|
Jordan Tourist InformationENTRY INTO JORDANVisa RequirementsVisa Entry into Jordan can be obtained upon arrival. The cost of one entry visa for all nationalities is JD 10 (around $14) for all nationalities and for multiple entries it is JD 20 (around $28). However, Groups of five persons or more arriving through a designated Jordanian tour operator are exempted from all visa charges.
The local currency is the Jordanian Dinar, symbol JD. There are 1, 5, 10, 20, 50 JD notes. Exchange rate: 1 JD = 1.42 USD. Currency can be exchanged at major banks, exchange booths and at most hotels. Street money-changers are best avoided. Exchange rates are set daily by the Jordanian Central Bank. CREDIT CARDSCredit cards are accepted at hotels, restaurants and larger shops, including American Express, Visa, Diners Club, and MasterCard. Please note that many smaller shops still prefer cash payment in the Jordanian currency, and it’s essential for shopping in the local souks. LANGUAGEThe official language of Jordan is Arabic, but English is widely spoken – especially in the cities. Many Jordanians have travelled or have been educated abroad so French, German, Italian and Spanish are also spoken, but to a lesser extent. CLIMATEThe climate depends on which part of the country you are in, as altitude ranges from 400 meters (1,312 feet) below mean sea level at dead sea, to 1850 meter above sea level at the Al-Shirah mountains. The climate tends to be dry during Summer, while Winter and Spring are cooler, and during these seasons most of the country's rainfall occurs. June to September are the hottest months of the year where temperature rises to about 32oC (89.6 F). ATTIREJordan is primarily a Muslim country, although the freedom of all religions is protected. Muslim women’s clothing often covers their arms, legs and hair. Western women are not subject to these customs, but very revealing clothing is never appropriate and conservative dress is advisable for both men and women in the old part of Amman (Downtown), and outside the cities. Shorts are rarely worn by either sex, and would be out of place in the downtown Amman area. Topless sunbathing is prohibited. The period between December and March is the coolest. Snowfall often occurs and temperatures stay around 15oC (59 F) during the day. SHOPPINGWherever you go in Jordan you will find plenty of opportunities to shop. For visitors there is a wide range of locally made handicrafts and other goods available at all the popular sites as well as within the boutiques of the leading hotel and at the various visitor centers. There you will find hand-woven rugs and cushions, beautifully embroidered items and clothing, traditional pottery, glassware, silver jewellery embedded with semi-precious stones, Bedouin knives, coffee pots, narghiles (hubble bubble/Hooka), marquetry work, antiques and other artifacts. The list is endless and about as varied as you can imagine. Take time to visit the souks in Jordan’s larger towns and cities. These are treasure troves for those seeking something a little bit out of the ordinary. Within the souks are also excellent gold and silver outlets, where some great bargains can be found. Also worth visiting are the busy market shops, especially for exotic spices, herbs and seasonings. TIPPINGMost 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 BUSINESS HOURS
Earlier closings are in effect during the month of Ramadan. ELECTRICAL CURRENT220 AC volts, 50 cycles, requiring rounded two-prong wall plugs. Visitors from the US will need a transformer which most hotels can provide. MEDICAL CAREMedical services are excellent in the larger cities and towns and most doctors are bilingual in Arabic and English. Larger hotels have a doctor on call and embassies can also suggest doctors and hospitals. COMMUNICATIONSTelephone services within Jordan are efficient and reliable. Directories in Arabic and English are widely available and international calls can be made from public and private phones. Fax services are available at most hotels while telegrams can be sent from post offices. Internet access is widespread via Internet cafes and hotels. POSTAL SERVICESAs well as post offices, most 4 and 5-star hotels offer postal services. Post office opening hours are:
There are also a number of international courier services, including DHL, FedEx, TNT International, UPS, etc.
|
