There seems to be some confusing on what money to take on this trip. Many people suggest US Dollars or Euros, did you take Jordanian Dinah or Dollars?

If you are going on this trip let me know be good to say hello x[/size]

Best wishes,

Bob

Cheers,

Bob

I can help you with this one having done the Jordan trip in April of this year.

You don't need to take USD to change into Jordanian Dinar as you can change GBP easily, and at a better rate than you will get in UK.

In Amman there is a small general store about 5 minutes walk from the Bristol Hotel. Turn right out of the hotel and walk up to the first junction. Turn right again and a few yards along on the right-hand side is the general store where they will change GBP for you. The rate at the time was 1.05 compared to 0.98 offered in UK. You can also take the opportunity to buy your bottled water and any other provisions you may require from there

. There is also a good exchange facility in Petra at the Petra visitor centre, where the rate was slightly higher than that in Amman. To find the exchange you need to walk to the far left-hand corner of the square that comprises the visitor centre. The exchange is then on the right-hand side by a flight of steps. You have to walk this way to get to the Petra site itself so you can't miss it.

Bob, I know that you are from Ireland so I would say that you shouldn't have any problems changing Euros either. At the Petra exchange they had a big list of currencies on the wall showing individual rates for that particular day and I'm fairly sure that the Euro was on there.

So to summarise, if you want to take a small amount of Dinar from UK (or Ireland) to get you started then that's fine but not essential, and you can take your local currency to change while you're there. You certainly don't need to change GBP/Euro to USD and then change again to Jordanian Dinar.

Hope that this answers your question and if you need to know anything else just ask.

Have a great holiday

Mike

Many thanks for this info, much appreciated!

Best wishes,

Bob

Think I have told you about the young boys selling chewing gum. Will charge 1 US dollar, 1 Euro, 1 English pound or 1 JD. This was at Jerash. I bought shawls after I had wandered through the shops and markets first, then bought on the return to the coach as there is a great difference in price :P

Took both US dollars and JD. Not much left when I came home :thumbup:

Jan

Hi I'm going in Nov and plan to take US $ - I've been doing a lot of travelling over the last few years and I've found it's the easiest thing to do and change into the local currency there. Many hotels have change facilities or your tour manager will be able to help you with this.

Best wishes,

Bob

Thank you Bob that's very good to no, I will take a small amount of JD and change the rest there..

Will let you know how much I enjoy the trip before you go in Nov..on my return

Regards. Marion

PS Would you write a review when you get back? It would be great to find out what you thought of the holiday! If you are interested, the local guide should be able to organise an excursion when you are in Aqaba to go on the "yellow submarine" - a semi submersible which will show you the beauty of the fish and coral in the Red Sea. I asked about this on the forum a couple of weeks back and was told it should be possible. The day in Aqaba is free so there should be no problem fitting it in!

Cheers,

Bob

Just seen your second post, new on here and am finding it a difficult site to use..

I will do a review when I get back..the submarine sounds interesting will try and look into it..

Marion

Hi Marion Louise,

I can help you with this one having done the Jordan trip in April of this year.

You don't need to take USD to change into Jordanian Dinar as you can change GBP easily, and at a better rate than you will get in UK.

In Amman there is a small general store about 5 minutes walk from the Bristol Hotel. Turn right out of the hotel and walk up to the first junction. Turn right again and a few yards along on the right-hand side is the general store where they will change GBP for you. The rate at the time was 1.05 compared to 0.98 offered in UK. You can also take the opportunity to buy your bottled water and any other provisions you may require from there

.

There is also a good exchange facility in Petra at the Petra visitor centre, where the rate was slightly higher than that in Amman. To find the exchange you need to walk to the far left-hand corner of the square that comprises the visitor centre. The exchange is then on the right-hand side by a flight of steps. You have to walk this way to get to the Petra site itself so you can't miss it.

Bob, I know that you are from Ireland so I would say that you shouldn't have any problems changing Euros either. At the Petra exchange they had a big list of currencies on the wall showing individual rates for that particular day and I'm fairly sure that the Euro was on there.

So to summarise, if you want to take a small amount of Dinar from UK (or Ireland) to get you started then that's fine but not essential, and you can take your local currency to change while you're there. You certainly don't need to change GBP/Euro to USD and then change again to Jordanian Dinar.

Hope that this answers your question and if you need to know anything else just ask.

Have a great holiday

Mike

Hello Mike

Many thanks for all your info, very useful I will certainly make a note of the general store to exchange money and to buy water. As you get through so much on these trips and I am sure it will be cheaper than on the coach..

A few people who have been recently said the 4x4 trip to Wadi Rum was cancelled and just a meal laid on instead...did you go on this trip or was yours cancelled? They said it was to do with the the jeeps being so old they kept breaking down.. I will be very disappointed if this cancelled because I am really looking forward to the trip to Wadi Rum..

Regards Marion

A large bottle of water in the Amman general store is 30 piasters (about 30p).

My 4x4 trip to Wadi Rum was cancelled and instead we had a tour of the area by coach. By necessity, the coach kept to the main road and therefore we only got to see a small section of the area. What we did see was quite spectacular and the meal laid on at a Bedouin tent was pleasant enough, but it was disappointing that we didn't get to experience the greatness of Wadi Rum itself.

Like you I was looking forward to seeing Wadi Rum, but having heard that the jeeps were very old and kept breaking down (and even one story about a jeep almost turning over because the driver couldn't control the vehicle properly) it's not surprising that JY have stopped offering the excursion. It's just sad that they haven't managed to source a company with proper H&S procedures in place so that you can fully appreciate the area.

Despite this, I'm sure you'll have a great holiday, Petra is fantastic and the visit to Little Petra on the previous afternoon really wets the appetite for the main site.

Have a great time, and if you have any more questions then just ask.

Cheers

Mike

I went to Jordan in September 2009 and we did use jeeps for the Wadi Rum. To be honest they were very old and one kept breaking down. I wondered if we would get back in one piece! Saying that it was a lovely trip as you get to see so much more.

You will love Jordan.

Jaya

PS Would you write a review when you get back? It would be great to find out what you thought of the holiday! If you are interested, the local guide should be able to organise an excursion when you are in Aqaba to go on the "yellow submarine" - a semi submersible which will show you the beauty of the fish and coral in the Red Sea. I asked about this on the forum a couple of weeks back and was told it should be possible. The day in Aqaba is free so there should be no problem fitting it in!

Cheers,

Bob

Just seen your second post, new on here and am finding it a difficult site to use..

I will do a review when I get back..the submarine sounds interesting will try and look into it..

Marion

Hello Bob

Just a quick reply I have posted a review but thought you might like to know about Aqaba...by the time we reached Aqaba we was exhausted mainly due to the heat and the very full on week..it was mid 40 degrees so a few of us settled to use the Hitel facilities pools and beach excellent..some people got the Public bus into Aqaba and some went on the submarine which they really enjoyed because it was empty...and not too expensive..our. Jordanian guide had gone so if you do anything it's on your own, but most people went into small groups..as for me the adult only infinity pool and waiter service was the best..it will how ever be a ly cooler when you go but still warm and it never gets lower than 15degrees at night...

Have a really great trip you will live it regards Marion

Many thanks for the info - I'm glad you had a good trip and I'm hoping it will be a good bit cooler when I head off in a few weeks! Great to hear that some of the party did the submarine, I'm hoping the TM will point me in the right direction!

Best wishes,

Bob