Jordan & Petra
 

Looking to plan a quick trip over to Jordan to spend some time at the Petra.
I don't know ANYTHING about this part of the world and leaving from the NYC area. Here are my questions:

1. How many days/nights would you recommend at a minimum level (we don't shop, we just want to spend time at historical sites). Canthis be done on a long weekend?
2. What airline to recommend direct and how are luxury accommodations value-wise compared to Europe, NYC, Tokyo, Asia?
3. Recommend booking sites or tour operator for this quick trip?

We returned from Petra about 2 wks ago. We spent 3 nights which we believe is sufficient. We stayed at the Movenpick Hotel right outside the entrance. great location, very nice hotel. We did not like the buffet supper there. We ate in the town as there is many restaurants nearby. Especially the Red Cave. How are you getting to Petra? Where are you flying into? We crossed at Aqaba bet Israel and Jordan, this is a 2 hour taxi ride. The driver told us it is 3 hrs. from Amman.

From NYC, when we visited years ago, flew "direct" with stop in AMSterdam for crew change (no plane change) then onto Amman via Royal Jordanian.

In Amman you will find hotels at every budget with prices much as elsewhere around the world for lux, though everyone's idea of lux differs. You'd have to check which would suit your needs and their rates.

From AMM, you can arrange thru your hotel or independent Tour Operator for a private guide/vehicle to Petra, about a 3-3.5/hr drive; view the site with a site guide... inexpensive plus a tip. Then return to AMM. You can also stay longer with a hotel overnight at Petra, all of which can be discussed with the Tour Operator.

We visited Petra as a 1/day trip - down early morning, tour, lunch, return to AMM, but many feel and rightly so, that at least 2/days is better. There are many hotels in the area, some closer to the entry, at various budgets.

Do a search on this borad for Jordan (or Petra) Tour Operators for names of some in-country outfitters that have been used.

Grandmaster 314,

We were in Jordon for 6 days - It is a great place to visit.
We spent 2 days in Petra ( highly recommended) , 1 day in Wadi Rum and a great day in Dead Sea. In Petra we stayed at the Marriot - it was very good and low rates compared to the US and Japan. You can camp at Wadi Rum if you like and dance with the Bedoiuns ( if you enjoy that type of thing) . Finally the Movenpick at the Dead Sea resort was really good - the mud massage at the sea is good for the skin. We also drove north of Amman to Jerash and Ajoulun Castle - these are well kept ruins if you are interested. On the way we stopped at Madaba, Mt.Nebo ( Moses saw the promised land from here) and Jordon River the site of Jesus's baptism. Overall we had a great trip and wished we had spent more time. I had the card of our guide Mohammed who I would highly recommend - will send you more details if you are interested.

Grandmaster314-our family is also in the process of planning a trip to Jordan. We are taking Delta nonstop to Amman from JFK and then hopefully over to Cairo and then back nonstop to JFK from there. If you have any information on hotels you have been recommended,etc. would greatly appreciate it as we are trying to this trip on our own to save some money. Thanks!