BootsnAll Travel Community

This is just a preliminary question because i'm thinking of plans for a trip early next year since my previous arrangements for the BNA trip had to be cancelled. I just wanted to start with some ideas.



How easy is it to travel between Israel and Jordan? This would just be a 2 week "vacation" type trip and I would want to see most of the tourist highlights. I'm not trying to rough it but I will budget as best as possible. Is it common for tourists who fly into Tel Aviv to transit easily into Jordan for a 4-5 period?

Just curious. I'm in that "picking a destination" phase, which happens to be one of my favorite parts of travel!

It's certainly something that's possible, for the logistics, I'd suggest this thread:
Bus or train from Jerusalem/Tel Aviv to Jordan?

I'm planning a trip to the region myself, though I've opted to give Israel a miss this time around.

What time of year were you looking at?

I'm considering March to get good ticket prices. But again i'm still just kind of checking different places out.

I want to go somewhere I won't be going to on a RTW in a few years and the middle east and south america are 2 places I was probably going to have to do separate.

That's interesting, because SA is next on my list, too.

I'm hoping to leave in February, but it might go as late as March. I'm going on a long term overland trip from Cairo to Budapest (visiting Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Turkey, Greece, Bulgaria, Romania and Hungary), and I have to wait for my girlfriend to secure funding, which in her case means selling her condo, so I have to wait until she's got a possession date to book the tickets. Technically, I still need money too, but since I'm living in my parent's basement to save, I'll have enough by the end of January as long as there's no unforeseen changes in my employment.

Being a northerner, I'm more planning for that time of year to avoid as much of the summer heat as possible. Regularly getting 40 degree weather would really detract from my enjoyment of the trip.

good choice. I've spent a fair bit of time in both countries. The Allenby Bridge is certainly the busiest crossing between the 2 countries although i've found the crossing at Eliat/Aqaba to be quietier. Thats also the most convenient crossing to Petra which is a must-see. Dont forget Jerash & Amman in Jordan too. People tend to concentrate on Israel which is an incredible place but i heartedly reccomend Jordan mainly due to its friendly people. Salaam

Thanks for the advice guys. I definitely will do my best to include Jordan in a trip anytime I go to Israel if I don't choose it this go around.

Hey Joey and Shalom from Jerusalem!

You can absolutely visit both Israel and Jordan on the same trip. While Israel has wonderful sites to see, places to stay, food to eat, stuff to do and people to meet, Jordan does as well - including Jerash, Madaba, Mt. Nebo, Petra & Wadi Rum (and more...).

I'll just disagree with "sampaul1966A" and suggest that the Sheikh Hussein Bridge (near Beit She'an in the northern Jordan Valley) and the Arava Crossing near Eilat/Aqaba are the best places to cross. As well, if you cross at the Allenby/King Hussein Bridge (from Israel to Jordan), you have to obtain your Jordanian visa ahead of time, while at the Arava Crossing, for instance, you get it on the spot. On the other hand, your travel agent or incoming tour company (should you decide to use a professional to help you with all this) should be able to arrange all of that for you.

And March is absolutely, in my opinion, just about the best time to visit - it's after (or at the end of) the winter rains and before the prices rise (as of 1 April) and even the desert is blooming with beautiful flowers. As well, you should have no trouble at all finding good flights and accommodation in both countries.

HEY NEIL - question: since you are planning an "overland" trip, I wonder how you are getting from Egypt to Jordan without going through Israel? And if you do decide to transit through, at least, Eilat on the way, be sure to 1) have Israeli customs at the border near Taba stamp a separate piece of paper and 2) have a great time in Eilat - it's a fun city!

suzanne

quote:

Originally posted by SuzTours:
HEY NEIL - question: since you are planning an "overland" trip, I wonder how you are getting from Egypt to Jordan without going through Israel? And if you do decide to transit through, at least, Eilat on the way, be sure to 1) have Israeli customs at the border near Taba stamp a separate piece of paper and 2) have a great time in Eilat - it's a fun city!

My understanding is that there's a ferry from Nuweiba to Aqaba. It's not quite overland, but it's not breaking the trip up with a plane ride either. As I'm continuing up through Syria, crossing through Israel isn't really an option this time around, since the Jordanian and Egyptian border guards are reputed to be not as accomodating with the seperate sheet of paper method.

Neil - I hope you are right about the ferry - I'll ask around here about it, too, since I have friends who once a year head down to Nuweiba for vacation.

While I'd always prefer for visitors to the region to at least pass through Israel (and then be so impressed, they stay for an extended visit), it'll be good to add that ferry info to my files!

Thanks.

By the way, I just had a quick look at your general itinerary (on your blog page "2wanderers") and just want to say that, while I haven't yet been there, I have heard (from folks around here) that Bulgaria is beautiful and the food is terrific! So - enjoy!

suzanne

Thanks for the information guys. I will take it all into heavy consideration on my choice for a trip next year. I still have other options to look at and i'll just figure out what will be the best value. It is unfortunate it will only be able to be a "vacation" and not an extended trip because there is so much more in the region i'd like to explore.

Just a reminder, don't let them stamp your passport upon entery ınto Israel, have them stamp a pıece of paper. When İ went there, they automaticly stamped a piece of paper, but İ just met a girl in my hostel that had her passport stamped (accıdently), now there are a bunch of countrıes (around here) that she can't go to till she gets a new passport.