Petra Travel Forum

looks like im going to finally do it soon...

1. I understand that Israeli's DO NEED a visa to enter Jordan.
a. Any idea bout the costs
b. How long does it take to issue a visa ?
c. Do Egyptians need a visa ?

2. Would it be safe for me as a woman alone to take a taxi to Petra ??

3. I will meet my friend in Petra and we'll need a guide (i guess),
a. Any personal recommendations for good tourist guides ?
b. Are two days relatively enough to explore Petra area ?

4. Any personal reccomendations for nice hotels in Petra area ?

5. If we'll go for 3 days, any other idea for something not
too far from Petra to visit ?

Any help will be appreciated. Thanks.

Sharon.

I'm not really sure about the visas, but i do know that I would not take a taxi all the way to petra from amman. Take the bus.It's safer and less expensive. Also, you don;t really need a guide in perta. Everything is very self explanatory. Two days will be enough time for sure. Go to the Movinpick hotel in Petra. It's really nice and not that expensive. You should go to Wadi Rum or Aqaba after.

opppsss ...sorry, i forgot to menton that i'll be crossing
the Aqaba border so im not coming through Amman.

However looks like my friend will be coming from Amman
so it will be nice to get some tips about which bus and
any other detail that can help.
Regarding the muvenpick.. yes i've seen this hotel used by
some of my friends here so im going to check it too but
i'll be happy to here of more options.


Thanks.
Sharon.

Hello,

According to http://www.mfa.gov.jo/pages.php?menu_id=85 Israelis need a visa but can obtain it at the border. Egyptians don't need a visa.
As for a hotel : I stayed at the Crowne Plaza and can recommend it.
Two days are probably enough to see Petra, unless you're really into historical details.

George

Many thanks !! :-)

Ill check about the hotel and the gov. site.

Nice weekend.
S.

hi shazza,

looking forward to the trip already ;)

Me too ! i dreamt about it last night, will tell you about
it later when i'll be back home :-)

Yeah! Finally going! You'll enjoy it.

1 a/b/c: I don't recall ever waiting around in the Jordanian Immigration side for more than a very short period...they were surprisingly efficient and asked a few questions, looked through the luggage, and issued our paperwork pretty quickly. It's really painless.

2. I think it's perfectly safe for a woman traveling solo, to take a taxi to Petra. As well as I can remember, there are two or three taxis waiting around once you leave the Immigration area, in the parking lot behind the building. They know most people crossing there are going to Petra so that's where they make most of their money. Both times I did that I found the drivers to be polite, respectful and even friendly. I am confident you will have no problems at all.

3 a/b. I don't think you need a guide for Petra either, because there are pamphlets available (with "map") inside the building where you buy the ticket. For me this was sufficient. But if you're into the historical aspect and want more details, I think the hotels might have more info about guides. For example, if you emailed the Movenpik or one of those. OR, you might want to email these guys from the bedouin organization David and I were using (before you talked sense into me about leaving that adventure for some other time when I'm not pregnant!) and see what they have to suggest. They were very nice and professional. I'm sure that even if you are not going to use them, they would still be helpful and answer specific questions or give specific recommendations. They might also have programs that are just for the day (including guide for Petra, and surrounding area. I know they do nearby areas for exploration too). Check their website out and also email them:

http://www.bedouincamp.net/index.html

Two days are definitely enough for this specific area (Petra). In fact, I think one full day is enough...but two days are certainly relaxing and you can go at a nice, leisurely pace.

4. You know what I think about the Movenpik! There are two - we stayed at the one closest to the entrance, called the Petra Resort (the other one is further away, on a cliff, near the town of Wadi Musa. It looked great too). Find out what kind of an internet rate they're giving. I know you would like that hotel!

5. If I had 3 days for that area, I would want to climb up the mountain to visit Aaron's Tomb (you would definitely need a guide for that...and I'm not sure how/who to contact about such an activity. Even our taxi driver suggested we do that - but some other time when I'm not pregnant of course. But if you're not into climbing, then I think a desert 4x4 exploration of Wadi Rum (which is on the way to Petra) would be fascinating and beautiful. I know the above group does excursions to Wadi Rum.

Btw, the food at the Movenpik was great! And surprise surprise, but there's a restaurant in the middle of the Petra park that has a great buffet lunch, too. I remember we were the only ones eating there (well, we were pretty much the only ones in the park that day!) besides an Egyptian group of around 12 graduate students. They were enjoying the buffet too. It was delicious and I was happy to discover the food wasn't just some quick "park food" of inferior quality.

Have a great time and enjoy yourselves!!! I can't wait to see the pictures!!!!

x
M

Toda Raba M !
Im pretty tired now, (just arrived home) and i'll probably have
some Q. But till then... which money did you use there for the taxi
driver for example ? Local or US $$ ?

