Visa/Crossing the border
Getting your visaYou can get a visa at the border or at the embassy at home, price is the same.
Exception: it's not possible to get a visa at the Allenby/King Hussein border! This border also closes at 11.30 pm and reopens at 6.30 am.
You can also readily get it at the Queen Alia airport (go for rows 9 to 12).
There visa lets you stay in Jordan for 14 days. An extension will be readily given in a big police station (like in Wadi Musa) for free, and they will extend it for 3 months. The visa costs 10 JD (5/2004).
There are no vaccinations required, an Israeli stamp in your passport is no problem anymore. For more info on the "Israeli stamp"-question, look at the
Visa-page on the Israel part.
When leaving the country through the airport or by road, there's a departure tax of 10 JD. As with all entries to official sites, this was dscounted with 50 % at the time of writing (5/2004)
TIPS: Some airlines like Turkish airlines have already included the tax in the price of their ticket, so make sure you don't pay it twice.
Arriving at the airport
When arriving during the day, there are JETT buses to the center costing 1 JD
When arriving in the evening or during the night, you will have to take a taxi. There's not much room for bargaining, since everybody is asking 10 to 15 JD.
There is a bankomat at Amman - airport, where you can get money with Visa - and Mastercard but also with a normal Maestro bankcard!
Try to change as little money as possible at the airport, since rates are 5% less then in Amman and you have to pay a 2% commission. Anyway, you will need some money to pay for your visa and the taxi.
Money matters
1 euro = 0,83 JD (5/2004)
What to takeYou don't have to take US$, any Western currency in cash will do, especially the Euro.
It's possible to change travellers cheques, but they will charge you heavily with costs, especially in Petra (about 5 JD depending on the transaction and the bank). However, in Aqaba some money changers don't charge extras (1/99).
You can also get money with VISA at ATM's. There are now plenty of ATM's in Aqaba ( f.i. Housing Bank at the coastal road and near the Post Office, and Arab Bank), in Amman at the British Bank in King Hussein Street and also at Arab Bank, and in Wadi Musa which we didn't use.
You can also use credit cards for payments in most tourist places, but they tend to add some costs (which you should refuse off course), but this can be up to 10% in some hotels. Cash advances on credit card are difficult to get. Palace Hotel in Amman is 1 place, Intercontinental only for guests.
Where to change money ?We found that the Jordan National bank gave the best rates.
Money changers in Amman have reasonable rates, and above all they are very fast. I didn't experience problems with even a big amount like 6000 euro.
Rates in the airport are about 5 % lower then in the city.
Currency converterIf you want to know the actual official rate, go to this currency converter
http://www.oanda.com/cgi-bin/travel
Transportation
Bus
JETT busesPublic transport is a bit less practicle then in Syria, since the frequency of the buses is much lower, so you'll need to plan on beforehand better than in Syria. The JETT buses can be used for the long hauls to tourist places like Aqaba and Petra. They tend to be cheap for our standards:
- Aqaba-Amman: 4,35 JD (5/2004), 4 buses a day.
It's necessary to make reservations.
MinibusThese small white buses are even cheaper, but less comfortable. They can be used for shorter distances. Some examples of prices:
- Wadi Rum-Aqaba: 1,5 JD
- Amman-Jerash: 0,4 JD
Taxi
Service taxisThese taxis are white, have fixed destinations and leave only when full.
Private taxisThese are yellow. Always ask to put on the meter, otherwise arrange the fare on beforehand. For 1 JD you should be able to have a decent ride.
Hiring a minibusIf you have a group, a minibus for 10 people including driver with food and accommodation for the driver should cost around 60 to 70 JD (5/2004).
Renting a carRenting a car is relatively expensive. Expect to pay between 20 tot 35 JD per day. 20 will be for the cheaper local firms, but then service and insurance might not be that good, 35 JD is for the international firms like Hertz.
A good alternative is Reliable Rent-a-Car in Amman (tel & fax +9626-5929676, email "
reliable@nets.com.jo"). They can get you an air-conditioned midsize (new or one year old) including CDW and insurance for JD27-29 a day. They'll bring the car to the airport, or to your hotel, for free in Amman, and for a small extra charge they'll meet you at the King Hussein/Allenby Bridge if you're crossing by land.
It's necessary to have an international driver's license.
Hitch hikingHitch hiking is very easy, almost everyone will stop to pick you up, even in the smallest village. They will even go off their way to help you.
Go on to "General info 2"
