Getting to know Amman.
Ellemay
World Traveller.
May 21, 2007
based on 14 votes
Hopefully this list will be helpful to other fellow travellers.
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Explore locations featured in this Traveler List:
Amman, Petra / Wadi Musa, Madaba, Jerash, Jordan
- Category: Best of
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Traveler type: Culture, Sightseeing, Shopping, Never been before
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Appeals to: Business travelers, Honeymooners, Tourists
- Seasons: Winter, Spring, Fall
- Tags: Amman what to do.
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1. Four Seasons Hotel Amman
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Ave price:
$317
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We stayed here overnight on our return trip to Australia. We were greeted at the airport and swept away in a lovely air-conditioned Mercedes Benz and driven to the hotel which is approx 30mins away.
Location -
Four Seasons is located between Al Sweifiyah residential area and the Shmeisani financial district. It is a 10 min taxi ride into downtown. Taxis are very cheap in Amman and they can be found outside the hotel.
Before entering this hotel you have to go through a full security check including your bags. To our delight we were told we had been upgraded to a suite as the hotel was fully booked.
Room -
Our suite was enormous which consisted of a separate lounge room with plasma TV, CD player, mini bar, lounge suite, coffee table, and working desk. The bedroom leads off from the hallway and consisted of a king size bed, side tables, and lamps. All furnishing were elegant and comfortable. We had stunning views of Amman skyline.
Bathroom -
Off the bedroom a small hallway lead to walk-in closet with plenty of hanging space. The bathroom was spacious with a great walk-in shower, bath and large marble and granite vanity suite.
Restaurants -
There are three restaurants - Asia, Vivace and Seasons. We chose to dine on the terrace in Vivace and had a lovely Italian meal. The setting and the staff were terrific.
Amenities -
There are two swimming pools, one indoor and the other outdoor. Both are fantastic, the area is very stylish with plenty of deck chairs and umbrellas. The indoor pool has a whirlpool. A very well equipped gym and squash courts are also located near the swimming pools. A fabulous spa using products from the Dead Sea is also available, the special treatments being the mud packs.
Overall - We found this hotel to offer all the 5 star trimmings one requires. The staff were fabulous. I would certainly recommend this hotel if staying in Amman. The only thing missing was an Arabic Restaurant. |
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2. Sheraton Amman Al Nabil Hotel & Towers
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Ave price:
$211
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The Sheraton is overall a good quality hotel. The pool area was fantastic with a large DEEP swimming pool with plenty of decks chairs and umbrellas. The pool service was efficient although slightly slow. There is also an excellent lap indoor swimming pool and two gyms with modern equipment.
There is a full security check including luggage before entering this hotel. Army and Police are everywhere in Amman due to a world conference.
Transport -
It costs around 20 dinars to the hotel from the airport by taxi. There is little public transport available and most people just use taxi's as petrol is VERY cheap in Jordon.
We found the locals to be lovely friendly people and felt completely safe in Amman.
The swimming pool is the best thing about this hotel and I would stay here again for this reason alone. Next time, I will ask for a room overlooking the pool with a balcony (TIP). Sheraton Tower rooms looked fabulous but they come with a heavy price tag. |
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Amman has a wide variety of restaurants, here are a few suggestions if you need to taste authentic Arabic food.
Fairuzi in Abdoun - Tel 06 59397371-2 for authentic Persian experience.
Zareef - in Aboun - Tel 06 5933118 - the first Persian Restaurant in town.
Al-Bustan - Lebonese Tel 06-5661555
Fakhredin - Arabic cuisine - Tel 06 4652399
Al Halabi - Crowne Plaza Hotel - Arabic
La Cucina - Italian - Tel 06-5933355
Romero _ Italian - Tel - 06-4644228-7
Cinco De Mayo - Mexican - Intercontinental Hotel
Intercontinental Hotel - Arabic |
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4. Tours - What to see and do.
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There are just a few tour companies around in Amman. The biggest being Rum Travel www.rumtravel.com for details regarding tours to Petra, Jerash, Karak, and the Dead Sea.
Most travellers seem to hire a car and drive to these tourist spots. All are within an easy drive from Amman.
Petra - three hours driving.
Jerash - 30 minutes
Dead Sea - 45 minutes
Karak - 2 hrs.
The Sheraton Hotel has a car hire office on the ground floor Or you hire a car from Thrifty's office in downtown. www.thrifty.com . The Four Season Hotel can also organise tours.
Roads are well sign posted written in both Arabric and English. English is spoken in Amman.
