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Original poster

Would you go to Jordan right now?

84 replies

BackT · 17/10/2023 21:39

My mum is due to go on a long awaited tour of Jordan and the Dead Sea on Thursday.

She's with her friend and a tour group of older people.

I'm worried but I also don't want to say don't go. She was in a controlling relationship for years and she's an intelligent educated adult.

Would you go?

OP posts:
Cactuslove · 17/10/2023 21:41

I wouldn't to be honest. It feels like we're on the cusp of ww3. But I do understand that I am an over anxious worrier!

Steev · 17/10/2023 21:41

Nope

GCAcademic · 17/10/2023 21:42

I would take a look at the Jordan forum on Tripadvisor. There’s a couple of useful threads on there about security with perspectives from people on the ground (locals involved in travel industry, plus tourists).

HungryPug · 17/10/2023 21:47

No! Way!

DaftQuestionForToday · 17/10/2023 21:50

No way.

ProvisionsOnTheDock · 17/10/2023 21:53

My best friend is on holiday there just now. I wouldn't have gone in her shoes, but she is fearless and didn't even consider cancelling!

sprigatito · 17/10/2023 21:53

Absolutely not.

EmmaEmerald · 17/10/2023 21:54

No, I wouldn't

what's the Foreign Office advice?

PauliesWalnuts · 17/10/2023 21:55

I probably would. I went in 2016 and we had an armed copper travelling with us for the trip (cycle touring holiday in a group). It was pretty standard, he was really alert, didn’t freak anyone out etc. the fact that he was very easy on the eye was a bit of a bonus. Jordan isn’t “rich” Middle East - they have no oil, so tourism is really important to them and they are really aware of looking after people who come to visit. I had a wonderful time.

HeidiInTheBigCity · 17/10/2023 21:55

Yes - but I have tons of local contacts and a survival level of colloquial Arabic.

I would NOT for a "nice family holiday" - not in a million years!

Dillane · 17/10/2023 21:56

No I wouldn’t

LegendsBeyond · 17/10/2023 21:58

That’s a definite No

GCAcademic · 17/10/2023 21:58

EmmaEmerald · 17/10/2023 21:54

No, I wouldn't

what's the Foreign Office advice?

There’s no foreign office advice against travel, except (as has been the case for some time) within a certain distance of the border with Syria.

Efacsen · 17/10/2023 22:03

Civil unrest in Jordan's capital tonight - protesters have over-run the Israeli embassy in response to the hospital bombing in Gaza

Trulywonderful · 17/10/2023 22:03

BackT · 17/10/2023 21:39

My mum is due to go on a long awaited tour of Jordan and the Dead Sea on Thursday.

She's with her friend and a tour group of older people.

I'm worried but I also don't want to say don't go. She was in a controlling relationship for years and she's an intelligent educated adult.

Would you go?

Depends Jordan is fairly big. So as long as near Israel/West Bank side. I probably would.

They seem to have a good control of the more Hamas siding citizens and made sure they didn't go near border in recent pro Palestine type marches.

The only thing that would make me think twice is the flights. I would want to check they don't go over Israel at all. Which I wouldn't have thought would happen. Also Jordan is unlikely to be a terrorist target at the moment. So it would be safer than going to France probably.

Original poster
BackT · 17/10/2023 22:03

I'll speak to her tomorrow. I think she'll go. She's fearless. I've been to the region a few times and I know how highly they value their tourism but it's still a volatile situation.

Thanks for all the replies.

If it helps, she's not British and will be with a mixed Scandinavian tour group so no chance of being mistaken for being American.

OP posts:
AutumnLeaves5 · 17/10/2023 22:12

I went with a group last year and messaged our guide last week. He said all was good in Jordan and no issues…although it sound like it’s a bit unsettled today. There was already good security and check points throughout Jordan. The country also borders Syria and Iraq but that hasn’t stopped people wanting to visit.

If she’s with a local guide/tour group, they’ll be able to avoid any protests/rally’s and you tend not to be in the capital for long.

If foreign office advice is still ok and flights still run I’d go for it!

HeidiInTheBigCity · 17/10/2023 22:13

Let me elaborate:

When I said "I would not for a nice family holiday" what I did NOT mean was "because I think it could be particularly dangerous for her, personally, with or without the risk of being mistaken for American". Now - things can always happen, to anyone (point in case: apparently, one of the victims of the shooting in Brussels, yesterday, was living in Switzerland and working for the local railway company, ... conversely: an Indian colleague of mine died in a horrible freak accident while on a "meet the local team" business trip a couple of years ago).

What I DO mean is: the situation is incredibly volatile! The hospital strike, in my opinion, and speaking as someone who has lived in the region, is going to prove to be a pivotal point!

Personally, I would NOT worry about being personally targeted! I WOULD worry about getting stuck during a crisis in a place where I do not even understand the TV news (which, in my case: I do - also know people I could literally just call and say "yeah, hi, so: I seem to be in a bit of a pickle and - can I crash on your couch?!").

LadyWiddiothethird · 17/10/2023 22:15

She needs to keep checking the Foreign Office advice,it is changing often.Also make sure her Insurance will still be valid.

Personally I wouldn’t go.

notimagain · 17/10/2023 22:16

The only thing that would make me think twice is the flights. I would want to check they don't go over Israel at all.

For info at least some of the European carriers heading for Amman ATM are skirting around Israel by routing south east over the Sinai towards Aqaba and then turning north..

Have to say given this evenings events it will be interesting to see if FCO advice changes overnight.

Wowzel · 17/10/2023 22:16

I'd go as long as the FCO advice didn't say not to.

JamSandle · 17/10/2023 22:17

Such a shame.

Noodledoodledoo · 17/10/2023 22:19

FCO were evacuating their diplomats and families from Israel to Jordan the end of last week.

longtompot · 17/10/2023 22:25

I was quite surprised to see a friend is currently there. I personally wouldn't go to that area right now

Whu · 17/10/2023 22:32

Hmm I don’t think I would go. I’m worried the already desperate situation in Gaza will continue to escalate and impact the wider area. The king of Jordan said today that the Middle East is on the brink of the abyss.