Middle East - Anthony Ham [291]
Luna Park (Map; King Abdullah Gardens; admission JD1; 10am-10pm) Has rides and amusements.
Wild Jordan Café (opposite) Offers a kid-friendly Friday brunch (9am to 11am) with entertainment and environmental education aimed at ages 8 to 11.
TOURS
For information on organised day trips from Amman, Click here.
SLEEPING
Budget
Downtown Amman has many cheap hotels. Budget places listed below have shared bathroom facilities unless stated otherwise; all promise hot water and some even deliver.
Cliff Hotel (Map ; 4624273; Al-Amir Mohammed St; mattress on roof JD2, 3-bed dm JD23, s/d JD5/6) A long-standing shoestring favourite with friendly and accommodating staff. Cramped rooms are of questionable cleanliness, and it’s cheeky to charge a dinar for the communal showers, but if you’re sticking to a tight budget, this is the place to be.
Mansour Hotel (Map ; 4621575; Al-Malek Faisal St; 4-bed dm JD5, s/d JD9/14, without bathroom JD7/10; ) The Mansour is an old Arabic school converted into basic but attractive budget accommodation. The new management receives glowing reports from travellers, and it’s quieter than most downtown hotels.
Farah Hotel (Map ; 4651443; farahhotel@hotmail.com; Cinema al-Hussein St; 4- to 6-bed dm JD5, s/d JD15/22, without bathroom JD9/15; ) The Farah is a backpacker-savvy place that gets consistently good reports from travellers. Private and shared rooms are tired, but the warm communal feel, knowledgable staff and popular movie nights compensate.
Sydney Hostel (Map ; 4641122; sydney_hostel@yahoo.com; 9 Sha’ban St; dm/s/d/tr JD7/17/24/30; ) A relative newcomer, the Sydney Hostel offers free internet and has a small onsite restaurant where guests gather to swap stories. The basic rooms are not as clean as they should be, however, and staffing is hit or miss.
Palace Hotel (Map ; 4624326; www.palacehotel.com.jo; Al-Malek Faisal St; s/d/tr JD17/24/30, without bathroom JD10/15/18; ) The Palace is definitely the best budget option in the city, particularly because it understands the needs of backpackers, including providing reliable hot water, onsite internet café and top-value tours around Jordan. The fluorescent-lit rooms aren’t much but they have air-con and satellite TV. The price includes a simple but filling breakfast, served in an attractive lounge where travellers congregate in front of the tube.
Midrange
Unless otherwise stated, all of the following hotels are located in the Jebel Amman area.
Caravan Hotel (Map ; 5661195; caravan@go.com.jo; Al-Ma’moun St; s/d JD24/30; ) Between hectic downtown and quieter Western districts, the Caravan is a good place to crash if you arrive at the station late. It’s good value and reliable with a family feel and pleasant rooms.
Canary Hotel (Map ; 4638353; canary_h@hotmail.com; 17 Al-Karmali St; s/d/ste JD24/31/40; ) In the leafy Jebel Weibdeh area, the cosy B&B-style Canary is within easy walking distance of Abdali bus station. The rooms are comfortable and bathrooms sparkling.
Toledo Hotel (Map ; 4657777; www.toledohotel.jo; Umayyah bin Abd Shams St; s/d from JD55/65; ) The Moorish-style Toledo offers upmarket accommodation at a midrange price. Modern rooms with subdued lighting boast business-friendly amenities such as satellite TV and wireless internet, and the bathrooms are spacious. The hotel is conveniently located by Abdali bus station.
Ocean Hotel (Map ; 5517280; www.oceanhotel.com.jo; Shatt al-Arab St, Umm Utheima; s/d from JD65/77; ) A good choice if you want peace and quiet, the rooms here are warm and inviting and equipped with lots of amenities. The Ocean Hotel is also home to the renowned Lebanese Diwan al-Sultan Ibrahim Restaurant (Click here). This hotel is not in Jebel Amman, but still centrally located.
Howard Johnson Al-Qasr Metropole Hotel (Map ; 5689671; www.alqasr-hojo.com; 3 Arroub St; s/d JD90/100; ) Located in fashionable Shmeisani, the HoJo has only 70 rooms, each