Wanderers Guide To Jordan

Transportation

Transportation is a must! I’m not sure how we would have done it if we didn’t have a rental. Petra to Aqaba alone is almost a two hour drive. From Aqaba you would need another hour to make it to Wadi Rum. So getting a rental is worth it. Now when you actually get to certain places (Aqaba for example) it’s easy enough to walk everywhere. Just leave your car parked at the hotel. We’ve even left our rental on a questionable street and didn’t have any problems.

First on the list was Petra

Petra, is a place that is truly amazing and pictures will never be able to explain her true beauty! Entry to the ruins ran us 50JD per person which got us a tour guide for the group tour. I noticed some of the other travelers were smarter and just tailed our tour at the discount rate. When you go to Petra, be sure to stay for a few days. The 1 day pass is only slightly less than the two day entry. Added bonus is you can come back and see Petra at night, which I was not able to do due to time restrictions.
The one thing that you want to avoid when first going into Petra, is buying things at the gift shop at the entrance. You will pay 15JD for something that you’ll be able to purchase for 2JD when you get below. And remember nothing is a fixed price, everything is negotiable :). At the start of the tour before actually entering the Ruins some of the locals will offer horse rides. They’ll tell you its free and it is however as a curiosity give them a couple of JD. They really appreciate it and will take as many pictures as you’d like. Just remember you’ll get a chance to pay for a camel ride through Petra for 10JD (lowest the guys would go).
I was shocked to see children on a school day working instead of learning. Our tour guide told us not to buy anything from them. It would just perpetuate the cycle of not sending children to school. These kids might not have been educated in a school but they were nothing short of intelligent. One boy was speaking English, I responded in French (pretending I didn’t understand). He automatically switched to the most beautiful French. Not only that but he also spoke Spanish.

TIP:

#1) I was given this tip by a buddy who had gone to Petra before me and sure enough it did not fail.

During our tour two small girls came to sell us beads that they claimed were excavated from Petra. As we kept walking one said “Mister, you dropped something.” The minute you turn back and say what? She says “your heart.” The cutest thing if you aren’t expecting it (makes you want to give all your money away) However I was aware of it so when she said it I said, “What, my heart?” Her shocked face was priceless!

#2) Absolutely do not purchase alcohol inside of the Ruins. A Beer will run you 20JD easily.

The cave bar is a bit pricey as well but much more reasonable than inside of the Ruins.