Worth knowing, Amman
Author: Anothertravelguide.com
- The best time to visit Jordan is from March to mid June or from September to December. The monthly average air temperature varies in accordance with the place that you wish to visit, taking into account that Amman is located about 400 metres above sea level, Petra is at an altitude of more than 1000 metres, and the Dead Sea lies 400 metres below sea level. Usually it's warmest around the Dead Sea and Aqaba, a resort town by the Red Sea.
- Amman is not a pedestrian-friendly city and the distances to cover are usually too great to walk. The most comfortable way to get around is by taxi and the cost is quite reasonable. One trip within the city won't cost you more than 2-4 Jordanian dinars (or approximately 3-6 USD, at an exchange rate of 1 JOD = 1.41 USD). The law states that taxi drivers must turn on the meter, so check to make sure that this has been done. However, if you want to head to the airport from your hotel by taxi, then be prepared to pay about 40 USD. It is cheaper to hail a taxi on the street.
- Jordan is very safe, so don't be surprised if your driver doesn't even lock his car, especially in rural areas. Although there are always exceptions to everything, theft here is rare. In addition, they take special care of tourists in Jordan. The comfort of the guest is sacrosanct and everyone is ready to help. If you do run into some problems, just ring 911 and the tourism police will be there surprisingly quickly.
- All state institutions in Jordan are closed on Fridays. Shops and museums are generally open, but with shorter operating hours.
- If you wish to purchase products from the Dead Sea or other souvenirs from Jordan, then their price will vary, depending on where you are. The best place in Amman for such purchases is the Bazar Al-Nu'mani (Al-Madina Al Munawara St.). The Handicraft centre not far from the city of Madaba (approximately 30 minutes by car from Amman) is also a good spot, and every local knows it. The prices there are even lower than in the capital, but of course you should realize that these places are still tourist traps, and every taxi driver will be interested in taking you there, as he will get a commission from your purchase. The most expensive Dead Sea products can be bought right next to the Dead Sea, in the shoreline hotel shops.
- Even though public transport busses do service Jordan's most popular routes, you would do best to use the services of a taxi or hire a car if you want to go even a bit off the beaten track. Except for Amman, where complete traffic chaos rules over the streets, driving around in a rented vehicle is no problem in Jordan. The road signs (except for perhaps on very small streets) are written in both Arabic and English. Try to avoid hitting the local fauna, though, for if you run over a goat, sheep or camel, then you will have to pay the owner, who is sure to cry out that the poor animal lying on the side of the road was so special that it was worth almost its weight in gold.
- It is often windy along the Desert Highway, with dust and sand sometimes covering the road like dull, yellow clouds of fog. During particularly bad sandstorms, individual sections of the highway may even be closed. This happens most often during the winter, but can also occur at other times of the year.
- It is possible to combine a trip to Jordan with a visit to Jerusalem. One can cross the border to Israel in three places. While the King Hussein Bridge near the Dead Sea is the closest crossing to Amman, it tends to be the most unpredictable, since it may take anywhere from one-and-a-half to three hours to pass all of the customs and immigration formalities. Once you make it into Israel, it is a 45-minute drive to Jerusalem. Remember that you can't cross the border with a car hired in Jordan, so ensure that you have arranged for transport on the Israeli side in advance.
- The drive from Amman to Damascus, Syria, takes about four hours (including the border crossing).
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Keywords: Amman, Jordan
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