Greetings Everyone,

My family (5 adults) are planning a trip (well, I'm doing the planning) to Israel and Jordan next March. We'll travel independently, possibly hiring a local guide a day or two. We want to travel from Jerusalem to the Wadi Araba border crossing and make our way from south to north in Jordan.

What is the best way to make our way down to the Eilat crossing from Jerusalem without renting a car? I see that there's a public bus; is that comfortable? Are there any tour companies you can recommend who could provide that one-way transportation? Any thoughts from those of you who have been there would be appreciated!

Thanks,
Ellen

The bus is a very good option -- you do need to reserve seats in advance. This can be done in any major bus terminal once you are in Israel - reservations can be made up to 14 days in advance and up to a few hours before departure. The reason for the reservation is that often there will be more than one bus leaving at the same time and the company needs to know how many buses they will need.

The buses are comfortable, inter-city coaches with plenty of room for luggage in the lower section of the bus -- you load your own bags and get them once you arrive in Eilat. There is one rest stop along the way.

Your only other option, since you don't want to rent a car, is a private transfer - for 5 adults you would need someone with a van and that will be much more expensive.

Thanks, Oreet. I've read about the buses and it's good to know they're comfortable. They're certainly a more economical option than hiring a driver!