Jordan Travel Tips & Useful Info

You should seek medical advice from your local health practitioner before travelling to Jordan and ensure that you receive the appropriate vaccinations. As a guide Tetanus, Diphtheria and Hepatitis A are strongly recommended. For more information on health advice for Jordan, check out the NHS Fit to Travel page or the CDC Traveler's Health page.

The tap water in Jordan is not considered safe to drink. We strongly recommend that you only drink bottled mineral water, which is readily available in shops, hotels and restaurants across the country.

Tipping in Jordan isn't mandatory and is not as widespread as in other destinations, but it is always appreciated! A good way to tip in Jordan is to leave approximately 10% of your bill in restaurants. USD $2 per day is an approximate amount to leave bellhops, porters and hotel maids. Taxi drivers will not expect tips but they will always appreciate it if you round up your bill, it will make a great difference to them. You might also want to tip your tour guide if they have done a good job. A normal amount would be about USD $2-3 per person.

While it is safe for women to travel alone to Jordan, you should expect to be looked at. Staring is not considered rude in Jordan and Western women are still considered vaguely exotic. Jordan is a predominantly Islamic country and its people adhere to many traditional views, including the dominance of men. Women are expected to cover up and, in more rural areas, to sit in separate areas from men in restaurants and on public transport. If the hassling becomes overwhelming, a firm and polite ‘no’ should do the trick. Alternatively, wearing a ring and saying you have a husband is usually an adequate deterrent. Remember to dress appropriately and respect the culture and customs of the country and take extra care when out alone at night.

The following goods may be brought into Jordan by people 18 years of age and older without incurring customs duty:

• 200 cigarettes, 25 cigars or 200g of tobacco
• 1 litre of alcoholic drinks
• One or two opened bottles of perfume
• Gifts up to the value of USD $281

The following are banned from being imported into Jordan: narcotics, firearms and ammunition, and pornography.

The currency of Jordan is the Jordanian Dinar. Check OANDA for the latest exchange rates.

Pound Sterling, US Dollars, Euro and other major currencies can be exchanged in Jordan. Exchange facilities are available at various bureau de changes, and banks in major towns have ATMs. It's advisable to request bank notes in smaller denominations, as it can sometimes be hard to get change from large notes and smaller notes are handy for smaller purchases and gratuities.

Traveller's Cheques are not recommended as they're often difficult to exchange and incur high fees.

You may find this surprising, but Jordan is a much more expensive country than neighbouring Egypt, and prices are more comparable to Western democracies. For example, an inexpensive meal from a cheap restaurant or street food vendor will usually cost around USD $5-10 while a three course meal with drinks at a fancy eatery could set you back up to about USD $50. A double room in a nice, mid-range hotel will normally come to around USD $70 and renting a car will probably cost roughly USD $35 per day, depending on the car. It is quite hard to get around Jordan by public transport so car hire is recommended. Daily living could cost anything from USD $50-150 per day, according to your budget.

Standard voltage is 220 volts. Primary sockets require the European, two pronged variety. We recommend that you pack a universal travel adaptor. You will need to bring a voltage converter and plug adaptor in order to use U.S. appliances.

Whilst internet coverage can be a bit patchy in remote areas, you are likely to find reliable WiFi in most restaurants, hotels, shopping malls, bars and cafes in Jordan's towns and cities.

Jordan is 2 hours ahead of Greenwich Meantime (GMT). From the last Sunday in March to the last Sunday in October Jordan observes Daylight Saving and is 3 hours ahead of GMT.