Jordan | Next Door Nabers

Amman

The Capital city of Jordan and Suhail's hometown. A central crossing point dating back thousands of years, Amman was named Philadelphia during the greek and Roman periods. These days, the city is constant development, with a stark contrast between its East and West. Amman is westernized but maintains its Middle Eastern flair, brimming with mouth-watering food and incredible hospitality. Particularly remarkable is Amman’s bowl-shaped center, surrounded by its seven hills and monochrome as far as the eye can see. A city law required all houses to be built in the same light color palette, resulting in a beautiful sandy view best seen from any of its beautiful hillsides.

Where to Stay:

Checkout the Rotana hotel, the iconic Le Royal, or the Four Seasons. There are many other affordable options near the beautiful neighborhoods of Jabal Amman, Al Weibdeh, Rainbo street, or Al Sweiffieh. No matter where you stay, everything you need to see is a quick Uber/taxi ride away.

Where/What to Eat:

Eat your way through the historic downtown (wast al-balad). Try freshly squeezed juices, sugar cane, and anything delicious that catches your eyes.
Breakfast at Hashem downtown. Historic joint dishing out hummus, falafel, fool, and much more.
Kunafe at Habiba wast al balad (couple of minutes walking from Hashem)
Dinner at Kit Kat or Zorba. Authentic traditional Jordanian food in a great setting (try sitting on the rooftop).
Lamb shawarma at Shawerma Reem (third circle)
Eat more shawarma (chicken) at any shawarma joint. Al Day'aa is one of my favorites and has many locations.
Have some traditional Jordanian mashawi (grilled kebabs, lamb, chicken).

What to Do:

Spend time exploring the historic downtown (wast al-balad). There are souks (markets) for everything. spices market, gold market, fruits market, souvenir markets, mixed nuts and roasters, etc.. Admire the many historic mosques and buildings all around the city.
Visit the Roman amphitheater and then cross the street, up the stairs to the Temple of Hercules atop the Citadel.
Spend an afternoon on rainbow street and have some hooka and tea/juice at one of its many cafes with terraces overlooking downtown (try Wild Jordan cafe).
Have a drink at one of the many hotels or bars offering great rooftop views (Rainbow street, Four Seasons, Le Royal)
Try a traditional Arabic Hammam (bath/spa); thank me later.
Checkout the Royal automobile museum (The late King Hussein's personal collections).
Take a day trip to explore the Roman city of Jerash.
Take a day trip to explore the ancient city of Madaba (Hebah's hometown). Mount Nebo is home to 4th century church and mosaic map where Moses once stood after leading the Israelites out of Egypt.

Dead Sea

An hour car ride from Amman, and you'll find yourself at the lowest point on earth. Make sure you spend a minimum of one night at the Dead Sea. For a full experience, spend two nights.

Where to Stay:

Any of the beach front resorts is a great option. Our favorites are the Movenpic (we had our wedding reception there), Hilton, and Kempinski.

Where/What to Eat:

Eating options are limited. During the day, you'll probably end up ordering at the hotel while you're lounging poolside. You can also enjoy a great dinner and a show at one of the resort's many terraces.
For other options, you can take a 5-10 minute car ride to the nearby Samarah mall (Chili ways, Dubliners Irish Pub, etc..).

What to Do:

Lounging at one of the many pools is the best thing you can do. There are live DJ's and great party atmosphere on weekends.
Make sure you go down to the beach, float in the Dead Sea, and cover yourself with some mud!
If you're feeling more adventurous and have more time to spend, make sure you take an excursion into Wadi Al Mujib; a river canyon like no other in the world.

Petra, Wadi Rum, and Aqaba

The rose city of Petra, one of the new seven wonders of the world and a Unesco World Heritage Site. Carved in the mountains more than two millenniums ago, Petra is considered the jewel of Jordan. One may visit Petra as a day trip from Amman (4 hours one-way), but we definately recommend spending at least one night for an enjoyable trip. Taking a car ride from the Dead Sea (assuming you're spending the night before at the Dead Sea) offers breathtaking views of the Jordan valley compared to the desert road from Amman.

Where to Stay:

Our top recommendation is to visit Petra during the day, then head to Wadi Rum for the evening/night. You can spend the night at one of Wadi Rum's many camps. You have the option of staying at. traditional tent or some of the modern all glass bubbles.
Alternatively, you can stay at one of the hotels inside the vicinity of Petra.

Where/What to Eat:

If you spend the night in Mars (AKA Wadi Rum), you're in for a great experience. Your stay will include a traditional show (traditional dancing, bonfire, etc..) and traditional dinner with all the fixinings (zireb - lamb cooked under ground).
If you stay at hotel in Petra, your options may be limited to the hotel menu.

What to Do:

Explore Petra during the day. This will probably take you a few hours to take in the magic city.
Late afternoon, head out to Wadi Rum for the evening and to spend a night there. Traditional tents are pretty affordable ($30-$40 night/pp) which include dinner, show and lodging. If you're looking to glamp, check out the bubbles for around $150 (still great value).
Before dinner, go up to the surrounding rocks and watch the beautiful sunset .
At night, enjoy dinner and a great show. Then, look up and enjoy the awe-inspiring Milky Way and explore the stars and planets that you may have never seen before; with your naked eye.
The next day, be sure to rent a guide in a 4x4 Jeep and explore the dessert and some of its great attractions (Any Lawrence of Arabia fans?). You may think that this is a different planet, after all.
If you have time and are looking for more adventure, head an hour south to the duty free zone and port city of Aqaba.
For an unforgettable experience, stay a night or two at one of the many luxurious, yet affordable, resorts at Tala Bay or Ayla Oasis. Hit the beach, snorkel, scuba dive in search of tanks and airplanes, parasail, golf, eat, party, relax and enjoy the surrounding mountains all in one place.
If you're staying for two nights, consider leaving the resort for an evening and heading into the beautiful city to explore its markets and do some duty free shopping. For dinner, have a great seafood meal at Ali Baba.