The Kempinski Hotel Ishtar Dead Sea is the preeminent luxury resort option for the discerning traveler to Jordans Dead Sea. The resort is stunningly beautiful with multiple infinity pools, lush gardens, deluxe villas, and never-ending Dead Sea and sunset views. The Kempinski Hotel Ishtar Dead Sea is simply the best Dead Sea Resort for anyone looking for the ultimate stay in this magical area of the world.
We spent 3 days here and put together this Kempinski Hotel Ishtar Dead Sea review to help you decide where to stay when visiting the famous Dead Sea!
Disclaimer: Our stay at the Kempinski Hotel Ishtar Dead Sea was provided courtesy of the hotel. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay and as always, all our opinions on the best Dead Sea resort and this Kempinski Dead Sea Hotel review are our own. Please note that some of the links in the below article are affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, we earn a commission if you make a purchase. Click here for the full disclosure statement. Thank you for supporting the businesses that support us!
Kempinski Hotel Ishtar Dead Sea Location
The Kempinski Hotel Ishtar Dead Sea is conveniently located right on the shores of the Dead Sea, in the main hotel and resort area of the Dead Sea in Jordan. The hotel zone is located in the northeast corner of the Dead Sea, with the most direct access to Amman.
The Kempinski is a 1 hour and 15 minute drive from Queen Alia International Airport, where all guests will arrive into Jordan. If you are driving from Amman, the driving time is closer to 1 hour.
The most popular way to get around Jordan for tourists is by car, as you will most likely be visiting the Dead Sea as part of a larger trip to explore the wonders of Jordan. The hotel offers complimentary and secure valet parking. RentalCars.com is a great site to use to compare all of the different rental cars available to find the best deal at Amman airport.
Another alternative is to book a private transfer from the airport to the Dead Sea through your hotel, so that you can arrive stress-free and without wasting any time when you arrive.
Kempinski Hotel Ishtar Dead Sea Arrival
When you arrive at the Kempinski Hotel Ishtar Dead Sea, you will first be greeted at the security gate and your reservation will be confirmed before you can reach the hotel. The grand driveway curves around the front of the hotel before you reach the entrance. The bellman will help you with your luggage and soon you will be in the large lobby area ready to check-in and enjoy the resort.
The lobby area is very large, and has lots of windows looking out towards the Dead Sea as well as an expansive outdoor seating area and terrace. The front desk staff will help you with the check-in formalities. We were quickly checked in and were then escorted to our room at the best Dead Sea resort.
As we arrived during COVID-19 times, safety precautions were in place such as hand sanitizers and staff were wearing face masks throughout our entire stay, as were most guests except when at the pool or dining at one of the restaurants at the Kempinski.
Go Explore: Amman daytrip to World Famous Petra
Kempinski Hotel Ishtar Dead Sea Rooms
The Kempinski Hotel Ishtar Dead Sea is an expansive resort, with multiple types of rooms and suites available. The main check-in building houses a number of rooms and suites on multiple floors with a commanding view of the Dead Sea. In addition, there are smaller two-story buildings spread throughout the property, known as the Ishtar Village. They have access to multiple pools and amenities right outside their doorstep.
During our time at the Kempinski Hotel Ishtar Dead Sea, we stayed in an Ishtar Deluxe Room, located on the ground floor in the Ishtar village, with access to a semi-private pool. The room was expansive with a lot of useable space. As you enter the room, there is a complete wardrobe area and bathroom to your left. The bathroom features a large tub, as well as rainfall shower in a circular room.
Further into the room is the comfortable king-size bed, as well as a large desk for working, and a sitting area near the patio entrance. Just outside the doors of the room was another sitting area as well as access to a semi-private pool amongst the beautiful gardens of the resort.
Inside the room you will also find a kettle for tea and coffee as well as a mini-bar and plenty of water bottles.
In addition to the luxurious rooms and resorts on offer, the Kempinski Hotel Ishtar Dead Sea also offers three uber-luxury Royal Villas for those wanting the ultimate in luxury, privacy, and personalized service. These exclusive experiences are another reason why the Kempinski is the best Dead Sea resort.
