Jordan: cost of food & drink?

[Georgyporky]

Anyone been recently?

We've arranged a half-board tour, but have no idea how much cash we need for lunches & drinks.
Any ideas, please?
Also, are credit/debit cards widely accepted?
Thanks for your help.

We took Jordanian Dinars and a credit card. The dinar are useful for tour guides, cabs etc. The food is amazing! You can eat very cheaply (£2) for lunch if you eat like a local. You can also pay alot (£20 a head), if you are getting a buffet in a hotel restaurant. Basically, hotel restaurants are the same price as UK and are chain restaurants but if you go off the tourist traps its really reasonable and delicious.

We went earlier this year. Found soft drinks (other than water) relatively expensive, booze very expensive (not surprising really) but food quite cheap especially if you’re having things like falafel/shawarma wraps for lunch which are just a couple of quid. We took cash, there are lots of small businesses for food and souvenirs which don’t take card - I wouldn’t bank on being able to pay by card outside Amman.

Ooh we are going soon on a half board tour as well! How much in dinars do you think would be needed for a week?

We were there over Easter. So Ramadan, which meant we just didn't eat lunch. Large bottles water circa 1 or 2 dinars. Most hotels also gave us water with the rooms. Food 15-25 dinar per person a meal. Juice /soft drinks 3 -5 dinar but fresh juice was wonderful. Snacks ridiculously expensive 1-2 dinar for small packs nuts etc. we think we spent about 300 dinar per person for 10 days, to include 8 dinners but also trips, tips etc.

We travelled around the country with a local guide so usually ate lunch in local restaurants off the beaten track. We were spending about 8 JOD or £5 pp for lunch such as wraps or falafels. We would have breakfast and dinner in our hotel. Soft drinks were cheap - 6 pk of coke £1.50, same for water. We would keep a stash of drinks in our car and top up at the supermarkets.

Thanks very much everyone, very helpful.

It's cheap. 50p for street food, £2 for a basic meal in a local cafe, £5 for a basic meal in a local restaurant. As with anywhere in tourists places you'll be looking at not much less than UK prices. I loved Jordan, it's people are so genuine and friendly.

I used to work there frequently, in Amman cards are taken most places, and at tourist destinations. Food generally cheaper than UK, of course there are expensive places too!

I live in Amman. As PP said, you can eat cheaply or (in Amman) go high end and spend a lot. Falafel wraps, swarama are very cheap. Stock up on snacks and drinks at the supermarket - Cozmos, Family Basket, Carrefour. There are also smaller family-owned places everywhere.

You can typically pay by card in Amman but should have cash for outside the city (apart from at tourist restaurants - they will usually all take card).

In Amman, I always take visitors to eat at Shams El Balad and Sufra (book the latter). Neither off the beaten track but are great and beautiful settings. In Petra stop at the Cave bar for a post-Petra drink (it’s Bu the entrance) and if you go to Umm Qais, eat at the Resthouse (it’s in the grounds).

Enjoy - it’s a beautiful country and now is the perfect time to visit.

Thanks for the useful information, quick side question, will I be okay wearing shorts or would that be considered culturally insensitive?

The vast majority of women cover their legs (and shoulders). I don’t wear shorts or anything above mid-calf unless occasionally a knee length dress when going to a high end restaurant (where this is more common) or bar. However, you do see some tourists wearing shorts in Petra. No one will say anything to you. But I personally find it more comfortable to be covered in the dry heat. I usually go for sports leggings and a tshirt.

@habibtiii Thanks, I was going to wear walking trousers in Petra anyway as I thought they'd be more practical, but had been wondering about shorts for the two days we'll be on an off the bus visiting Jerash and the driving from Amman to Petra, with the stops on the way. I'll maybe go with some light cotton trousers instead. Good to hear a t-shirt is okay as I wasn't sure.