Middle East - Anthony Ham [331]
There are four area codes: 02 covers northern Jordan, 03 southern Jordan, 05 the Jordan Valley and central and eastern districts, and 06 the Amman area. Mobile phone numbers have eight digits and are preceded with 07. Toll-free numbers start with 0800.
TIME
Jordan is two hours ahead of GMT/UTC in winter and three hours ahead between 1 April and 1 October.
TOILETS
Many hotels and restaurants, except those in the budget category, have Western-style toilets. Squat toilets come with either a hose or water bucket provided for cleaning and flushing. Toilet paper should be thrown in the bin provided, as the sewerage system is not designed for paper. Public toilets are generally best avoided.
TOURIST INFORMATION
Jordan runs a good network of visitor centres inside the country, and the Jordan Tourism Board(www.visitjordan.com) has a good website. Contact the following offices for a package of brochures and maps:
France( 01 55 60 94 46; gsv@articleonze.com; 122 rue Paris, 92100 Boulogne-Billancourt, Paris)
Germany( 069-9231 8870; jordan@adam-partner.de; Weser Strasse 4 60329, Frankfurt)
UK( 020-7371 6496; info@jordantourismboard.co.uk; 115 Hammersmith Rd, London, W14 0QH)
USA( 1-877-733-5673, 703-243-7404; www.seejordan.org; Suite 102, 6867 Elm St, McLean, VA 22101)
TRAVELLERS WITH DISABILITIES
Jordanians are quick to help those with disabilities but cities are crowded and traffic is chaotic, and visiting most attractions, such as the vast archaeological sites of Petra and Jerash, involves long traverses over uneven ground. Horse and carriages are provided at Petra to help elderly travellers or those with disabilities.
The Royal Diving Club(Click here), south of Aqaba, is a member of the Access to Marine Conservation for All(AMCA; www.amca-international.org), an initiative to enable people with disabilities to enjoy scuba diving and snorkelling.
VISAS
Visas are required by all foreigners entering Jordan. Single-entry visas are issued at both the border and airport on arrival (JD10).
If you plan to enter Jordan from Israel and the Palestinian Territories via King Hussein/Allenby Bridge (the only border crossing where visas are not issued), or you require a multiple-entry visa, then obtain them from Jordanian embassies or consulates outside the country; they are generally issued within 24 hours. Single-/multiple-entry visas obtained this way cost JD10/20 and two photos are required.
If you arrive in Aqaba by sea from Nuweiba in Egypt (and, in theory, by land from Eilat in Israel), your visa should be free because Aqaba is designated as a Special Economic Zone set up for free trade. You must register at the ASEZA office in Aqaba (Click here) if you plan to stay in Jordan for more than 14 days.
Tourist visas are valid for a stay of up to a month from the date of entry. If you want to stay more than a month, you must register with the police in Amman (Click here) or Aqaba (Click here); they will give you an extension for a stay of up to three months.
If you will be in Jordan for less than 24 hours en route to a third country, you can request a free-of-charge transit visa. This also exempts you from the JD5 departure tax, but you must leave Jordan within 24 hours of arrival.
For details of visas for other Middle Eastern countries, see the table, Click here.
WOMEN TRAVELLERS
Most women who travel around Jordan experience no problems, and find they are welcomed with a mixture of warmth and friendly concern for their safety. That said, varying levels of sexual harassment do occur, especially in tourist areas where, rightly or wrongly, local men assume that ‘anything goes’. Harassment can be somewhat mitigated by dressing modestly in baggy trousers or skirts with loose shirts or blouses that cover the cleavage, shoulders and upper arms. It’s not necessary to cover your head.
Women will feel uncomfortable on public beaches in Aqaba and may prefer to wear shorts and a loose T-shirt over swimwear at the Dead Sea. Many restaurants in the country usher female customers into their family areas, where single men are