4.1. Transportation
a) Flight Connections
There are two international airports in Jordan: Amman and Aqaba. Amman's Queen
Alia International Airport is located 32 km south of Amman and is served by
taxi and bus transport. Another small airport is at Marqa, one of the old
areas of Amman. The national carrier, Royal Jordanian Airways, supplies direct
passenger and freight service and links Amman with most capitals throughout
Europe, Asia, North and South America and the Middle East.
Other airlines serving Jordan from Europe for example are: Air France, KLM,
Austrian Airways, Lufthansa, Egypt Air, Alitalia, Tarom, CSA, Turkish Airlines
and charter flights.
Early in 1996 a private Jordanian airline, "Arab Wings", started
operating between Amman and Aqaba several times a day. The price for a one-way
ticket is 25 JD for Jordanians and 30 JD for tourists. There are daily connections
with Arab Wings between Amman and Tel Aviv ($ 77 one-way and $ 144 return).
Arab Wings departs from the airport in Marqa.
The latest project of Arab Wings is a helicopter charter service. Their fleet
increased by 2 helicopters that offer 20 seats for passengers.
b) Tourist Buses
For many years JETT (Jordan Express Travel & Tourism) Bus Company had
had the monopoly for tourist transport in Jordan. However a few years ago
two new bus companies, "Alpha bus" and "Petra Bus", were
established. These new companies offer new luxurious buses and forced JETT
Company to improve its service.
Unfortunately these new companies had some difficulties in competing with
JETT Company. In the beginning of 1998 the 3 bus companies were reunited under
the management of JETT Company. A new kind of monopoly started and the rates
drastically increased.
c) Bus, Train and Ferry
Connections
JETT Company offers regular bus connections to Damascus, Cairo, Iraq, Aqaba,
Petra, Zarqa Ma'in and to Allenby Bridge.
Taxis: Yellow taxis, with meters, are relatively inexpensive and a convenient
way to move around. White service taxis set routes with standard fares, stopping
on request.
Amman is connected with the neighbouring countries by following lines:
Amman-Damascus: Twice a week (Mondays and Thursdays) by train and twice a day by JETT bus. Service taxis are serving this destination as well.
Amman-Allenby Bridge: Every day, with the exception when the bridge is closed, JETT bus is operating early in the morning. You can use service taxis as well.
Egypt (Nuweiba & Cairo):
There is a ferry boat and a speed boat operating between Aqaba and Nuweiba
. The departure of the ferry is at 12.00h and 18.00h and the speed boat leaves
at 12.00h; the tickets of the ferry cost $ 21 and the speed boat $ 28.
JETT Company is offering twice per week (Saturday/Tuesday) a trip from Amman
to Cairo.
Amman-Baghdad: There are several daily bus connections and service taxis between Amman and Baghdad.
Domestic connections: Unfortunately not all tourist sites in Jordan can be reached by public transportation. JETT bus only is operating four times a day between Amman and Aqaba, once a day from Amman to Petra and once a day to the hot springs in Zarqa Ma'in. The line between Aqaba and Petra has been cancelled. From Aqaba Petra can only be reached by taxi or service taxi, which is mainly only used by Jordanians. You can also rent a car or you can visit Petra with an organised tour.
e) Car Rental and Driving
in Jordan
Amman and the main towns and villages in Jordan are linked by good roads and
most of the tourist sites can also be reached by car. Roads are marked by
Arabic and English international road signs. Vehicles drive on the right.
A license valid in the holder´s country of origin is usually acceptable
if it has been held for at least one year.
Car rental in Jordan is rather expensive as taxes for imported cars are incredibly
high.
Those rented cars arranged by Ashtar Tours are fully insured. In case of an
accident, the customer shall inform the nearest police station within 24 hours
and shall obtain a police report of the accident. Personal Liability in case
of an accident will be 200 JD. Even if the accident was not your fault you
might be charged: the other person might not be insured and may have no financial
resources. Or in case you don´t obtain a police report.
Personal liability of 200 JD can be avoided if you book a special insurance.
Contents of the Guide Book
| 1. | Welcome to Jordan |
| 2.. | The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan |
| 2.1. | Geography, Climate and Borders |
| 2.2. | Entry and Departure Procedures |
| 2.3 | Population |
| 2.4. | Currency |
| 2.5. | History |
| 2.6. |
Government |
| 2.7. | Economy |
| 3. | Jordan, where the Adventure awaits you |
| 3.2 | Amman, the Dynamic Capital City |
| 3.2. | The
Kings´Highway (Madaba, Mt. Nebo, Mukawir, Wadi Mujib, Karak, Shobak) |
| 3.3. | Petra, the Spectacular Rose-Red City |
| 3.4. | The Cities of Decapolis (Pella, Gadara, Abila, Philadelphia, Gerasa, Umm el Jimal) |
| 3.5.. |
Following
the Footsteps of "Lawrence of Arabia"; |
| 3.6. | Aqaba, Jordan´s year-round Red Sea Resort |
| 3.7. | The Dead Sea and Termal Spas; The healing power of the Dead Sea; The Hot Springs of Zarqa Ma´in |
| 3.8. | Biblical Sites in Jordan |
| 3.8.1. | The
Biblical Sites from North to South; Gadara, Anjara, Pella, Bethany, Machaerus, Madaba, Mt. Nebo, the Kings´Highway, Wadi Musa, Sodom & Gomorra, Ayla |
| 3.9. | Nature Reserves in Jordan; Wadi Rum, Dana, Zubia, Azraq, Shaumari |
| 4. | The Tourist Facilities in Jordan |
| 4.1. | Transportation;
Flight Connections, Tourist Buses, Bus-, Train-, Ferry-Connections; Car Rental and Driving in Jordan |
| 4.2. | Communication |
| 4.3. | Sports; Aquatic Sports and Diving; Horseback Riding and Camel Trips; Ballooning; Glimbing and Hang-gliding |
| 4.4. | Culture and Entertainment; Museums and Galleries; Festivals; Other Entertainments |
| 4.5. | Restaurants |
| 4.6. | Shopping and Souvenirs |
| 4.7. | Tourist Guides |
| 4.8. | Accommodation; |
| 5. | Incentive Travel |
| 5.1. | Incentive Special Events |
| 6. | Helpful Facts about Jordan |
| 6.1. | Best Time to Travel and Safty |
| 6.2. | Tipping (Bakshish) |
| 6.3. | Holidays, Ramadan, Business Hours |
| 6.4. | Local Customs - How to Dress? |
| 6.5. | Electric Current, Water Supply |