
- Avoid
- Jun–Sep (very hot, sea‑temperature peaks, higher risk of sunburn)
- Stay
- 1–2 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- JOD
- Money
- Jordanian dinar (JOD) is divided into 1,000 fils (or 100 piastres); one dinar is a high-value note.
- Daily spend
- Budget JD 30–45 excl. bed (check) · Mid JD 45–70 excl. bed (check) (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Zain, Orange and Umniah sell tourist SIMs at Queen Alia arrivals; passport registration is required.
- Emergency
- Police / Ambulance / Fire 911
- Plugs
- Types C, D, F, G, J · 230 V · 50 Hz · European two-pin plugs fit most sockets; UK three-pin (G) is common in newer hotels. Bring a universal adapter.
- Tipping
- Restaurant: Round up or 5–10% if no service charge; many mid-range places add 10%.; Taxi / Careem: Round up to the next half or whole dinar.; Guide, half day: JOD 5–10 per person.; Driver, full day: JOD 10–20.; Wadi Rum camp staff and jeep driver: JOD 5–10 per group, per day.; Hotel porter: JOD 1 per bag.
- Water
- Treated at source but stored in rooftop tanks; drink bottled or filtered. Water is scarce — short showers help.
- Toilets
- Western toilets in hotels, malls and restaurants; squat toilets at some bus stations. A hose replaces paper in many places. Petra has toilet blocks along the main trail.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Main course at Marina restaurants | JD 8–12 |
| Cocktail | JD 6 |
| Taxi from Aqaba centre | JD 10–15 |
| Taxi from Aqaba airport | JD 25 |
| Dive day (2 dives) at Arab Divers | JD 40 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- AQJ · King Hussein International Airport
- ≈15 km (9.3 mi) north of Tala Bay; taxi about 25 JD≈9.3 mi (15 km) north of Tala Bay; taxi about 25 JD
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Language, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
The resort is about 1 km (0.6 mi) end‑to‑end; walk everywhere. Taxis from Aqaba (10–15 JD) or airport (≈25 JD) are available for trips beyond the bay.The resort is about 0.6 mi (1 km) end‑to‑end; walk everywhere. Taxis from Aqaba (10–15 JD) or airport (≈25 JD) are available for trips beyond the bay.
See and do
Known for
- Red Sea beach
- Mövenpick Resort & Spa
- Sinai Divers and Deep Blue dive centres
- Marina Market supermarket
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Aqaba | Taxi 15 km (9.3 mi) north, about 20 minTaxi 9.3 mi (15 km) north, about 20 min | ≈30 min round trip |
| Wadi Rum | Taxi or tour bus, ~1 h 15 min | ≈2 h total |
| Petra | Pre‑booked taxi, ~2 h drive | ≈4 h round trip |
Sleep
- Mövenpick Resort & Spa Tala Bay Aqaba
- 302 rooms, family suites, beach front; from 150 JD per night.
- Arab Divers Bed & Breakfast
- Quiet B&B 800 m from beach, basic rooms; good value.
Language
Arabic is the language; the spoken Jordanian dialect is Levantine, close to Palestinian and Syrian speech, with Bedouin dialects in the south. English is common in hotels, tourism and among educated Amman residents, much less in villages and with taxi drivers.
- Useful words: marhaba (hello), shukran (thank you), la shukran (no thanks), yalla (let's go), addesh? (how much?), inshallah (God willing — often means 'maybe').
- WhatsApp is the default channel for hotels, drivers and camps.
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Salam alaykum or marhaba; handshake between men; wait for a woman to offer her hand; avoid: Kissing or hugging someone of the other sex in greeting
- Hospitality: Accept tea or coffee; eat a little when invited; avoid: Refusing all food and drink outright
- Right hand: Eat, pass things and pay with the right hand; avoid: Using the left hand to offer food
- Feet: Keep soles on the ground when sitting; avoid: Pointing the soles of your feet at people
- Mosques: Covered arms and legs, headscarf for women, shoes off; avoid: Entering during prayer times unless invited
- Dress in town: Long trousers or skirts, shirts with sleeves; avoid: Shorts and swimwear away from resorts
- Photography: Ask first, especially with women and Bedouin families; avoid: Photographing police, soldiers or checkpoints
- Politics: Listen; opinions on Palestine run deep; avoid: Joking about the King or the royal family
Scams and watch-outs
- Venomous fish such as stonefish and lionfish in shallow water – wear sandals and watch where you step.
- Tourist prices are higher than in Aqaba; budget accordingly.
Tala Bay is safe for tourists; main risks are marine stingers and higher prices.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Tala Bay yet. Suggested stay: 1–2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Red Sea beach
- Mövenpick Resort & Spa
- Sinai Divers and Deep Blue dive centres
- Marina Market supermarket
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Jordan Tourism Board: www.visitjordan.com
- Wikivoyage: Tala Bay, revision 5317365 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5317365
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Tala Bay
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police / Ambulance / Fire911
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/tala-bay). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.