Taxi's are another option, you can organize a driver from the hotel and set a price before leaving to your destination. See lists below for more info. |
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| We unfortunately didn't have the time to explore this region. Its supposed to be the 7th wonder of the world...you can vote on it now until July 07. Hopefully, my travels will allow me enough time to visit this ancient town in the near future. So being an optimist I have listed this in my go-list. ...to add info soon. For those wishing to travel here its supposed to be approx 3 hours driving on the modern desert highway or 5 hours drive on the more scenic Kings Highway route or two buses also service this route. |
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This is a fabulous short sight seeing trip from Amman as its only 30 minutes away. You can take either the Airport route or head down the King's highway for a more scenic route but this does take longer.
This town is famous for its unique 6th and 8th century mosaics and for being inhabited for at least 4,000 years. If you are a history buff then you will totally enjoy coming closer to the history of the Holy Land.
After exploring Madaba make sure you drive a little further to Machaerus the hilltop of Herod the Great. This is the spot were John the Baptist was beheaded.
west of Madaba, less than ten kilometres away. Mount Nebo is approx 700- 800 metres above sea level, and has Syagha and al Mukhayyat valleys surrounding it. Travellers can observe the West Bank, the Dead Sea and Jordan River on the plateau , Bethlehem and Jerusalem can also be seen amongst the wonderful views.
Southwest of Madaba are the thermal mineral springs of Zerqa Ma'in and Zara, where you can soak in a hot springs or have simple thermal treatments . |
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Jerash is important for its Roman architecture, allow two hours for taking in the major sights. Its a fabulous day trip from Amman and can be easily reached in less than an hour. The best time to visit Jerash is in July when the Jerash Festival transforms the ancient theatre into a spectucular array of art performances.
Jerash is approx 50km from Amman by car - head northwest past the Jordon University and follow the road signs to Jerash. |
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There are at least 3 ways to get to Karak. From Amman head south the Desert Hwy is the quickest (approx 2hrs). The Kings Hwy is the more scenic of the two but a lot slower. The third way is by the Dead Sea Hwy on route 50.
Karak is known for its rich ancient history dating back to biblical times and oozing in factual historical value on the crusaders. Karak is a fortified town and castle enriched by centuries and tales from biblical days. The Castle Plaza is now the tourist information centre with has cafes, restaurants and a craft centre. A perfect day trip from Amman. |
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| planning to go in a weeks time - info coming. |
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| Shopping can be done at Mecca Mall or at Abdoun Mall. For traditional gifts you can catch a taxi to the Dead Sea Treasures (on the way to the airport) approx 10mins from the city. They have an enormous range of gifts and luxury collection of products from the Dead Sea including pottery, jewllery and rugs. Taxi's will wait while you shop. Downtown is another option for picking up Jordanian gifts. |
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Most of the nightclubs and bars can be found at any of the five star hotels in Amman.
Four Season Hotel
Sheraton Hotel
Crowne Plaza Hotel
Marriott Hotel
Intercontintental Hotel
Grand Hyatt Hotel |
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On arrival -
We had to pay a visa entry fee before entering customs. The booth/ counter is located just opposite customs. Make sure you have enough pages in your passport as the visa takes up half a page. Money changer is located next to the visa counter.
You are finger printed and photographed the same as USA. The flow went relevantly quickly and was uncomplicated.
Once outside after collecting luggage there is a offical controlling the taxi's. You can easily recognise him by his pads of paper. He will ask where you are going to and give you a receipt with the cost of the taxi. Our taxi to the Sheraton cost approx 19 Dinars and it takes approx 30 minutes on a good freeway with limited traffic.
On Departure -
This info is for business class or One World Alliance Members. Taxi drop off is easy, a porter will take your bags,(let him) you are then directed to business check in lounge which is separate from economy.
Check in and customs are completed in this little lounge. (same as the UK).The porter then escorts you through to the front of security.
Once through security you can then go directly to the lounge, which is located upstairs next to the duty free shops. Ladies are checked through security on a completely different aisle to the men but are still given the same privilege's. Smoking is allowed in the lounge, however they do have a "non-smoking" area too. |
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| Jordan's electricity supply is 220 volts/50 cycles AC. Sockets are generally of the two-pronged European variety, while a variety of other sockets and plugs's especially the 13 amp square three-pinned plugs are in use. Its best to bring a multi purpose adapter. |
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The following goods may be imported into Jordan without incurring customs duty:
200 cigarettes or 25 cigars or 200g of tobacco (a charge of JD3.750 for each additional 200 cigarettes, up to a maximum of 2000);
1 litre of alcohol (a charge of JD2.910 for each additional litre, up to a maximum of 4 litres);
gifts up to the value of JD50 or the equivalent to US$150. |
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Compliment Ellemay
