Pongo

Any recommendations for travel, accommodation etc.

scot47

Last there in 1971. At that time there was one government Guesthouse. Now there are hotels galore and tourist guides everywhere ready to enrich themselves at your expense.

I suggest that you google a hotel, book and just go. It is not as basic as it was when Charles Doughty first brought it to the attention of travellers from Europe.

If you get a chance go to Mdain Saleh which is a Nabatean site in Saudi Arabia, south of Al-Ula.

OleJanx

And get pestered by arrogant Saudis bellowing "Harram!" at you all the bloody time...

scot47

The Wahabis screaming insults are all part of the rich tapestry of life. We had an armed escort during our stay and were followed around by "Shebab" in a 4x4 shouting "Ya kalb ! Ya hanzir !"

A good reminder that we are not universally loved.

Wouldn't happen in Disneyland !

I have just realised that my memory got it wrong. Not Doughty but Burkhardt was the one !!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johann_Ludwig_Burckhardt

hnd

Went about five years' ago and did an Emirates Holiday tour. This provided help on arrival at the airport re visas, driver and tour guide for the six days and help at the airport on departure. Amman for two nights (arrived early evening) - the day in between we were taken up to Umm Qais then back via Jerash and lunch. Second day to Petra via Bethany, Mount Nebo and a few other places with lunch provided. Stayed at the Movenpick in Petra for two nights so within walking distance of the entrance to Petra (don't forget to see Little Petra on the way - it gives a tiny idea of what's in store) and were completely blown away by the size of Petra. Had no idea how huge it is. If you're as agile as a mountain goat and have no fear of heights then it would take a good three or four days to explore the entire site. There's a great bar in a Nabataean cave under the Crowne Plaza. After Petra we drove down to Wadi Rum - think Lawrence of Arabia - an awesome experience ... wish we'd had more time there - and then on to Aqaba for a night. Next day we were driven up along the Dead Sea (via many military checkpoints) where we spent our last night at the Kempinski (our choice) before being picked up and taken to the airport for our return flight to Dubai.

Our driver and guide were both brilliant - both Palestinian ... one Christian and the other Muslim and both exiles and we had a fantastic time with them both. I'm sure it can be done cheaper than the way we did it but we had such a fantastic time it was worth every dirham. Lunch was provided every day, the entry cost to each site was also included (and that can add up to quite a bit).

Jordan is an amazing country and well worth a visit - there's a lot more to it than Petra but Petra is truly mind blowing but so are Wadi Rum and Jerash. Note to self: perhaps it's time for another visit.

scot47

Certainly worth a few days. As the previous poster says it is VERY big. Also a good opportunity to open your eyes to Palestinians who form a large part of the population of Jordan. History has been cruel to them.

Millhouse

Jordan is a great country and full of lovey people. I always enjoy going there.

You can get a bus to Petra from Amman - it takes something like 4 hours. We arrived at about 10.30am. Checked in, had lunch and went to Petra for a few hours. All rather civilized. We stayed in Petra one night/two days... that is probably enough.

We took horses up into the mountains (not a donkey) and saw petra from above. To be honest, probably better to stay at ground level and take a donkey if you want to get to some of the higher bits.

From Petra we went to Waddi Rum for a night (brilliant place - I recommend the VIP tents) and up the road of a million checkpoints to the Dead Sea via Aqaba. Aqaba is nice, I would have liked to have stayed there longer. We then stayed at the Dead sea (Movenpick) for about 4 days.

We did not do this as an organised tour. Just booked random hotels and illegal taxis... Jordan is an extremely expensive country (for the locals as well as the tourists) and everyone is out to rip you off.

Like HND said - there is a lot to see there, Jerash and the Citadel in Amman are also worth seeing.

Oh, and if you like Russian girls I recommend the Hangover Bar next to the Four Seasons in Amman. Maybe not a place to go when on a family holiday though.

UKCityGent

As Millhouse above - i love Petra. There is a MovenPick next door to Petra and if you book there you dont have to pay the 50JD (i think) entrance fee (if you are Jordanian its only 5JD or something silly). I would prepare probably 2 days exploring it (there is a night time excusrsion as well).

You should go to the Dead Sea (book MovenPick as well as you dont want to go to the public beach!)

In between Petra and Dead Sea - there is Ma'ain which are the waterfalls.

Not sure if i would trust the local taxi drivers - we just rented a car and drove - much easier and cheaper!

Millhouse - are those the tents by the english lady at the Wadi Rum (cant remember her name?) - we spent an afternoon there !

Pongo

Thanks! Were hoping to go early January but will be sometime in February now.

Miss Anne Thrope

Just remember that much of Jordan is at high altitude (except the dead sea of course) and can get very cold in winter months. We got buried in 10cm of snow in Amman in early March. You can imagine what the roads and drivers were like......

I agree with the other posters about Jordan. It's a huge open-air archaeological park. Everywhere you go you stumble across sites from so many eras: Neolithic, Roman, Nabatean, Byzantine, Ummayad, Crusader, Ottoman... And that's not even to mention all the fantastic natural sites.

scot47

When I worked just South of Jordan (over the border - in Tabuk) I was fascinated that I had moved from one end of the Roman Empire (Caledonia) to another (Nabatea). How did they do it ?

kimilseung

If going from/to Amman, take the Kings Highway, through Kerak, Wadi Mujib and Madaba, rather than the faster, but less interesting Desert Highway (15).

Millhouse

I would also advise going there before the Syrian war spills over into it. It's a possibility (although probably remote) and my Jordanian friends are not a happy bunch right now.

flares

Second that. Amazing (and empty) place

flares

Is this Syria shit spilling into in Jordan an issue yet? Thinking of doing a last minute self drive for kids half term at end of month.