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Booking Conditions
Travel Insurance
Visa Information
Arrival Information / Meeting Point
Currency Information
Budget Your Tour
Electricity
Weather
Vaccinations & Health
Safety
Check in Time / Check out Time Hotels
Room Types
Meals
Working Hours of Our Staff
Optional Tour Bookings in Jordan
What To Pack
Issues On Tour
Responsible Tourism
Booking Conditions
It is essential that you read our booking conditions we sent to you by email and can be checked online. The booking conditions are an important part of the contract for your holiday. They set rules, guidelines and conditions in which we work with you and determine payment and cancellation policy. When you book with us we assume the booking conditions are read, understood and agreed.
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is highly recommended for all travelers. At a minimum your travel insurance must provide cover against personal accident, death, medical expenses, emergency repatriation and personal liability. We also strongly recommend it covers cancellation as all deposits paid are non-refundable, curtailment and loss of luggage and personal effects. Petra Nights Tours does not offer travel insurances.
Visa Information
Most nationals obtain the Jordanian Visa at Amman Airport and the land borders upon arrival. Except for arrivals through the Allenby Bridge/King Hussein Bridge where all nationals need the visa in advance. The visa fee upon arrival is 40 Jordanian Dinar per person and has to be paid in cash; an exchange booth is available. Your passport has to be valid minimum 6 month while traveling in Jordan. If you are not sure about your visa status contact us or the Jordanian embassy in your country of residence.
Arrival Information / Meeting Point
At the airport our representative waits for you with a Petra Nights Tours Sign after you passed through the customs. At the Arava Border in the south we will meet you inside the Jordan border terminal, at Allenby Bridge and Sheikh Hussein Border outside the Jordan border terminal.
Currency Information
The official currency is the Jordanian Dinar (JD), which is divided into 100 piastres or 1,000 fils. Notes are in denominations of JD 50, 20, 10, 5 and 1. It is easy to change foreign currency at banks, moneychanger or better hotels, most accepted are USD, GBP and Euros. Banks are closed on Fridays and Saturdays. Visa, MasterCard and American Express are the most widely accepted credit cards. ATMs are available in larger towns and at the airport. The maximum daily withdrawal amount is around JD 500, depending on your particular card.
Check with your bank for information on ATM international fees. We recommend that you carry some cash in case ATMs can not be accessed, are broken down or run out of cash.
Budget Your Tour
It is necessary to mention that Jordan is not a cheap destination. But as every traveller is different, please consider your own spending habits when it comes to allowing for drinks, food and shopping. The costs for lunch and dinner vary. If you are happy with a sandwich or a shawarma at local restaurant or take away, this is already available for 3-4 USD per person (without drinks), but better restaurants charge 16-20 USD per meal/per person (no drinks), same at 4 star hotels for main buffet 20-30 USD per meal/per person. A large bottle of water in the local market is 70 Cent, a soft drink (0.30l) is 40 Cent, in tourist areas the rates are higher.
Electricity
Electricity in Jordan is 220 Volts. Outlets accept mostly the European two-pin plug. More detailed information you find here http://www.adaptelec.com.
Weather
Jordan is characterized by a Mediterranean climate and the best travel time is spring and autumn, March until May, September until November. Summer is hot and sunny, especially in Aqaba and at the Dead Sea. These two areas are in turn ideal for a winter break due to the mild temperatures (16-22 °C) in this season. In the rest of the country winter weather can be cool, with rain and occasional snow. Jordan is a very sunny country with average daily sunshine hours ranging from six to seven in winter and twelve to thirteen in summer. Although summer temperatures are high, the nights are rather cool.
Vaccinations & Health
Tetanus, Diphtheria, Polio and Hepatitis A vaccinations are highly recommended. For more detailed medical information and necessary vaccinations before departure please consult your doctor. We recommend that you carry a first aid kit as well as any personal medical requirements; and you have to be in good physical health to tour Jordan. The health care system in Jordan is quite advanced, although services remain concentrated in Amman. General advice is to avoid tap water and use instead bottled water.
Safety
Jordan has the reputation to be a very safe and secure country by global and regional standards, and despite regional turmoil, Jordan remains one of the safest countries to visit in the Middle East. It is not only safe, it is also welcoming. The level of crime is low and not a serious risk although in crowded places visitors could be the target of pickpockets or petty thieves. Like everywhere in the world keep important documents safe, credit cards and bags in sight at all times. For additional safety information you can check on various forums the opinion from travelers recently been in Jordan, or look at your own government’s travel advice before you go.