Kempinski Hotel Ishtar Dead Sea Amenities
What makes the Kempinski Hotel Ishtar Dead Sea the best Dead Sea resort is the absolutely stunning resort grounds. The expansive resort is full of beautiful architecture, infinity pools, lush gardens, and direct views of the Dead Sea. To top it all off, the Kempinski Hotel Ishtar Dead Sea is located right on the shores of the Dead Sea, so you can easily walk down to the water to float and enjoy the Dead Sea.
The circular infinity pool is the anchor of the resort area, with beautiful views, plenty of loungers, the nearby Akkad Grill, and a special light show in the evening. Once the sun goes down the pool is lit up in different colors, creating a beautiful illusion. On the northern edge of the Ishtar lobby you will find half of the Ishtar Villas as well as a beautiful lazy river and more areas to sunbath. The southern side of the main pool includes additional Ishtar Villas and the associated semi-private pools.
The large Ishtar lobby building is located here as well, with restaurants and other services located in the floors above. Just below, you will find an additional infinity pool, outdoor terraces, and the Italian restaurant.
If you continue down the pathway below the infinity pool you will soon reach the beach of the Dead Sea. The water level of the Dead Sea has dropped considerably since the resort was initially built, so they continually have to recreate the pool area, however what you will find is a group of lounge chairs, cabana hut, and a friendly staff member explaining the best way to soak up all the healing benefits of the Dead Sea.
The best way to enjoy the Dead Sea is to first go and float in the water and enjoy the unique experience of floating above the highly salty water. Then you cover yourself in special Dead Sea mud and sit and let it dry for 10 minutes. Once dried, you can go back into the water to wash it all off. Next up is a sea salt exfoliating scrub with salt harvested right here at the Dead Sea. Finally, you can rinse it all off at the outdoor shower, and enjoy the incredibly soft skin you will have! This will be one of your most memorable experiences at the best Dead Sea resort.
Uphill from all of this area is the main lobby where you check-in and enter the resort. Here you will find additional restaurants, meeting rooms, the fitness center, and an additional pool. The resort also has a tennis court, kids club, and the largest spa in the region at nearly 110,000 sq ft (10,000 sq m).
Explore More: Visit Nearby Jerash and the Amazing Dead Sea
Kempinski Hotel Ishtar Dead Sea Dining
The Kempinski Hotel Ishtar Dead Sea has a number of dining options available. This variety and selection is important at the best Dead Sea resort as outside the resort areas at the Dead Sea, there are limited other facilities.
The main restaurant which is open every day for breakfast buffet, lunch, and dinner is Obelisk. The morning breakfast buffet is extensive with many different options from Western hot breakfast items to fresh salads, to pastries, and a full selection of Middle Eastern items. Obelisk also serves a lunch and dinner buffet, both of which are just as big as breakfast! There is indoor as well as outdoor seating available on the terrace.
Located at the lower infinity pool edge, Ashur Pizza & Grill Restaurant offers some of the best views of the resort with outdoor seating directly in front of the infinity pool, where you can also watch the setting sun. The view is absolutely stunning, and definitely worthy of the best Dead Sea resort. The restaurant focuses on pizza, as the name implies, but also a number of other Italian specialties, including a large selection of Italian wines.
In the upper building, Rehan serves up delicious Lebanese food for dinners only. Enjoy some of the best regional specialties in a more upscale dining setting.
During the day, food and drinks are served poolside at the Akkad Pool and Grill with a diverse international selection available. And for afternoon or evening drinks with a view, the Sumerian Terrace is open at the top of the Ishtar building with a large outdoor seating area to take in the beautiful warm weather of the Dead Sea region.
Of course, room service is also available 24 hours a day when hunger strikes at that late night hour, or if you prefer to enjoy a meal in your room.
Kempinski Hotel Ishtar Dead Sea Conclusion
The Kempinski Hotel Ishtar Dead Sea is the most luxurious resort on the shores of Dead Sea in Jordan. You won’t be disappointed with the stunning and expansive resort grounds, more pools than you can count, and of course unforgettable memories floating in the Dead Sea! All of these factors make the Kempinski Hotel Ishtar the best Dead Sea resort! We recommend anyone stay at the Kempinski Hotel Ishtar Dead Sea that values a beautiful resort, numerous pool options, and a variety of dining choices every night.
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