(BTW, i'llonly cross alone but will meet friends in Petra...)

As for hotel in Petra, I certainly recommend the Mövenpick Petra resort as many others already have. You are then opposite the Petra site entrance. The architecture and decoration of the hotel is very impressive compared to Crown Plaza which is very ordinary in this respect. However, try to avoid a room above the restaurant as they start cleaning up very early in the morning and the moving of furniture makes noise.

We were two women and travelled everywhere with a taxi. It is cheap but you must bargain! And when you bargain, agree about sight-seeing stops. There are some interesting sites on the way.

Wadi Rum offers beautiful desert scenery and you can make it as day trip from Petra by taxi - naturally bargaining the price. At the natural park they have tours. I must say that the older driver / guide we were given was a little bit too "friendly", touched us unnecessarily. Also, he tried to cheat us to a shorter tour than we had paid for. We didn't accept this and he took us to the rest in an angry mood. We didn't tip him after this which lead to screaming.

How did you guys book your hotel room, directly at the hotel's
website or through other websites ?
If through other websites, can you recommend of a real good
and trustable / reliable (especially for paranoids like my self)
websites to use ?

Is it allowed by Local law in Jordan to bring alcohol with me ?
(a bottle of wine).

Thanks.

Not sure about Egyptians but Im Israeli and the better border to cross over is Aqaba\Eilat, you get visa apon arrival in the border for one month, after you can extand it up untill 3 monthes in central police stations.. Im traveling alone and there is almost no man that did not offer me to have sex with him, so if you dont want that it is of course better to be at least two people, preferably with a man that you can at least pretend that he is your boyfriend\partner. But I get a0long fine also on my own, just by saying no and they understand that.
About a personal guide recomendation for petra - I know one guide that I can recommend from traveling with him. He has really nice Jeep, drives very carefully, an is simply a nice person. He does guiding inside petra, in the surrounding area (like Wadi Mousa) and orgnizes tours for people alone, for small, and also for big groups all arround Jordan, and especially in places where a0 4*4 viehcle is reuired. His contact number is: 00962(0)796873915 Name: Rassan.

Enjoy Joradan

Thanks for this info !!
Unfortunately things has changed with my travel partners
and my trip is postponed now.
I hope to make it after Passover though.

Toda.
S..

Me again, im finally going to Jordan... if nothing happens this time...

Im crossing the Aqaba border:
1. Can i change from US dollars to JOD at the Aqaba Border ?
(at the JOrdanian side)

2. Are there shops (not for xlothes and shoes just for local stuff)
around petra and somewhere in Wadi ram Area ?
OMG 2 days trip and im already looking for shops... if thats not a
woman then i dont know what is ... :-)))

Thanks again,
S.

S,

1. Yeah, you can exchange USD to JD at the little bank there next to the Jordanian Customs office. Really easy. Reminds me a little bit of a cartoon.

2. There are a couple of shops along the main road leading into the Petra Park, that I thought were pretty good and had some cool things. I didn't bargain hard enough and that disappointed the shop owner. More cartoon experiences. Was great.

M

Thanks for the help guys !

I hope my experience will be a good one as well...

I have been in Jordan (Wadi Rum and Petra) this
passing week and just wanted to thank everyone
for your help.
It was an Amazing trip, really above any expectation.
The beauty can not be described in words, The locals
everywhere (Including the border) were so nice and welcoming !
I was so mad at my self for not doing that years ago...after
all its just here"in the neighborhood" ... but i know i'll be
there again, no doubt about that.
I hope i'll have some time during (whats left of the) weekend
to start writing about my time and experience there.. other wise
maybe during this upcoming trip.

To anywone who may read this posting and is thinking of
such trip, do NOT hesitate ! its much more then a must.

Sharon.

Hi Sharon,

My friends & I are planning a 4-5 days trip: 2 days hiking in Petra & 2 days diving in Aqaba. Any recommendations after your successful trip ? (hotels/motels, routes, etc)
Thanks
Dapnha

Sharon, my husband and I are crossing into Jordan from Eilat in a few weeks.
Some posts said getting the visa was a breeze at the border, others had to wait several hours. So we got the visas here. Since we live quite a distance from the Jordanian embassy in D.C., we filled out the visa app (downloaded it from the embassy website) and mailed it in along with the money AND our passports. You send it overnight mail and include the overnight mail return envelope and we had our stamped passports back within 5 days of mailing them. I was not up for wasting time at the border. I think you have to have it in advance if your are crossing from Jerusalem.
Hope this helps. Have a great, safe trip. dk