For many years I experienced wished to head to Jordan but couldn’t determine whether I’d travel there totally solo (this is certainly, separately) or join a bunch trip. My inclination is often the former, but Jordan is in the center East, and it is a country that is predominantly muslim. Exactly exactly How would a woman that is solo Jordan fare?
After my bad experience with Egypt (also to a lesser level Morocco), I happened to be wary. Firstly, exactly exactly how safe had been Jordan generally speaking? Enclosed by Syria, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, and Iraq, this appeared like a legitimate concern. And next, simply how much discrimination and harassment can I expect being a girl solo that is travelling?
Going to the Amman Citadel
In the long run, used to do spend the majority of my amount of time in Jordan with bride order catalog a bunch but nevertheless was able to be to my some that is own of time before and after the trip. Listed here are my impressions of exactly just what it is choose to be described as a solamente girl in Jordan and just why fundamentally we made a decision to opt for a trip.
Exactly exactly How safe and hassle-free is solo travel in Jordan?
We invested time walking on metropolitan areas by myself, both in the day plus in the evening that is early. In addition had some solamente amount of time in Petra. We went sightseeing, had meals alone, and entered some stores. Here’s just what We experienced.
Travelling/sightseeing alone
We moved extensively in the roads of Amman and Madaba minus the hassle that is slightest. No body bugged me personally or accompanied me. I really could are typically in an united states or European town! This is a contrast that is huge my solamente experience with Egypt back 1997.
Not just were individuals perhaps perhaps maybe not irritating me personally, they certainly were inviting me! One night after sunset, I happened to be walking in downtown Amman, where sidewalk patios bustled with locals that has simply broken the fast of Ramadan. A boy that is little at a dining dining table together with his family members yelled “Welcome to Jordan! ” while I waited at a traffic light.
Walking in downtown Amman in the evening felt safe
At midday, we stepped down through the Amman Citadel into the Roman Theatre by myself underneath the hot sunlight. The roads were pretty empty, however a litttle lady waved at me personally from the balcony. ??
We invested a day that is entire around Madaba and visiting archeological web web sites and churches. Yet again, no body harassed me personally. The worst event had been a classic guy who began directing me personally around a website without me personally asking, after which expected a tip.
Automobiles usually stopped to allow me get a get a cross the trail (a courtesy this is certainly ignored in many of this globe). Even yet in busy Amman, we as soon as attempted crossing a multi-lane boulevard with non-stop traffic (the traffic lights had been really far). A driver finally stopped to allow me get a get a get a cross, and in addition stuck down their arm to end one other lane of traffic!
Therefore perhaps not people that are only perhaps maybe maybe not hassling me personally, these were courteous too.
Consuming solamente
We just had one dinner on my own, a meal in Madaba. Nonetheless i did son’t feel embarrassing sitting by myself and I also had been offered such as a normal patron. It absolutely was mid-afternoon and also the room had been mostly empty. The meals arrived quickly and I also didn’t get any condescending chit-chat through the waiter when I did in Egypt (“You’re alone? Where will be your household? ” type or kind of crap).
I experienced a couple of other dishes with one girl buddy through the team, and here once again the service staff had been friendly and helpful without any mindset whatsoever.
Another benefit of Jordan is the fact that wait staff and folks who operate in tourism all have a good degree of English, which means you don’t need to worry an excessive amount of about communication issues.
If such a thing, shop clerks had been really aloof, unlike in Moroccan stores. When, we wandered in to a souvenir store with a buddy. The worker had been chatting on their phone and ignored us the complete time we had been here (until we approached him to get one thing).
Walking into convenient shops to get water and treats produced the interaction that is standard. Using one event used to do wonder if I became being overcharged for the bottle of water because of the dour clerk, but which wasn’t a deal that is big.
On another event we wandered as a laundry/dry-cleaning shop to enquire about costs. The senior gentleman at the countertop asked me personally where I became from and also tried talking French if you ask me. Once I came back with a few clothing the next day, he didn’t provide me a receipt of any sort. “I understand you! ” he said. “Come straight straight right back at six. ”
Accommodation
My knowledge about resort staff had been great too. They certainly were helpful and not creepy, also regarding the one i spent completely alone in a Madaba hotel night. I recommend selecting high quality accommodations or hostels however. Browse the reviews on web web web sites like Booking.com or HostelBooker.
As an example, the Art resort in Amman is just a good mid-range option and it is completely positioned to attain the primary tourist attractions in Amman by foot. The employees in the desk that is front friendly and talks good English.
Art Resort in Amman
Transport
I did son’t make use of transportation alone but read about other solamente females in Jordan making use of a driver that is private maybe perhaps not experiencing any issues. It is easier to book motorists straight from your own hotel where in actuality the costs are fixed (and where you are able to grumble if any such thing ever did get wrong).
Looking to get a reasonable cost from a regular cab you see in the road will be a lot harder, especially if you’re on your own. While at Petra, my whole trip selection of eight individuals had been quoted twice the rate that is going two taxis. We simply wanted to go directly to the city centre for lunch. Finally, we had been in a position to deal them straight down somewhat for the return trip. We doubt i possibly could have inked this by myself.
