We stayed at the Petra Palace Hotel, which is just a block up the street from the Movenpick and quite handy for the entrance. Paid around $100 USD for the room. The place is pleasant but not as fancy as the Movenpick.
We spent four full days at Petra and loved every minute of it, but that's us. We took several long hikes around the vicinity and explored little known canyons and in general just soaked up the atmosphere.
However I have to say I didn't care for the bedouins in Petra. The women were ok, but the men were downright annoying and irritating.
We stayed at the Movenpick too, great location. We actually booked the trip with Jordan Select Tours, I think the girl I was in touch with was called Lamees.
http://www.select.jo/
She was very helpful, we had a car and driver/guide, he was superb and made the trip. Went from Amman via Mount Nebo and Madaba to the Dead Sea and then on to Petra via Wadi Mujib. One night at the Dead Sea and two nights at Petra. Do try to see Wadi Mujib it's spectacular, they call it the Grand Canyon of the Middle East. Jerash is amazing and worth the easy hours drive north of Amman, you could also see Umm Qais at the same time, another Roman city, but with great views of the Golan Heights and the Sea of Galilee.
<em>edited by sarah-jane on 25/09/2011</em>
We stayed at the Marriott at both the Dead Sea and Petra. They have good spas!
We had 2 nights each there and it was just about enough as there isn't much surrounding the Dead Sea ;) and Petra, amazing as it was, is really a full day and perhaps night walk *if you don't have little ones*
We went into Amman airport and my older boy loved Jerash ( a hour's drive north ) which has an interesting Roman history.
We went to Petra for 3 nights and it was my best holiday ever! We stayed at the Movenpick at the entrance to Petra. The hotel was quite good and very conveniently situated at the entrance. You just have to leave the hotel and you are there.
It depends on how inquisitive you are, how long you should stay there. We bought tickets for 2 days and spend both days exploring and taking photos. Before we left, we bought a book on Petra and discovered we still missed out on some places. It is an amazing place with beautiful scenery. Just prepare to walk a lot, because it is quite big.
We only stopped at the Dead Sea on our way back to the airport for lunch and can therefore not comment on the hotel. It looks very nice and I would like to go back and spend some time at the Dead Sea also.