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Entry Visa to Jordan:
Most of the nationalities (especially European and Northern American) can obtain the visa upon arrival in Amman Airport.
Visa's can be obtained in advance from Jordanian Consulates and Embassies.
Hotels and Rest Houses:
Jordan is well equipped with 5*,4*,3* hotels throughout the country. Hotel and restaurants prices are
controlled by the Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of Supply.
Government Rest Houses with sleeping and dinning facilities are located at all
the key tourist sites throughout Jordan. 5* Hotels are operated by local groups and
well known International chains such us Intercontinental Hotel, Four Seasons, Marriott
Hotel, Crowne Plaza, etc.
Food and Drinks:
Eating well and heartily is part
of the Jordanian tradition, and there are many fine restaurants that
offer a wide selection of authentic Arabic food at reasonable prices such
Dishes to try: The national dish, Mansaf, a whole stewed lamb with cooked
yogurt sauce served on a bed of rice and bread, Musakan chicken with
onions, olive oil and pine seeds cooked in an oven on a think load of
Arabic bread, Maqlouba, a meat or fish and vegetable stew served with
rice, and of course the basic shish kebab . Other Restaurants with
different international cuisines can also be found in the cities like
Chinese and Italian Restaurants. Coffee is concentrated and black, unless
you ask for Nescafe (the general term for instant), usually
flavoured with cardamom. Tea is even more popular, served without milk
but usually with mint and sugar is optional. Local and International
beer, wine and spirits are available throughout the country.
The local alcoholic drink that is popular with Arabic dishes is Arak, nice
flavoured liquor that is mixed with water and ice.
Climate :
You’ll enjoy the
mildest weather in autumn and especially the spring, when wild flowers
are in bloom. Summer is long, from May to early October and intensely hot
and dry, though evenings are cooler.
Rain falls from November to March in the North, but
Aqaba on the Red Sea is a warm and sunny winter
resort. Winter is an ideal time for Aqaba – Mellow
days and warm seawater.
Winter can be cold especially in Amman and in the
east, temperatures in Amman average 5 C (46 F), in
Aqaba 16 C (61 F). Summer temperatures in
Amman average 30 C (77 F), in Aqaba 35 C (90 F).
Clothing:
You won’t need much formal wear, though in general
Arab custom expects you to dress more
conservatively than you might back home,
especially if your visits include a mosque.
Pack a sun-hat and add a sweater for cool evenings
even in summer, raincoat in the winter.
Good Walking shoes are vital and easy to-kick off
sandals or moccasin for the mosques where women need to wear a headscarf. Include insect repellent
and sun block.
Money: The national unit of currency is the
Jordanian Dinar (JOD) with 1,000 fils to the dinar, bank-notes
from ½ to 50 dinars, Jordanians also calculate in
Piaster (10 fils = 1 piaster).In addition to the big hotels, many major
shops and restaurants in Amman, Aqaba and Petra will accept credit cards. Smaller
establishments request Jordanian currency.
cheques are best purchased in US dollars or pounds sterling.
Exchange rates:
Jordanian Dinars per US dollar - 0.71 (2003)
Tipping: Most
hotels and restaurants include a service charge in
their bill, in which case it is not obligatory to tip waiters, but you can always add a little
extra. If service charge is not included waiters should be tipped around 10% of the bill.
Electricity and Water : The electrical system is
based on 220 AC Volt, 50 Cycles, and requires
rounded two round pins/prong wall plug. Visitors
from North America will need a transformers /
adapter which can be provided by most hotels.
All hotels have their own filtering water system
and their water is considered safe to drink. Also bottled water is cheap and readily available.
Shopping : Jordanian
Handcrafts represent a tradition of skilled workmanship and folk art that dates back many
thousands of years.
The most common Jordanian craft items include Madaba rugs, curved olivewood, mother of pearl,
cross stitch embroidery, Palestine poetry, Hebron
glass, silver jewellery, carved stone animals, Bedouin
and , old swords and turn of the century rifles, sheepskin and leather
goods and coloured sand bottles.
A walk through a downtown souq will bring you in
touch with hundreds of smell every day items that
you may wish to take home as a souvenir of your
visit to Jordan.
Time:
Plus two hours from GMT. Seven hours ahead of US
eastern standard time.
Business Hours: Friday and Saturday are the weekly holidays. Government
offices and most business are closed.
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Banks are open from Sunday to Thursday from 08h30-15h00.
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Business Offices are open from 08h30-13h30 and from 15h30-18h30.
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Government offices are open only from 08h30-14h00
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Shopping Hours are flexible, most shops open from
09h30 till 22h00
Holidays:
Several national holidays
are observed on the same day every year:
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New Year Day (January 1)
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King Abdullah Birthday (January 30)
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Labour Day (May 1)
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Independence
Day (May 25)
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King Abdullah
accession to thrown (June 9)
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The Late King
Hussein Birthday Anniversary (November 14)
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Christmas Day
(December 25)
Several Islamic
religious holidays are observed by their precise
dates vary by about two weeks every year in line
with the Islamic calendar that is used to
determine religious holidays.
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Muslim New Year
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Prophets
Birthday
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Eid Al Fiter
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Eid
Al Adha
Medical Services :
Medical services are excellent
in Jordan larger cities and towns. Most doctors
are bilingual in Arabic and English. All hotels
have a doctor on call, embassies can also suggest
a doctor or a hospital.
Useful Numbers:
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