Some travel tips
Clothing
Women in Jordan are not required to wear head scarves or face covers. It
is up to the visitor's discretion to choose the appropriate attire keeping
in mind the relative conservatism of Middle Eastern societies.
Swimming attire should only be worn around swimming pools or beaches and
not in public places.
Even summer evenings can be quite cool, so one should be prepared to wear
a shawl or sweater.
Winters are cold, windy and rainy. Heavy snow is not unusual.
Alcoholic Beverages
They are widely available in hotels, restaurants, bars and some shops.
Drinking is strictly prohibited on streets.
Photography
One hour developing is widely available. All sorts of films, cameras,
disposable cameras, camcorders are available. Like in any country, it is
advisable that one asks permission before photographing strangers.
Metric system
Jordan local time is seven hours ahead of American Eastern Standard Time.
From October through March, Jordan is two hours ahead of Greenwich Mean
Time. The rest of the year, Jordan is three hours ahead of GMT.
Most Jordanians work five days a week with Friday and Saturday off, but
business and shopping hours are flexible. Some establishments are open from
9:30 - 13:30 and again from 15:30 to 18:00. Others may be open straight
through the day, from 08:00 to 20:00
Government offices are open from 08:30 - 15:00. All businesses and most
shops, other than those in the souqs, are closed on Fridays. During the Holy
Month of Ramadan, working hours are more flexible and generally shorter.
The weather in Jordan is pleasurable for travel throughout the
year. Amman is sunny and cloudless from May to October, with temperatures
averaging approximately 25C (75 F). During the spring, the most beautiful
season in Jordan, fields and mountains are coated with rich greenery and
exquisite wildflowers. In autumn, the weather is mild and pleasant. July and
August are hot and dry, but not restrictive of tourist activities. The
valleys and Aqaba are ideal winter resorts, with temperatures averaging
16-22 C (66-72 F) between November and April. Rainfall is a rare occurence
in Aqaba as well as in the desert areas of Jordan.
National holidays
- New Year's Day : 1 January
- King Abdullah II's Birthday : 30 January
- Labor Day : 1 May
- Independence Day : 25 May
- The Late King Hussein's Birthday : 14 November
- Christmas Day : 25 December
The following Islamic holidays are based on the lunar calendar:
- Eid Al – Fitr: a 3-day feast marking the end of Ramadan.
- Eid Al- Adha: a 4-day holiday, which is the feast at the end of
Haj, or the month of Pilgrimage to Mecca.
- First of Muharam: Islamic New Year.
- Eid Al Isra Wal Mi'raj: The Prophet Mohammad's night Journey
from Mecca to Jerusalem and his ascension to heavens.
- The Birth of Prophet Mohammad.
Potable water is a precious resource in Jordan. However, hotels rated
three-star or better have their own water filtering systems (their water is
considered safe to drink) and bottled water is cheap and readily available.
As for electricity, 200V; 50 cycles; rounded two-prong plugs are used.
Transformers and adapters are widely available.
Modern medical services are readily available in Jordan's larger cities
and towns and the bigger hotels normally have a doctor on call. Most doctors
speak English fluently.
Pharmacies can provide medication for minor aliments, but travelers
should carry their own prescription medication.
Few specific facilities for those with special physical requirements
exist in Jordan, although local people will do their best to assist people
in need. Nevertheless, the accessibility of some tourist sites is very
limited; it is advisable to call ahead to establish if special needs can be
met. At Petra, for example, horse-drawn carriages to the main sites can be
arranged in special cases.
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Darotel
Hotel Amman
Private Full Day Tour of Petra