Check in Time / Check out Time Hotels
The general check in time in Jordan is 15:00, the check out time is 12:00 noon. We can try for an earlier check in or later check out but this cannot be guaranteed. It is on sole discretion of the hotel, its policies and availability of rooms.
Room Types
Double, twin bedded, single and triple rooms are at most hotels and camps no problem. If you wish to share with 4 persons one room, this is only available at certain properties and not in all hotel categories. We can give you more details along with your requested itinerary.
Meals
Our offers include usually breakfast every day and in case of camping the dinner. To give you the flexibility to decide when and where to eat and how much money you like to spend other meals like lunch and dinner are not included. Your tour leader will be able to suggest restaurants during your trip. If you have a stay at one of the Dead Sea Hotels, please note there are no local restaurants in this area.
Working Hours of Our Staff
Our staff has working hours like any employed person worldwide too. That applies for office workers and the field staff. Pick up and drop off times during arrival and departure days are no problem and 24 hours available. But on regular tour days the drivers and guides are providing the services you booked starting and ending at the hotel. After the drop off at the hotel they are not available anymore.
Optional Tour Bookings in Jordan
In general it is possible to book an optional tour while in Jordan. It depends certainly if your booked itinerary offers sufficient time to do so. Your escort can contact our company and the price will be given to you. If you decide for the optional you have to fill a short booking form provided by your escort. And we need to know minimum 24 hours in advance to have sufficient time to organize it and to guarantee a smooth trip.
What To Pack
What you need to bring will vary according to the trip style you have chosen and in which season you are travelling. Generally you should pack as lightly as possible. You'll need a day pack/bag to carry water and a camera and good walking shoes especially for Petra and Jerash. Winter (December to February) can be very cold. Consider bringing warm clothes like jacket, pullovers, shawl and a hat. Light, covering clothes for sun protection you need in summer time, from June to August it can be very warm. When packing, be aware that dress standards are conservative and you should dress accordingly. To respect the local culture and for your own comfort, we strongly recommend modest clothing. As a guideline, shoulders and knees at the minimum should be covered. A detailed packing list you find here http://blog.petranightstours.com.
Issues On Tour
We always try to provide the best possible holiday experience, but due to the nature of travel things can and do go wrong. Should any issue occur while you are on your trip, it is important that you discuss this with your escort and our customer care straight away so that they can do their best to solve the problem and avoid any negative impacts on the rest of your trip. We provide you with a mobile phone in Jordan so you are able to reach our customer care easily.
Responsible Tourism
Petra Nights Tours is promoting actively Sustainable & Responsible Tourism. You as traveler can contribute with your decisions to positive impacts on the people, the economy and the environment:
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If you intend to buy a souvenir from Jordan look for products made in Jordan. The items are mostly handmade by Women's Cooperation, supporting with this work several families in them communities. The products are more expensive, but you support the Cooperation and it is a unique Jordan heritage/tradition you help to survive.
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Eat where the locals do, this will give you a better insight to the Jordanian cuisine, it will also help to support the local economy.
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Respect the natural environment. Reduce, reuse, and recycle. Even though you are
just visiting, dispose your garbage properly and minimize your consumption of energy and water. Keep especially in mind, Jordan has one of the lowest levels of water resources in the world. Tourism is an additional strain on the water supplies, so try to reduce your water use.
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When visiting sensitive areas like nature reserves, maintain appropriate distances from wildlife, stay on trails to avoid trampling plants or causing erosion.
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Currently, three UNESCO World Heritage Sites are existent in Jordan: the rock city Petra, the Desert Castle Quseir Amra and the archaeological site Um Ar-Rasas. These destinations are World Heritage sites because of their exceptional natural or cultural splendor. Do your part to keep them that way by following designated trails, and do not climb or walk on archeological areas that are closed to public access. Respect caretakers of the sites, and do not remove archaeological or biological treasures as souvenir.
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Be sensitive when you take photos or videos of local people, please ask permission to do so.
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Always treat local people with respect and courtesy. Also take note of local dress code. Jordan is mainly an Islamic country, so especially women are required to cover shoulders and knees. As a general rule, dressing smartly, will garner more respect.
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