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Jordan

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About Jordan

The fact that the great Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan has managed to stand tall while many other countries around it has fallen, serves as a solid proof of its stability and interdependence. Jordan is a melting pot of Arabian cultures, which is known for its naturalistic beauty, ancient sites and wonders. There are numerous activities and adventures you can indulge in; from the relaxing natural mineral therapy of the Dead Sea to the mesmerizing exquisiteness of Wadi Rum. You can’t help but fall in love with the kindness of the Jordanian people, who will leave you in awe. Great scenes, great food, great people; what more you could ask for?

Airports are hustling and bustling with activity, and navigating them at the best of times can be daunting. Now, imagine arriving in an international airport in a foreign country where the customs and formalities are unknown to you. Fear not, Citadel Tours offers private airport transfers from International airports in Jordan. We will pick you up and escort you to your hotel.

After a long flight, the last thing you’ll want to do is face unfamiliar public transit or the taxi queue. Let us do the heavy lifting, while you sit back and take in your new surroundings. Included in our tour prices are both arrival and departure airport transfers, however Citadel Tours also offers private airport transfers to the public at reasonable prices for groups of all sizes. Each Citadel Tour representative is intimately familiar with the countries we operate in, making them a useful resource for your first few moments a new city! We’ll take you right to your hotel, and answer your questions along the way. We know where all the best restaurants, dry cleaners, and shopping can be found, just ask!

Citadel Tours offers both arrival and departure private airport transfers throughout  Jordan. Competitively priced private transfers are available for one direction, or both depending on your travel itinerary.

Capital

Amman

Visa

Most tourists require a visa to enter Jordan. A single entry visa can be obtained at the borders. Cash is the only method of payment. A multi entry visa can be obtained only through a Jordanian consulate in your home country.

Upon arrival at the Jordan International Airport, you can purchase your single entry visa at a banking institution located before the Customs and Immigration office. We highly recommended that you check the required visa updates through the Jordanian embassy or consulate in your home country before your departure.

A departure tax is applicable at all land and sea border crossings. Passports must be valid for at least six months beyond your expected departure date from Jordan.

Weather

Jordan has a Mediterranean climate that allows for travel throughout the year. However, the weather can vary during each season throughout the country. The best time to visit Jordan is during the spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) when the weather is mild and warm. Summers (July to late August) are hot and humid. Winter (December to late February) can be surprisingly cold, especially in the deserts. Snow in Amman and Petra is not uncommon.

Health

There are no mandatory vaccinations for travellers to Jordan. However, the following vaccinations are recommended when visiting Jordan:

  • Diphtheria
  • Hepatitis A & B
  • Tetanus
  • Typhoid
  • Rabies

This information is not updated. Please check with your local travel clinic for the updated list of required vaccinations. We strongly recommend contacting your travel clinic at least 2 months before your departure.

Money

The currency is the Jordanian Dinar (JD) and consists of bills and coins. Credit cards and ATM cards can be used at banks, ATM machines and exchange offices at majority of the places you are visiting. You should inform your bank that you will be travelling out of the country so they may activate your cards internationally. For security reasons, banks and credit card companies have been known to block cards when clients are withdrawing cash in Jordan, thinking them to be fraudulent transactions.  We strongly recommend bringing cash along with your cards.

Electricity

Electricity in Jordan is 220 V, 50 Hz. Most commonly found is the European two round prong plugs. You will need an adaptor/converter for North American appliances.

Communications

  1. Email

Internet is available in most cities throughout Jordan. Hotels usually offer wireless service or access to an internet cafe. Additional cafes are available throughout major cities and are generally inexpensive.

  1. Telephone

International calls are usually expensive. Many hotels offer this service for an additional charge. Public pay phones are the least expensive option, though not always efficient for international calls. There is good mobile coverage and roaming service available. Please check with your cell phone service provider regarding roaming and rates. Some cell phone providers offer a vacation phone package with a SIM card.

  1. Postage

Postage is reliable and a reasonable way to share your journey with family friends. Post offices and mailboxes are available everywhere. Shipping is also available through post offices or a number of international courier services, including DHL, FedEx, TNT International.

Food & Drinks

Jordan has a large variety of food options available, including Western cuisine, however; you must taste the delicious, authentic Jordanian food. Some famous Jordanian dishes consist of Hummus, Mansaf, Kebab, falafel and shwerma.

We recommend a few tips with regards to food & drink: eat only foods that are thoroughly cooked, and raw fruits and vegetables that you have peeled yourself. Avoid fresh salads unless the vegetables are washed with purified water, and avoid dairy products that are unpasteurized or may not have been refrigerated properly. Don not buy food from street vendors or stalls.

Tap water in the city is heavily chlorinated, and the excessive chlorination can make some people feel ill. So we highly recommended drinking only bottled drinks or purified water at all times. Avoid tap water, fountain drinks and ice cubes. Bottled water is readily available, but make sure the bottles have been properly sealed.

Opening hours

It is always advisable to call ahead to ensure your specific location is open for business when you intend to visit.

Offices: 08:30–18:00 Sunday to Thursday
Government: 08:30–15:00 Saturday to Thursday
Stores/shops: 09:00–20:00 Saturday to Thursday
Banks: 08:30-15:00 Sunday to Thursday

Shopping

This will definitely be one of the highlights of your trip. We always think about a gift or souvenir to bring home that will remind us about the place we visited. Souvenirs can hold special meaning about your journey and we encourage our clients to shop moderately. The shopping experience allows you to interact with local people and experience the culture. The following is a list of popular souvenir choices from Jordan: traditional pottery, hand woven rugs and decorative cushions, hand crafts, spices and herbs.

