Fellow ALL Accor+ Explorer member, Natasha Etschmann, better known as @tashinvests, is an Australian content creator and Forbes 30 Under 30 honouree known for her fresh, relatable approach to personal finance. A keen traveller who has visited 45 countries, Tash is all about making savvy choices while still enjoying the experiences that make life memorable. Here, she shares why Egypt and Jordan became two of her favourite destinations.

I’ve been to 45 countries, Egypt and Jordan were 2 of my favourites.

I flew into the Middle East in August 2025, in peak heat low season. It was the best trip I’ve done in years. Free upgrades at every hotel, Petra almost to myself, and AU$1,200 return flights to get there.

Egypt and Jordan have been on my travel bucket list forever. One evening in 2025, on my pretty regular Google Flights “Explore” search (use the Explore section on Google Flights, add your departure city, but leave the destination open-ended to see where you can get the best deals), I came across some very cheap Melbourne > Shanghai > Cairo flights (AU$1,200ish return!!).

A friend came with me to Egypt, but Jordan was solo. I booked it all myself off a mix of the ALL app, other online booking platforms, at times, just WhatsApp. Egypt was country number 40 for me 💃, and I decided to make the most of being in that part of the world by adding on Jordan.

I went in low season, which turned out to be the best decision of the whole trip, but more on that below.

Full itinerary

• Cairo
• Luxor
• Aswan
• Marsa Alam
• Cairo
• Petra
• Wadi Rum
• Aqaba
• Cairo

Accommodation Winners

Mövenpick Resort Aswan. On its own island in the middle of the Nile, which means you arrive by boat!! It was very hot when we went, so we mostly treated this as a nice reset and spent a lot of time enjoying the hotel pool and gym. Very needed after a few hectic days exploring the pyramids.

Novotel Cairo Airport. Cairo and Giza traffic can be hectic, so while I stayed in Giza the first time, the other two times I transited through Cairo I just booked here. If you are connecting through Cairo, a proper bed, a pool and a free shuttle five minutes from the terminal beats a hectic taxi through the city.

Both stays I was upgraded to a suite on arrival (thank you ALL Accor status).

Mövenpick Resort Petra. I actually booked the Grand Mercure nearby, but they were renovating so I was upgraded to the Mövenpick for free and I am SO glad. It sits literally outside the Petra entrance gates, which makes it so easy if you want to be inside early before the crowds and the heat. Travelling solo can get a bit tiring with all the logistics, and I always underestimate the benefit of convenience, like being able to walk somewhere instead of adding “negotiate with a taxi” to the endless to-do list.

I loved everything about this hotel. My welcome gift included a gold-dusted Treasury chocolate, the whole hotel was beautiful, and the included Mövenpick Chocolate Hour was great (I timed my first Petra day to make sure I would be back in time).

I used my welcome drink voucher to get a Pepsi by the pool and it came with free crisps!!!

Sun City Camp, Wadi Rum. A Martian dome in the desert! Breakfast and dinner were included, and I booked an afternoon jeep safari where they pointed out lots of famous movie spots.

What to Discover

Giza. Highly recommend booking a private guide for the pyramids, especially in summer. It can get HOT, and while it’s manageable, I was so glad we didn’t have to stand around waiting like some of the tour groups.

My Insider Tips:

• Travel in the low season. We got a free upgrade at every single hotel.
• Use your ALL Accor status. At Gold and above you get room upgrades when they’re available. There is also an Accor Plus members Facebook group where people share whether they were upgraded at specific hotels and what their experience was like. Some reviews are super detailed.
• Message the hotel directly on WhatsApp in areas like Wadi Rum. I got a free upgrade to a dome tent by messaging the camp the day before and asking if they had any last-minute offers.
• Check package pricing on Accor Plus More Escapes and similar sites before booking direct. Sometimes the package gets you a better room for the same money.
• Buy the Jordan Pass before you land. ~AU$160 (75 JOD) for the two-day Petra option, and it covers your visa fee plus entry to Petra and most major sites. Two catches: you must buy it before arrival, and you need to stay at least three nights for the visa fee to be waived.
• Book a private driver from Amman airport straight to Petra. I am not a city person, so I skipped Amman entirely and had the driver take me south. This meant I could spend more time in Aqaba instead.
• Use a Cairo airport hotel to bookend the trip. It turns a potentially stressful connection in a busy city into a rest day.

My ALL Accor+ Explorer Moment

Travelling always gives me perspective and reminds me to be grateful. Egypt went through multiple currency devaluations, and inflation peaked at a record 38 per cent in late 2023. Cost of living and inflation have been a big topic in Australia, but this really put things into perspective. Coming from Australia, everything was still such great value. Even better, Explorer benefits like the Stay Plus free nights, 30% off dining and more will be available from the 1st of October 2026. Money win for sure.

If you are an Explorer at heart, I’d highly recommend this trip.