I've been to Taybet Zamen before. We came in for some lunch back then... I still remember entering a place that looks like a haunted city. Too many stones, long alleys, closed shops... And nobody around. This time we came to spend the night before continuing to Madaba and Wadi Rum and let me tell you, I had the same feeling I had the first time round.
Once upon a time, an ancient village called Taybeh found itself on the brink of extinction, unable to find its place in the modern world. Yet the local mayor, Abu Firas, never lost hope.
In an attempt to retain Taybeh’s rich heritage, as well as secure the livelihoods of its remaining families, Abu Firas presented an astonishingly progressive proposal to transform his village into a world-class resort: establish a cooperative relationship with a developer who would lease the village’s land and buildings, and allow the locals to participate in its growth.
Situated just 12 km from the city of Petra, Taybet Zaman enjoys views of the Sharah Mountain Range, as well as endless vistas of the valley and sky. Taybet Zaman achieves a balance for those who wish to experience the spirit of the 19th Century style of living without sacrificing modern comforts.
True to the style of the village homes in which Taybeh’s original inhabitants once lived, each of the 102 guest rooms offers minimumal comforts, all of which I rated "three stars" and surely not five. An old TV monitor, a broken shower, old furniture, thick wool bed covers and no Internet in the rooms.Constructed of thick stone walls that magically keep cool through the harsh summers and warm during the winters, the houses’ windows and doors are adorned with rustic shutters of weathered arrowroot wood. Inside, supporting arches are still blackened by fires of long ago.
All of Taybet Zaman’s climate-controlled rooms feature private bathrooms with hairdryers, satellite televisions with remote control, direct-dial telephone service, well-stocked mini-bars, 24-hour room service, and access to secure safe-deposit boxes.
You are promised:- Shops that are always closed
- Night entertainment that never happens. At 10 the place transforms into a haunted city
- The website promises magic. Read it and you'll imagine coming to Disneyland resort for a night; nothing of that happened.