What to Expect on Your First Trip to Jordan- A First Time Visitor’s Guide

Language

• Arabic is the official language of Jordan. 
• English is the second most spoken language in Jordan and is widely used in the cities and tourism industry. In my experience, guides, hotel staff, and many restaurant staff spoke fluent English so I had no trouble communicating.

Clothing

• Jordan is predominantly an Islamic country so people dress conservatively.
• For women, it’s best to dress modestly by not wearing tight and revealing clothing, especially in small towns and rural areas. Loose pants, knee-length skirts or dresses, and shirts that cover the shoulders and upper arms are appropriate.
• I got the sense that it’s a little more acceptable to dress less conservatively at resorts and popular tourist attractions, like Petra.
• Foreign women don’t need to cover their hair with a scarf- some local women do and some don’t. My guidebook said that in Jordan, it’s actually considered inappropriate for non-Muslim women to wear headscarves.
• I wore a bikini at a high-end Dead Sea resort (by the pool and on the beach) and didn’t get stared at inappropriately. However, on public beaches, it’s recommended to wear a one-piece or swim with a t-shirt and shorts over your swimsuit.

Driving in Jordan

• I hired a driver because I wasn’t sure what driving in Jordan would be like, but I could have fairly confidently driven myself around the county. In my experience, the road rules were mostly obeyed, especially when compared to the driving I saw during my first trip to Egypt. There was sometimes heavy traffic in certain areas of Amman, but I didn’t see any reckless driving (just drivers not using their turn signals).
• Driving is on the right-hand side of the road. 
• Road conditions were generally good. The main thing I noticed was that there were a lot of speed bumps, even on highways (and not always signed).
• Most road signs are in English but the transliteration is inconsistent.
• There are a lot of gas stations along the Desert Highway, but less on the King’s Highway. The Dead Sea Highway has very few services. It’s best to fill up at a gas station when you see one.
• Be careful of dust storms that can reduce visibility. In a rural area while driving to Kerak Castle I encountered a dust storm so thick I couldn’t even see the hood of the car!
• As a pedestrian, it was a little tricky to cross the road at uncontrolled intersections because drivers didn’t stop or even slow down to let people cross.

Currency, Credit Cards, ATMs

• The currency in Jordan is the dinar (JD). 
• Most major credit cards are widely accepted in Jordan and can be used at hotels, restaurants, larger shops, and travel agencies. 
• ATMs are available throughout Jordan. I had no trouble with the machines accepting my bank card.

Tipping in Jordan

• Tipping is not compulsory in Jordan, but it is customary to tip taxi drivers (round up to the closest whole figure), tour guides (10% per person), and at cafes (round up to the nearest 500 fils) At restaurants, a 5-10% tip is expected if a service charge is not already included in the bill.

Accommodations

• I decided to stay at five-star hotels for my first time in Jordan and was happy with that choice. The rooms had Wi-fi, were comfortable and clean, and had extra facilities like swimming pools, fitness centres, and onsite restaurants. The staff were also very welcoming and helpful. Rates that included breakfast were available.
• Jordan also has many midrange hotels that offer good value for the money. These hotels are often family-run establishments.

Drinking Water

• Tap water in Jordan is safe to drink, but many locals prefer bottled water for the taste. I was told that most 4 and 5-star hotels have water purification systems installed.

Electricity

• Electricity in Jordan is 230 V/50 Hz.
• In my experience, there were usually two different outlet types in hotel rooms. The outlets in Jordan take two round pins, three round pins in a triangular pattern, and three rectangular pins in a triangular pattern.

Weather

• Jordan experiences four seasons. Summers are fairly hot, dry, and sunny with daytime temperatures in Amman ranging from 23-32 °C. Winters are relatively cold and wet, with some areas occasionally getting snow (including Petra). I visited in February and the temperatures were cool during the day, but a little chilly in the desert and at night. Winter daytime temperatures in Amman can range from 5-14 °C. 
• The rainy season starts at the end of November and continues into March.
• The peak travel season coincides with the most comfortable weather- March through May and September to November.

Public Security and Safety

• I felt safe travelling in Jordan for the first time and didn’t feel any of the political and religious unrest of neighbouring countries. Jordan felt calm and has a reputation for being the most stable country in the region. 
• Some of the hotels I stayed at had security checks with metal detectors. These checkpoints weren’t consistently manned with a security guard though.
• I got the sense that tourists are treated with respect and fairness so I wasn’t worried about getting ripped off by anyone. Stealing is also frowned upon and punishments are harsh.  

Haggling and Hustles

• Bartering is acceptable in Jordan, just don’t start your price too low or the vendor will be insulted.
• The only place I was hassled and pressured to buy was in the market at Jerash. The vendor kept following me around and then threw a scarf on me. I very firmly told him to remove it immediately and that was the end of it. 

Public Restrooms and Toilets

• All the toilets I came across were Western-style (no squat ones). Public ones weren’t always the cleanest though, especially in Petra, and didn’t always have toilet paper, so bring your own.

Travel Companies and Guides

• Local travel agencies can arrange multi-day private tours of Jordan with a car and driver. I used a local agency to help plan my itinerary, book my hotels and activities, and provide me with guides at the main attractions. They also gave me a driver (who provided a lot of great information even though he wasn’t technically a guide) and a local phone to use in case of emergencies.
• At some attractions, like Jerash and Petra, licensed guides can be hired at the entrance.

Here are a few more observations from my trip and things to know before travelling to Jordan:

• Jordan was a very welcoming country with friendly locals who seemed proud of their homeland. The hospitality was sincere and offered without the expectation of a tip (which I very much appreciated having just come from Egypt).
• A car was definitely the most convenient way to get around Jordan because public transport is limited. There are intercity buses but they require patience and mainly serve the needs of locals. There are some tourist buses, but they only go to a few top spots so limit how much of the country you can see. 
• The weekends are Friday and Saturday so many people are off work those days and businesses have shorter hours.
• I saw several billboards with pictures of Saddam Hussein, which I thought was weird, but my driver said he was liked in the region because he did a lot for his people, even though he was a dictator.

Digital SIM Cards (eSIM)

Airalo is an eSIM store/app where you can buy an affordable digital SIM card for your mobile phone. An eSIM lets you access a local data plan for your destination, so you don’t incur expensive roaming fees or always have to look for free wifi. I like how I can choose an eSIM by country or region and have it installed before leaving home (when my flight lands all I have to do is turn on the local line).