Jordan Travel Guide - Essentials

Safety: Jordan remains relatively trouble-free although bomb attacks did hit Amman in 2005, targeting three hotels and resulting in more than 60 fatalities. Such incidents remain rare, however, and traffic accidents are still the number one risk, as is the case in most stable, developed countries. Neighbouring problems in Israel, Palestine, Iraq and to a lesser extent Saudi Arabia generally have little or no effect on the level of safety in Jordan.

When to go: Jordan experiences a sporadic rainy season from November to March although this period is generally preferable to the very hot months of July and August when temperatures climb well above 30 degrees Celsius. Prior to the dry season, the country can also be prone to strong, dry winds which bring in haze and dust.

Money: the Jordanian dinar, or JD, is a currency than can cause confusion given that it is subdivided into two denominations. The dinar is subdivided into 100 piastres which in turn are worth 1000 fils. Prices are usually written as a combination of dinars and fils, thus 3,500 JD would equal 3 dinars and 500 fils.

Thankfully, getting access to the Jordanian dinar is simpler than understanding it. In all big cities, mid- and top-end hotels, exchange kiosks and major banks will all be able to change foreign currency, with US dollars always preferred. Expect to pay less than 10 JD for a budget hotel and a few dinars for a local meal.

Other European languages are also commonly understood, like French and Spanish, although less so than English – Jordan was ruled by Britain until 1946 meaning that the language was prioritised in the past.

Emergency: Jordanian emergency services are relatively efficient with good facilities in the main cities and towns should something go wrong.

Ambulance: 193

Police: 191/192

Business needs: Jordan is a Middle Eastern country that has strived to initiate economic reforms while treading the fine line between courting the West and the rest of the region; it signed a Free Trade Agreement with the US at the end of 2001.

Amman especially is therefore a business friendly capital with good facilities for trade fairs, business meetings and exhibitions, particularly at the larger international hotels such as Le Royal Hotel Amman and the Intercontinental Amman.

Typical business hours:

• Government departments: 08:00 to 15:00, Sunday to Thursday.
• Retail: 09:30 to 13:30 and 15:30 to 18:00. All businesses are closed on Friday, and many on Saturday, and sometimes Thursday as well. Christian-run businesses may be closed on Sunday.
• Banking: 08:30 to 15:00, Sunday to Thursday (some banks re-open from 15:30 to 17:30).