BostonHarbor

Hello everyone, I'm spreading my Asia board wings and flying over the the Middle East forum.

I have searched the forums and couldn't find an exact answer for what I was looking for so I am asking for your assistance.

My next trip is Egypt/Jordan in February with my regular travel buddy, my old (or at least getting older) best friend and college roommate. We end up in Jordan (Petra/Jeresh) and she is leaving a day and a half before me. I am staying in Amman at the Four Seasons for two nights before heading back to Boston, and asked if they could arrange a car and guide. Well, they could for the (gulp) princely sum of over $600 for one day(and that's the "cheap" car!).

I have a few questions:

1) do I even need a guide or just a driver if I am just going to kick around Amman for the day?

2) Approximately what should I expect a reasonable amount should be to pay for a car and English speaking driver? I want an "official" driver (or at least one well known by Middle East board fodorites) as I am solo woman at this point in my trip and, although adventurous, am also careful.

3) has anyone ever seen/heard of a female guide in Jordan or does that just not happen? I have searched everywhere and although there are lots of female guides in Egypt, they don't seem to exist in Jordan.

4) anything I should not miss?

Thanks to those of you who have posted such great trip reports on Egypt and Jordan. Your tips and ideas are fabulous!

patlanta

Hi Boston, This is your "followerquot; Vietnam (Whistle woman picture and incense sticks)and upcoming India with Egypt/Jordan later. Wanted to be sure you read Liz and Richard's 2008 Adventures as I thought their presentation of Jordan was wonderful--I was ready to pack!

Their post is under Elizabeth_S

Enjoy your trip. I'll look forward to your slideshows.

Elizabeth_S

Hi Boston Harbor (and thanks patlanta!)

We had a wonderful driver and guide in Jordan - while I don't know how much the individual charges were I can't imagine it's anywhere near that considering our overall costs (sorry - our Jordan costs were one total number)

Anyway - our driver's name is Bashar Herzalla - he is with Gulf Holidays and his email is

[email protected]

He is a lovely man - and our guide was Osamah Twal - he works freelance for Gulf Holidays.

Here's a link to our blog - I don't know what your plans are but you might want to consider spending your final nights at the Dead Sea (only about 45 minutes from Amman) ..... although the weather in February may not be that great for swimming now that I think about it (we had snow in January!)

Happy to answer any questions

http://lizandrichardsa.typepad.com/l..._adv/d_jordan/

BostonHarbor

Thanks Patanta and Elizabeth. I will read Elizabeth and Richard's blog and thank you Elizabeth for the recommendation for a guide.

And Patlanta--I just bought a new lense for my camera, a Nikon 18-200 VR, so I'll have lots of new and hopefully even better photos on this trip. Now, if I decide to do a safari for my next trip, I know that I am in minor leagues when it comes to lenses/photos with the safari crew on this board(with some of the posts I've read and photos I've seen--geez--there are real pros over here on the Africa board.)

Anyway, I can't wait for February and this trip to Egypt and Jordan. You can just keep following me around the world. Machu Pichu isn't far away

Leslie_S

Hi - I also want to add that when I was there with my mom this spring we had one free day in Amman and just took a taxi (maybe $5) from our hotel to the downtown area called (if I remember correctly) the citadel -- where there are ruins and the National Archeological Musueum. Also near that is the huge Roman arena and 2 other small museums at the arena entrance. It was within walking distance but would take a while to walk so we taxi-ed from the one area to the other (cheap). So -- that could be another inexpensive option for you. The archeological museum was small but very cool. Lots of neat things including pieces of the Dead Sea Scrolls.

Visiting those areas might not be a full day's worth - I think we spent half a day there.

I would think if you have other places in Amman or nearby that you want to see, a taxi would be fine. Our hotel offered us a "hotel taxi" for the day but when we declined that and explained we just wanted to get dropped off at the museum they got a taxi brought to the front door and explained to the driver where we wanted to go. He did speak English (as did everyone else we were in contact with in Jordan). The other taxis we took were clearly marked -- there are tons of them around.

Have fun! Loved Jordan (and, of course, Egypt too)!

sandi

In addition to local taxis for sites within Amman proper, if you wanted to visit Jerash which is located about 30/min drive outside of Amman, you can probably arrange a taxi to take and wait for you. I'd arrange the fee beforehand and provide a nice tip. Jerash is fascinating.

Otherwise, it's perfectly safe for a woman traveling alone. Though you'll see many women covered, there are plenty that are not... in Western attire. In fact, the malls at the northern part of Amman are much as they are in the States, which every imagineable shop with known names.

Just remember, to be conservative in dress. Slacks or skirt are fine, but no bare arms, shorts, backless/halter tops. Wear comfy shoes as the grounds at many sites are uneven with dirt and sand.

Have fun!

patlanta

Boston, You'd be fine on safari with picture taking. I've done two safaris with a Canon S2 and S3 (last month) and got terrific photos. The latest chuckle is because I couldn't see a leopard in a tree on the very last day at the very last hour, but he appeared in my last photo when I brought them up on my PC (following ten tree branch and brush pictures). Moral: Aim, focus, and take the picture; you'll be pleasantly surprised.

LeighTravelClub

Hi BostonHarbour,

can't help with your guide questions, but here area couple of should not miss. (imo)

We enjoyed Luxor most of all during our trip to Egypt. We hired a guide for most of our visits to the main sites and his input really added to our experiences. The Tombs of the Nobles is a less visited site as is Deir el Medina and both are not to be missed.

In Jordan, of course Petra is a must and so too is at least a day trip to Wadi Rum.
The drive between Amman and Aqaba is stunning.
Eurocar, will arrange a driver to meet you at Aqaba and take you to Amman in a full size car for JD80. So they may be worth contacting for a price for one day in and around Amman.

The following link is to a service used by one of our club members with complete satisfaction.

http://www.taxi-services.org/index.html

BostonHarbor

Elizabeth, what a wonderful blog! Your sense of humour and narrative are captivating, and you and Richard have given me such great ideas for framing photos--in both Jordan and along the Nile. I'm spending five days in Cairo/Alexandria as well, so should have time to see many of the nooks and crannies there. I love photographing nooks and crannies

With your suggestion for guides and that of LeighTravelClub, I feel I should be all set. I also appreciate the tips from you and others of what not to miss.

I believe my day in Amman (after the prior three days in Petra and Jerash) will be great fun. With all the warm comments about the Jordanian people, I can't wait to meet them!