currentaffairs

A strong non-recommendation then..

Cypselos

Amman's got about 24 hours in it, but once you've done Rainbow street that's about it.

I didn't think Addis seemed that bad on the poverty front compared to other places in Africa, but I was in the centre. Certainly better in Lagos, which I appreciate is damning with faint praise. Go outside Addis and it gets very Live Aid very quickly.

currentaffairs

I think we have gone back to the Amman/Jordan option flying out of Kuwait.

Has anyone on this forum ever driven around in Jordan? What were the roads like? You need an international driving permit which is only 5 pounds.

OriginalSunshine

Lived in Muscat for 6 years. Shangri la is a hotel. Yawn.

Nizwa is interesting, but the problem for Oman is that everything is so far spread out. We lived in Muscat but preferred to holiday and explore Jordan on a number of occasions, since you could pack in so much in just a week.

We did a week north of Amman, driving to all the castles and nature reserves.

We did a week driving down and around the west and central road visiting the biblical sites, Dead Sea, central towns etc.

We did a fortnight doing Petra (once you have spent a few days visiting the main sites, turn right instead of left after you have passed the major tombs and there are some really interesting hardly visited tombs and buildings), Wadi Rum and little Petra.

We also did some diving in Aqaba, but the pollution was quite bad in the air, so not much fun.

Driving - yes, many times. Get fully comp insurance, bring your own GPS, double the time you think it will take, and don't rely on road signs. Some roads are ok, and the scenery on the road from Jerash to Petra is jaw droppingly stunning, others especially in the city are crazy. Avoid downtown Amman at all costs. If you stay in Amman, get taxis to visit the downturn ruins and citadel (which are worth the trip).

mission

whatever - i'd say it's a resort since it is so big

currentaffairs

Booked my flight to Jordan. Other than Petra and Jerash, what are the highlights?

sicklyman

Karak, Medaba, Mt Nebo, Ajlun, Umm Qais, Amphitheatre and Citadel in Amman - all these are recommended if you like historical sites.

Petra for a day is a crime. You can spend days exploring the outer reaches and it's well worth it. Make sure you are geared up for walking there though - water, good footwear, sunscreen, etc.

Wadi Rum is a must... try to camp for at least one night. Get a guide.

Dead Sea and natural springs running into the Jordan river.

if you have the time, you can cross the Allenby to West Bank and see Bethlehem and Jerusalem and surroundings and they won't stamp your passport if you ask them not to.

OriginalSunshine

On of the few times I'd recommend getting a book. The lonely planet guide book is superb for sites, and historical context. It also suggests a number of different itineraries.

norsk

You have to consider that the Doha trip is a massive detour from your drive to Dubai/Muscat for no reason really. Doha has a nice modern souk and a corniche like everywhere else, other than that there is only the Museum of Islamic Art which is worth visiting.

Khobar to Dubai is 10 hours (done it twice) and a quick visit to Doha would easily add 6 hours to that. Also the Qatar border crossing is a nightmare. I was doing the causeway between Saudi and Bahrain every day at the time and remember thinking how for once the Saudis were an improvement on someone else. Dubai to Muscat is another 4 hours so you are racking up the driving time massively.

There is nothing to see on the way to either of these places by the way so unless you love desert views you might as well fly....

scot47

"But it is only a couple of inches on the map !"

OriginalSunshine

Agreed. The drives are mind numbingly boring, and catch the border crossings (any of them) at the wrong time and you lose hours.

mikewot

Man inches or woman inches?

Millhouse

all of the areas you mention are crap-hole towns with Indians spitting on the floor.

The drive from Dammam to Muscat will be long and boring. Miles and miles of desert roads - plus there is no decent direct route.

Fly to Amman, look at the citadel, hire a car and drive to Petra, then Wadi Rum, Acqba and the dead sea- look at some religious sites along the way. Jordan is a great place with great people.

Muscat is beautiful, but there is no need to drive there. IT's also a bit limited in what you can see. Unless looking at loads of smashed up castles is your thing.

Have done both. Recommend Amman.

Debowing

I woud say drive to Dubai, see that, then drive to Muscat and from Muscat then you can go to Nizwa and come back to UAE through al ain and then abu dhabi then drive back to KSA...Doha is not worth it at all unless you want to see friends there.