Travel Information
The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan lies in the heart of the Levant. It is also easy to arrange visits to neighboring countries as well after you travel to Jordan.
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TIME ZONE:
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Jordan is two hours ahead of GMT during winter, and three hours ahead during summer. So do not forget to set your watch according to the local time while you travel to Jordan.
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JORDAN CLIMATE :
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Before travelling to Jordan, it is prudent to take into consideration the expected climate conditions to allow you to dress appropriately for the weather. Jordan is characterized by dry, hot summers with cool evenings. The Jordan Valley, 400 meters below sea level is warm during winter and very hot in summer. Aqaba has a drier and hotter climate than the rest of the country (with temperatures on average 10 degrees Celsius above those of Amman). Rain falls between November and April (mostly in the central and northern mountain ranges), while the coldest weather conditions occur in December / January. For further weather information, you can check weather.com.
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LANGUAGE:
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The official language of Jordan is Arabic. English is widely spoken, especially in the cities, Jordanians are well travelled and many have been educated abroad. French, German, Italian and Spanish are also spoken but to a lesser extent.
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CURRENCY:
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The local currency is the Jordanian Dinar, or “JD”, which is divided into one hundred piasters or one thousand fils. The current exchange rate is JD 71 per 100 US$. Although US$ are widely accepted, it is prudent to carry Jordanian dinars while you travel through Jordan.
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TIPPING:
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You’ll soon note that tipping is part of the culture when you travel in Jordan, though you should also take into consideration that it is not compulsory and should only be given if good service is received. Although all tourism workers do get paid decent fixed salaries, they use tips to supplement their income. In hotels and restaurants, 10% may be added to the bill, but a tip for the waiter is appropriate. For hotel bellboys and porters, 1 JD, or US$ 1 is customary. In taxis, pay the nearest round figure to the price on the meter. Visitors should consider tipping their guide, driver on tours, hotel staff, and waiters in restaurants.
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PHOTOGRAPHY:
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If you are planning to take photographs of locals during your travels in Jordan, always ask their permission first. Your guide can assist you in this. Do not take photographs of military installations or airports. It is advisable to carry your camera in a dust-proof bag.
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ELECTRICITY:
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The electrical current is based on 220 AC volts, 50 cycles, and requires rounded two prong wall plugs. Visitors from the US will need a transformer while travelling to Jordan; most hotels will provide one.
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CULTURE:
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Jordan’s culture mixes influences from east and west, old and new. As a melting pot of different ethnic groups, the liberal nature of this country has allowed immigrants to keep their traditions, while assimilating into the greater culture. Amman has plenty of cafes, bars, restaurants and art galleries. About 95% of the population is Muslim, but there is an important Christian minority of 5%. Jordan is home to Bedouins, Palestinians, Armenians, Circassians and Kurds amongst others. The younger generation has created a unique local pop culture, and Jordan is considered the IT capital of the middle east, and home to the best educated population in the Levant.
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