Jordan Useful Info

Voltage

220 Volts. Sockets are of the European, 2 pronged variety. If taking a hairdryer or camcorder, be sure to pack a power adaptor.

Health

It is recommended that you be vaccinated for Tetanus and Polio, if you haven't had a booster in the last ten years. Food and waterborne diseases are more common, so we recommend vaccinations for typhoid (valid 3 years) and Hepatitis A (validity varies). Additionally, we recommend you be vaccinated for Meningitis due to recent reports that have indicated its presence. However this information can change regularly and is intended only as a guide. For the most up to date and accurate information please consult your local healthcare provider.

Climate

 Average daily maximum temperatures in Amman range from 12°C in January to 32°C in August. The weather in the Jordan Valley (Petra) and south of the country is very hot during the summer months of April through to September. Daytime temperatures can exceed 38°C and increase to as high as 49°C. In winter (Dec to Feb) temperatures can range from 0°C to just 12°C. If visiting during winter, you will need to pack warm clothes for sightseeing and also for your stay in the desert at Wadi Rum.

Average max temp °C

Time

Jordan is 2 hours ahead of GMT. From March to October, Jordan is 3 hours ahead of GMT.

Money

Pound Sterling, US Dollars, Euro and other major currencies can be exchanged into Jordanian Dinars before or on arrival. Exchange facilities are available at various bureau de changes and banks in major towns have ATMs.

Food, glorious food

Jordanian food is very good, combining many of the best traditions of Middle Eastern cooking. Try the ubiquitous kebabs, musakhan (a chicken dish that is baked on Arabic bread), farooj (spit-roasted chicken served with salad and bread), mensaf (the national dish - consisting of lamb served on a bed of rice and pine nuts, in a tangy yogurt sauce), fattayer and sambusek (small pastries filled with minced meat, sharp white cheese and spinach or herbs), fabulous unleavened breads, maglouba (a fish/meat stew) and very fine desserts. There’s a lot of open-pit cooking. Fresh figs and apricots are a real treat. Arabic coffee, mint tea and fruit drinks are available everywhere.

Shopping

Jordan offers a range of quality souvenirs. Look out for high-quality artefacts including rugs, pottery, paintings, jewellery, embroidery and woven items produced by local Jordanian women under the auspices of the Noor-Al Hussein Foundation and the Queen Alia Fund. A popular form of ceramic ware is ‘Jerusalem Pottery’. Platters are highly decorated with biblically-inspired designs including fish, peacocks, grapes and goblets of wine. Known as Hebron glass, colourful handmade glassware in brilliant colours is a nice buy, as is silver jewellery crafted by the Bedouin people. Dead Sea products of all guises, olive oil and soaps, sweetmeats and olive wood objects are also uniquely Jordanian souvenirs.

Tipping made easy

At the start of your tour, we take a nominal tipping kitty dependent upon tour from all tour participants to cover tips en route. This saves you the hassle of when and how much to tip bellhops, luggage luggers and other support staff through the tour. This amount doesn’t include tips to your tour leader or driver. We will advise you of the recommended tipping amount on the go guide but of course the amount is entirely up to you. Tipping is an entirely personal gesture.

If travelling on a tailor-made journey, in place of ‘tipping made easy’ we recommend a certain amounts per couple/two people per day, be allocated to cover tips paid directly by you to - bellhops, luggage handlers, your driver & local guides. A detailed breakdown of amounts will be outlined in your tailor-made documentation issued prior to departure.