PalmettoMelUSA

We have a rental car and plan to drive from Jerusalem to Eilat, and then get a cab to Petra, where we will stay for two nights. Does anyone know of a safe place we can park our car in Eilat for those two nights? Thanks, Fodorites --

unaS

AFAIK taxis cannot cross the border. You can get to the border by taxi, walk across and then try to get another taxi there.

I strongly suggest that you read Ruth's site Jordan Jubilee for the finer details:
http://www.jordanjubilee.com/

Sorry I cannot recommend a place to leave the car in Eilat. Perhaps the agency that you are renting from has an office there, or an agreement with another car rental agency there?

PalmettoMelUSA

Thank you, unaS. We will check when we arrive in Eilat tomorrow. We're hoping the weather is better down there than here in Jerusalem! Friends have warned us to be very careful driving on 90 in rainy weather. We're excited about seeing Petra, though!

PalmettoMelUSA

Well, we were warned! We drove through 2 flash flood areas (waited in the mess for 3 hours and finally drove through raging water) and made it to Eilat. The next morning, after going through passport control at the Israel-Jordan border crossing and buying visas, an Israeli policeman asked where we were going. When we told him Petra, he said all roads to Petra were closed because of the snowstorm. We were surprised, but it turned out to be a really bad storm and many tourists were stranded at Petra and had to be lifted out by helicopter! We had to drive back to Jerusalem through the Negev desert since the road we'd driven on the day before was closed as well. Guess we'll have to visit Petra another time! Thanks for your help anyway. See you in the forums.

unaS

Sorry for the problems. Yes, it was on the news - the rain and snow was really wide spread if not a large amount this time. Hope you get another chance in the future. Petra is worth seeing.