Jordan trip

[Dragonflly]

Hi everyone,

I’m planning a 2 week trip last week of October and first week of November with my husband and 2 children (2yr old and 9 month old)

We’re planning to be based in Amman and then rent a car to drive to Petra, visit Wadi Musa dessert and then spend a couple of days at the Dead Sea before going back to Amman for a few days.

With kids though I have so many questions! Hope anyone can help so I can stop worrying.

Itinerary for now is

Day 1&2 - Arrive in Amman and recover from the flight.

Day 3 - Make way to Wadi Musa. Visit Madaba, Mount Nebo and Baptisim site on the way.

Day 4&5 - Visit Petra and on day 5 after sunset make way to Wadi Rum to spend the night in the dessert.

Day 6, 7 & 8 - Wadi Musa. Plan to do a 4hr jeep tour, camel riding and just some relaxation. (Will be spending a total of 4 nights here though).

Day 9&10 - Dead Sea resort. One night only. Spend day 10 in resort and just before/after sunset make way to Amman.

Day 11-15 - Downtown Amman.

Now I’ve got a couple of questions and hope that someone can help.

1. Is it best to rent a car from downtown Amman or to Uber to airport and rent from there as I’ve read that driving in downtown Amman is crazy?

1. How did people do it with kids car seats? Did you bring your own or rent over there?

1. How difficult of a hike is Petra? Do’s and Dont’s with 2 young kids.

1. Is 4 nights and 3 days in Wadi Rum dessert too much given there’s not much to do and food will likely be the same but just thinking it might be relaxing?

1. Is a stroller handy at all, as again have read that downtown Amman isn’t really walking friendly and hiking places not suitable for obvious reasons.

Sorry for the long post!! Just so much to consider! Thank you for taking the time to read this and reply.

I know, not what you want to hear and it's only parts like borders with Iran & Syria... but then, the region is currently very unstable ... why risk it with 2 small children?

www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/jordan/regional-risks

I used to go there for a work a lot and it’s amazing, but no way I’d go anywhere in that region at the moment

I went 15yrs ago when I was single and no kids so can't answer some of your questions, but I'd say def 4nights in wadi rum is too much. You can knock a night off easily. I only did one night and it prob wasn't enough so 2 or 3 would be fine.

Whilst I was there, I was offered a day trip to Damascus from Amman and obviously really regret not doing that given everything that has since happened :(

Well we are originally from that region and travel there often as family lives there, so Jordan isn’t going to be any different for us.

Have you read the advice about not travelling there at the minute? You may originally be from that region but are you comfortable knowing you'd be putting your family in danger?

I can't comment re the practical aspects of travelling with children etc as the last time I was there was pre-children, but personally I'd choose a nice resort and spend more time at the Dead Sea. We stayed in a suite at the Kempinski Hotel Ishtar and it was lovely.

Foreign Office currently advises against any travel to Jordan. You probably won't be able to get travel insurance if you travel against Foreign Office advice.

Don't think the war cares where you're from op

https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/jordan

FCO advise against travel to SOME PARTS of Jordan - most of the country is fine.

Again, given I’m from that region the news has almost always been the same. First Iraq, then Syria, now Palestine. If we were to follow that advice we would have never visited our home countries so I think it’s very bold of you to suggest I’m putting my family at risk as unfortunately that has always been the case for us and you learn to just live with it

Not any travel, only some parts bordering Syria

Exactly my point, see other post

Apologies - I read the FCO guidance wrong.

I think your the bold one planning this trip. I don't think my suggestion your putting them in danger is bold, I think most people would agree its very risky to be travelling to that region in this climate

No one asked for your passive aggressive opinion on whether I should or shouldn’t travel there.

How about instead you follow your own advise and read up on the FCDO advice, which actually marks the area as safe to travel apart from the area bordering Syria.

If you have got nothing further to add to my question in case, then please refrain from further commenting just to try and make your opinion into a fact.

I would think that as Dragonflly is from the region, they are probably fine.

They know dress code and customs ect.

I just think that visibility western tourists have a big target on their back if they happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time... unfortunately, the region is unsuitable, and it's very clear that Jordan tries to stay out of it- but they might not have a choice about that when it comes to it.

.

Plan to do a 4hr jeep tour, camel riding

With a 9 month old baby and a 2 year old toddler?

Yepp, we’ve done something similar and had a camel ride as well when my son was 1.5yrs old and he absolutely loved it.

You do know that people with kids actually do
live in the desert and it’s actually not that unusual lol.