KINGDOM OF JORDAN (continued)
Taxis
Buses
Air
Rental Cars
Tours and Tour Groups
Jordan is a great place for independent travelers who wish to arrange their own transportation, hotels, and tours as well as for those who prefer to join a group tour. We've enjoyed exploring Jordan on our own by using a combination of taxis and rental cars.
Even though Jordan lacks a basic public transportation system, it's relatively easy and convenient to get around this country. While you'll find lots of buses filled with locals, this is primarily taxis and rental car country for visitors.
Taxis
This is one of the least expensive and most convenient ways to get around Amman and for venturing to other parts of the country.
Service taxis, also known as serveeces, are roomy shared taxis that take passengers between fixed routes for a flat per-person fee. Usually white white Mercedes or Peugeot 504s, they operate within the city as well as between cities and towns.
The private yellow metered taxis are prevalent throughout Amman - a reputed 15,000 on the streets. They can be found waiting at racks outside major hotels or can be flagged along the street. Most of these taxis stop using their meters at 11 PM, a time when passengers need to start negotiating fares. Most rides within the city cost US$1-2.
Taxi drivers tend to be friendly and talkative, with most speaking some English. You can learn a lot about your surroundings by engaging them in conversation.
Men often sit in the front passenger seat; women sit in the back seat. It's customary to add a small tip (200 fils or JD0.200) or just round up the fare.
Buses
The public bus system is designed for the convenience of locals - not budget travelers.
While you'll see buses operating in Amman (the city's only public transportation system), you'll probably find them confusing and thus inconvenient, since nothing is in English and street signage is either absent or difficult to decipher. You're better off using taxis in the city.
Private buses and express coaches link Amman with other cities and towns. However, most so-called buses are actually minibuses (seat 15-20 passengers) that have unpredictable schedules (leave when they fill up with passengers!) and service local residents who travel to small towns.
You may find these buses more trouble than they are worth, since they don't go to many places visitors wish to go; you may need to make several bus changes just to go a short distance; and you may have difficulty getting to your next destination.
While these buses are cheap, this is not how all but the cheapest travelers want to spend their time. If you are traveling on a shoestring and have lots of time to kill and don't mind uncertainty, try these minibuses for a cultural experience.
Large air-conditioned express coaches (try Jordan Express Tourist Transport or Trust International Transport) make a three-hour run between Amman and the popular southern resort of Aqaba, via the Desert Highway, numerous times a day.
They also cross the border into Israel at the King Hussein (Allenby) Bridge, which is located 57 kilometers west of Amman.
JETT coaches now make day trips (3 hours one way) between Amman and Petra. See the Q&A section for details.
A few other companies make similar runs. To guarantee space, be sure to make reservations (JETT - Tel. 564147) at least one day before departure.
Air
Only one domestic air route, which connects Amman with Aqaba, operates in Jordan. It's operated by Royal Wings (www.royalwings.com.jo), which is part of Royal Jordanian Airlines. The flight takes just over one hour.
Rental Cars
While we sometimes drive in Amman, it's often more convenient to take taxis because of signage problems and difficulties in parking. But once we leave Amman for other areas of the country, a self-drive rental car is the only way to go unless you prefer a car with driver, which can be arranged through most rental agencies for an additional fee.
Given Jordan's excellent road system and relatively sane traffic (compared to other Arab countries), a car is very convenient for covering most of the country.
Since so many visitors must drive in Jordan, this is a very competitive business with more than 150 rental car companies offering a wide variety of vehicles. Expect to pay from US$45 to US$70 a day for the car with unlimited mileage and an additional US$30 to US$50 for a driver, plus gas.
Most major international car rental agencies (Avis, Hertz, Budget, Thrifty, Eurocar) have operations in Jordan, and you can book a car online prior to arriving.
The major operators allow you to pick up and drop off their cars at the Queen Alia International Airport. You'll find many local car agencies that offer cheaper rates than the international firms, but you'll need to make sure all your paper work, including insurance, are in proper order and you can be quickly serviced should you encounter mechanical problems.
Tours and Tour Groups
Numerous international and local tour companies offer a variety of tours and services for visitors. These range from a short morning or afternoon city tour of Amman to a 15-day tour of the country as well as extended tours to neighboring countries.
Many independent travelers will arrange for a one- or two-day tour during their stay in Jordan or hire a car and driver during part of their stay. In certain areas of Jordan, such as Wadi Rum, you will find tour and guide services to be very helpful.
For information on both international and local tour groups, we recommend visiting the “Tour Operator” section of the Jordan Tourism Board North American website: www.seejordan.org. They list nearly 90 such groups, including many luxury companies such as A&K, Travcoa, and Orient-Express, along with linkages to their websites. You’ll learn a great deal about Jordan and alternative itineraries by visiting this rich collection of informative websites.
People from other parts of the world should visit www.visitjordan.com.
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