Taba Hotel & Nelson Village

Set at the northern point of the Sinai Peninsula, Steigenberger Hotel & Nelson Village looks out across the Gulf of Aqaba toward Jordan, Israel and Saudi Arabia at once. The hotel sits roughly nine kilometres from Eilat's airport, just short of the Egyptian border crossing. Rooms are split between the main building and the separate Nelson Village wing, eleven categories in all, from standard rooms with a side sea view to the 64 m² Executive Suite with two bathrooms and a dining table for six. Several room types face the Sinai mountains rather than the water, a useful distinction when booking. The beach runs pale gold in front of the property, backed by a pool complex, a dive centre and a kids' club. Food runs across four restaurants: Palm Court for buffet meals by the pool, Casa Taba for Italian food on a white-trellised terrace, Marhaba for Egyptian and Oriental dishes, and Nelson for seafood served with a direct view over the Gulf. Three bars, including a rooftop-style lounge with nightly entertainment, cover the evenings. Wellness facilities add a sauna, steam bath and jacuzzi, and the resort keeps a doctor on call around the clock. It is a large, self-contained set-up rather than a boutique one. Check-in runs from 2pm.