Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
have a travel agency within their shopping arcades from which you can hire a car and or-
ganise hotel bookings for the next part of your trip.
Most of the top-end hotels are owned by international chains, but they invariably reflect
the local character of Jordan, with Arabian-style interior design, options for high-quality
Middle Eastern dining, shops selling fine Jordanian handicrafts and bookshops with a se-
lection of English-language titles on Jordan.
Independent travellers can often negotiate a walk-in rate. Outside peak seasons and hol-
idays (when booking is essential), you may find a world-class room for a midrange price.
A tax and service charge of 26% is added to the bill in top-end hotels, although it's
worth checking to see if this has already been included in a discounted rate. Major credit
cards are accepted in all top-end hotels.
BOOK YOUR STAY ONLINE
For more accommodation reviews by Lonely Planet authors, check out hotels.lonelyplanet.com. You'll find inde-
pendent reviews, as well as recommendations on the best places to stay. Best of all, you can book online.
Rental Accommodation
In Amman, the best places to check for apartments and houses to rent are the accommoda-
tion listings in the English-language newspapers, cultural centre noticeboards, and the no-
ticeboard at Books@café in Amman. Also see
www.expatriates.com/classifieds/amm/
housingavailable
.
There is also a useful noticeboard in the office of the University of
Jordan Language Center. For longer stays, wander around the suburbs of Shmeisani, or
between the 1st and 5th circles: signs advertising places to rent are often displayed in res-
idence or shop windows.
It costs about JD500 to JD1000 per month for a furnished apartment in a reasonable
area of Amman; a little less if it's unfurnished. A furnished apartment or small house in a
less salubrious area may cost as little as JD300 to JD500 per month, but for this price
don't expect everything to work.
