5 Tips for Jordan with kids

Tips for Jordan with kids 

If travelling to Jordan with kids is on your agenda we have compiled tips and advice based on our recent trip to Jordan. I have lots of queries via our Instagram on our trip and it has taken me way longer to write this article but life has been busy with work and my kids play and compete in a lot of sport so time just run away on me!

• The Jordan Pass 

I had read a lot and I mean a lot while planning and researching this trip and the Jordan Pass was a no brainer it covers entry into over 40 of the key sites including Jerash, Wadi Rum Petra and also by purchasing the pass the 40Jd visa fee is waived. Kids under 12 go free anyway to the tourist sites in Jordan so you don’t have to buy a pass for kids however you do need to pay the 40jd visa fee. It’s comes via email which you can store on your phone, however we printed them out as I heard reviews of people have difficulty when scanning on the phone and also saves you having to hand over your phone every time.  In theory you are meant to also show your passport or a copy of it but we were never asked in any site but did have it copied and printed again just to save having to hand it over every time we wanted to enter one of the attractions.

• Arriving into Jordan 

I find when travelling with young kids you need to be flexible and I feel anyway take it at a slower pace. Jordan has 2 airports one in Amman, its capital and the other in Aqaba in the south of the country.  Its certainly worth considering your key attractions and factoring the airport around that for example, Aqaba is closer to Petra and Wadi Rum where as Amman is closer to the Dead Sea, Jerash, Baptism Site, Madaba. The distance from Amman to Petra is over 4 hours each way.

Another thing to note is do be prepared to queue at visa desks, it took us quite a while to get through so I was glad I had snacks for the kids.  Also be sure to fill in the tourist form before you arrive to get your QR code. Its all online and quick to fill in.

Visas took so long that when we landed to the belt they had moved our luggage over to a holding/ storage area which nobody had told us. We have an old suitcase with a distinctive colour which one of the kids spotted quickly. In addition we did have a tile in it so we knew at the very least it had made it to Amman.

• Hire a driver

Neither of us fancied driving so the most sensible option was to hire a car and driver for our time there. I couldn’t recommend our driver enough, he was kind, patient, great with the kids and the car was spotless. The huge benefit for us was that he was flexible when plans changed or kids were tired and we cut short a longer day than we had planned.  You can find the company on Instagram @jordan_tourism_trip.

Another thing I must mention is that we have never been made as welcome as we were with driver Omar when  we arrived in Amman, best welcome ever with Turkish coffees.

• Money exchange 

While card is taken in a lot of the restaurants and larger shops it is still a very much cashed based location. It is worth getting some either before or even a little at the airport for when you land.  There are many exchanges in the towns. Our hotel had cash exchange facility for € and $USD so im guessing many of the big hotels do.

• Is Jordan safe 

When people heard I was travelling to Jordan with  kids most asked if I thought it was safe! Jordan’s location in the Middle East surrounded by countries where there is conflict does cause a little apprehensive for people. However I never once felt unsafe, the Jordanian people are very welcoming and friendly by nature.  Just to pre warn most hotels do have scanners for bags when you walk through but rather than see this as something scary we took comfort in it.

Like any city or holiday its always sensible to keep your wits about you, keep valuable in the safe and we actually put the tile in the kids coat pockets just for peace of mind.

Hopefully these tips help if you are planning to travel to  Jordan with kids.  Its a truly fascinating place and well worth a visit.