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Officially known as the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the country is sprinkled with ruins from past cultures along with the architectural creations of Arab and Islamic influences. Jordan is a land of mesmerising beauty and contrasts, from the Jordan Valley, fertile and every changing, to the remote desert canyons, immense and still. Visitors can explore splendid desert castles, gaze in awe at the haunting wilderness of Wadi Rum or enjoy the crystalline Red Sea waters, famous for the richness of their submarine fauna and flora, and considered a paradise for divers. Shopping bargains, souvenirs, excellent oriental and international cuisine, aromas, flavours, colours and most of all, hospitable people will mix and blend to make your stay in Jordan and unforgettable one.
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JORDAN
LOCATION
Jordan is bounded in the north by Syria, east by Iraq, southeast and south by Saudi Arabia and west by Israel. It has an outlet to an arm of the Red Sea at Aqaba.
GATEWAY
Amman
CLIMATE
July and August are the hottest and driest months of the year, especially in Amman, the Jordan Valley and in the desert areas with temperatures over 36’C. Spring and autumn are the most pleasant times to visit, with clear, sunny days and moderate temperatures. The winter months from November to April can be very cold, particularly in Amman, with snow, rain and wind.
CURRENCY
Jordanian Dinar (JOD)
LANGUAGE
Arabic is the official language. English is widely spoken and understood.
VISA
South African passport holders require a visa for Jordan.
WHAT THINGS COST *
Bottled Water (500ml) USD 2.00
Can of Coke USD 2.00
Bottle of local beer USD 2.00
Take-away lunch USD 8.00
Dinner in restaurant USD 20.00
20 minute taxi journey USD 10.00
* Purchase price will vary depending on point of sale.
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Below are a few hints that may help you when planning for your trip to Jordan:
VISA
For South African passport holders, a visa is required to enter Jordan. This visa must be obtained prior to departure from South Africa.
CLIMATE
Jordan generally has a Mediterranean climate with hot summers and cool winters.
CLOTHING
Lightweight clothes in the summer, and warmer clothes in winter. Jordan is a Muslim country and tourists should dress conservatively. Women should avoid wearing shorts and mini-skirts. Comfortable shoes are a must for exploring the historical sites. Do bring your own beach towel and swimming costume if you plan spending time at the Dead Sea.
CURRENCY
The unit of currency is the Dinar (JOD). Your travel allowance should be taken in US Dollars. Please ensure that you have some small notes available ( e.g. $ 1 - $ 5 - $ 10).
Exchange facilities are found at the airports, banks and hotels. Banks are open Monday to Friday from 08.30 to 12.00 noon, and again from 13.00 to 17.00. They are closed on holidays and weekends. All exchange receipts must be kept, particularly if you purchase any major items like carpets, as you may be required to show the receipts on departure.
Some passengers have reported difficulties using American Express and Diners Cards to pay for their meals etc. in their hotels. These credit cards are not as widely accepted as Visa and Mastercards.
FOOD AND DRINK
Jordanian cuisine has evolved through centuries of Bedouin cooking. The national dish, mensaf, consists of rice, pine nuts, lamb or goat, and a yoghurt-based sauce. Mezze (a selection of typical hors-d'oeuvres) encompasses a wide range of dishes including hummus with olive oil, mutabbal (an eggplant dip also known as baba ghanoush), labneh (thickened yoghurt), cucumbers, tomatoes and pickles. The traditional spice, za'atar (a mixture of thyme and other spices with sesame seeds) is served with most foods. Kabab (skewered lamb), kofta (spicy grilled ground beef with parsley), felafel (chick-pea rissoles) usually served with traditional flat bread. For desert you will usually be served the sweet baklava pastries. Enjoy the typical tea, often brewed with mint leaves. Stick to bottled water to avoid tummy-upsets.
LOCAL TRANSPORT
Taxis are numerous in all Jordanian cities and are reasonably priced. Although the usual precautions when travelling by taxi in a foreign country are recommended, you are unlikely to be "ripped-off" in Jordan.
MANNERS AND CUSTOMS
The Jordanians are gracious and generous hosts who will make every effort to communicate despite any language barrier. Hand shaking and other visible forms of politeness are expected. The Jordanian people revere their legendary king, King Hussein, and any criticism of King Hussein is considered very offensive – however lightly meant. English is widely spoken in hotels and establishments dealing with tourists, but you may find a lack of English as soon as you venture away from the main tourist routes. See this as a challenge!
LUGGAGE
Passengers should restrict themselves to one suitcase each, in addition to hand luggage. For the flight, take toiletries etc. in a holdall. Please pack necessary medication in your hand luggage, as well as a change of clothing in the event of any delays.
TIPPING
You will generally find that the Jordanians to be willing and eager to help you without expecting a reward, but we still urge on to conform to world-wide trends in this regard. Hotel porters should receive a small tip (approximately $ 1.-), for carrying your luggage ( unless travelling in a group in which case this may be included in the tour cost ). Guides and drivers should also receive a gratuity and the customary 10 % is recommended for restaurant visits and room service. Tipping to the "horse-boy" in Petra is compulsory if you rode his horse to the “Siq”! Your guide will assist you in this regard, the normal rate is US$ 3.-.
Recommended average rates for passengers are:
Passengers on group tours:
Guide: US$ 4.- per passenger per day for a full day’s services.
Driver: US$ 2.- per passenger per day for full day’s services.
Hotel staff: Usually 10 % of restaurant/room service bill.
Passengers not on group tours:
For passengers not travelling as part of a group but rather with individual services – please increase your tipping accordingly – we suggest doubling above rates for Guide and Driver.
TOILETRIES
We recommend that you bring some kind of washing soap to do your hand washing. It is also a good idea to bring a blow up hanger, as not all hotel hangers can be removed from the cupboards. Remember to take suntan oil and protection cream. Do not forget the hat for the beach. Most hotels have hair dryers in the room. However, if you do take yours along, make sure that you have an international adaptor set.
RE-CONFIRMATION OF RETURN FLIGHTS
Please remember that it is imperative to re-confirm your flight at least 72 hours prior to departure. Failure to do so will result in the automatic cancellation of your flight.
IF FLYING EGYPT AIR
If you are flying Egypt Air, please note that it is a “dry” airline, i.e. no alcohol is served on board.
GENERAL
A suggestion from several passengers: If you enjoy your tea/coffee, take a small immersion heater (plus international adaptor set to make sure the electrical plug will fit), a mug, tea/coffee bags, sugar and milk powder/Cremora. Ordering coffee/tea from room service is expensive!
For passengers departing from Amman International Airport, a departure tax of US$ 10.- per person is payable on check-in. This tax cannot be pre-paid or included with your airline ticket!
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