Aqaba on Jordan's southern tip sits on the Red Sea. You can look across the water to see Israel and Egypt. A few miles down the coast is Saudi Arabia. It is Jordan's only coastal city and major attraction for tourists.
The desert heat will take your breathe away, the many Five-Star resorts will cater to all your desires and the gay culture alongside Arab women wearing full hijab (i.e. covering all their body & face) will confuse any western tourist. You can watch a belly dancer in bar, but probably shouldn't venture onto the street with shorts. Men can pick up a prostitute, women can disco, but the Muslim call to prayers will still happen on schedule five times daily.
The Movenpick and the Intercontinental are two of many beautiful hotels along the sea. In the daytime, bring the kids and enjoy the water -- boating, snorkeling, exquisite resort swimming pools, and jet skies are popular. Its rich marine life makes the sea a bastion for diving. In the evening, leave the children with babysitters to enjoy the many downtown pubs and restaurants.