As you approach a tourist market or souq in the big cites, get ready for adventure. Middle Eastern markets are open in the morning and close around 10 pm. They are a place to sit with friends and observe the hectic daily Jordanian life. A few different markets require you to haggle and bargain to negotiate the best price possible. If you are shopping in a tourist or local market, definitely you will be required to haggle hard to get the cheapest price. Usually vendors start with 20 times higher than the original price and your response would be to ignore and walk a few steps away. The vendor will reduce the price by 5% and now negotiating begins. The experience is always fun and doesn’t take a long time. Most of the vendors are friendly enjoy engaging in conversation with visitors. There are also big modern stores or shopping malls available. The prices are fixed and labelled.

Tipping

It is the way of life in the Middle East; when a service is offered, gratuity is expected. Service industry employees (e.g. restaurants, coffee shops, gas stations) have very low salaries and are compensated with tips. We have developed a system called a tipping kitty. We have set precisely the minimum tip for every service included in the itinerary and it will act as your guideline. However, the bottom line remains that you have to be satisfied with the service before you tip anyone. The list would be attached with your final tour documents. If you would like to tip over the minimum, it is up to you. With regards to other services not included in your itinerary (eg. public restaurant), you should check the bill and leave 5 – 10 % of the bill.

Language

Arabic is the official language in Jordan. However, the Arabic spoken on the streets differs significantly from the standard or classical Arabic written in newspapers, spoken on the radio or recited in the mosque.

Here are some basic words that will be helpful as you attempt to reach out to locals in their language.

  • Yes: I-ewa or naam
  • No: La
  • Please: Min fudluck (male)/Min fudlik (female)
  • Thank you: Shukran
  • You’re welcome: Afwan or el afw
  • Sorry/excuse me: Assef
  • Welcome: Marhaba (informal hello)
  • Welcome: Ah-lan
  • Response to welcome: Ahlan wa sahlan
  • Never mind: Ma’alish
  • Good morning: Sabah el-kheir
  • Good evening: Masa el-kheir
  • Good night: Tesbah ala kheir
  • Goodbye: Ma’asalameh

Culture

  1. People

Jordanian are a very friendly and generous people. By respecting the culture and with consideration for your hosts, you can be a welcomed guest in Jordan. Jordanians enjoy approaching tourists in order to engage in conversation to practice their English. Just remember, it is not western country and they have their own customs. Listed are some tips that could help better understand the Jordanian etiquette. Handshakes are customary among people of the same genders, once a relationship exists; it’s common among members of the same gender to kiss on either cheek in succession while shaking hands. Men should wait for the woman to extend her hand first. If she doesn’t, he should bow his head instead. Things to avoid include: pointing at people, crossing your legs when seated and pointing the soles of your feet at anyone, public displays of affection with the opposite sex, placing religious books on the floor and joking about Islam, Mohammed or Muslim practices.

  1. Dress code

Jordan is a Muslim country and the dress codes vary in different cities. The big cities are moderately conservative, but the smaller cities and villages are very conservative. Locals are used to seeing tourists in the famous sites throughout the country. When you are visiting Amman, you can wear half sleeve shirts and Capri pants. When visiting religious sites, men are required to wear pants and women are required to cover their hair and show no bare arms or legs. At the tourist sites and in the cities, you can wear knee length shorts and skirts. You are free to wear whatever you like at the beach resorts, but please consider that locals are everywhere. When you are visiting any local market or bazaar, please consider long or short sleeve shirts and Capri or long pants.

  1. Religion

Jordanian law allows the practice of religions other than Islam, however; Islam is the national religion. Ninety two percent of Jordanian’s population is Muslim, with a Sunni majority. Eight percent of the population is Coptic Christian or other forms of Christianity.

Jordan’s Holidays 2012

Christmas Day
Celebrates the nativity of Jesus Christ
Tuesday, January 25, 2012
New Year Tuesday, January 01, 2012
King Abdullah II Birthday Wednesday, January 30, 2012
Prophet Mohamed’s Birthday Sunday, February 5, 2012
King Abdullah II Birthday
Wednesday, January 30, 2012
Labor Day Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Independence Day Monday, May 25, 2012
King Abdullah II Accession Saturday, June 09,2012
Bairam Feast / Eid al-Fitr
Ramadan Feast. Islamic religious holiday for 3 days
Sunday, August 19, 2012
Qurban / Eid al-Adha
Sacrifice Feast. Islamic religious holiday for 4 days
Friday, October 26, 2012
Islamic New Year
New year based on the lunar Islamic calendar
Thursday, November 15, 2012

09:00–20:00

Ramadan

Ramadan is a big celebration for Muslims in the country. It is a really good time to visit and experience the atmosphere and evening celebrations. During Ramadan, the opening hours of shops and restaurants change slightly, however, this typically does not affect tourism. Stores and shops are shut down during the sunset time and opens after. The evening and nights are the liveliest time during this celebration, when shops and restaurants extend their hours late into the night. Alcohol is difficult to get hold of.

Essentials

  • Passport
  • Airline Ticket
  • Tour vouchers
  • Insurance policy
  • Visa
  • Label on your travel bags
  • Money & Credit cards
  • Excitement
  • Petra
  • Wadi Rum
  • Amman Roman Theater
  • Jerash
  • Aqaba Free Zone
  • Mount Nebo
  • Madaba Mosaic
  • Dead Sea
  •  Private Tours
  •  Tailor Made Tours
  •  Private Groups
  •  Escorted Groups
  •  Hotel Booking
  •  Transfers
  •  Short Break Tours
  •  Days Trips