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Jordan Dinar
Jordan uses the Jordanian dinar as its national currency. Each is divided into 1000 fils, 100 qirsh or piastres and 10 dirhams. However, in reality, the fils is no longer in circulation.
The currency is issued and regulated by the Central Bank of Jordan and is issued as both notes and coins. Coins come in the form of ½ qirsh, 1 qirsh, 2½ qirsh, 5 qirsh, 5 qirsh and 10 qirsch, 1/4, ½ and 1 dinar.
Notes come in the form of 1, 5, 10, 20 and 50 dinars.
The currency is identified on international markets by the letters JOD.
One interesting aspect to the Jordanian dinar is that it is also used within the West Bank, in conjunction with the Israeli new shekel.
History of the Jordanian Dinar
Despite the fact that Jordan has such a long, colourful and rich history, the currency is not that old. It was brought in in 1949, as a replacement for the Palestinian pound, which had been the currency used until that point. The new dinar was brought in at the same exchange rate as the Palestinian pound. It is now worth less than 1 US dollar, but is a relatively stable currency, albeit one that is fixed to the value of a US dollar at the rate of 0.708 dinars is worth 1 US dollar.
Getting Hold of Jordanian Dinars
Getting hold of Jordanian dinars is not that hard. There are plenty of ATM machines, particularly in the capital of Jordan, Amman, although there are few in Wadi Rum, so if you are planning on going there, it is advisable to exchange money prior to your arrival. Sometimes US dollars can also be used for payment, particularly in the tourist areas, where you can use them in hotels and restaurants. However, it is better to make sure that you have dinars with you: do not rely on US dollars being accepted, since they may not. The US dollars should simply be used as 'back up'.
One thing to be aware of with regard to ATM machines is that they are very popular and lots of locals also use them to get cash out. Unfortunately this means that if the bank has a holiday on one day, then it is quite common for ATM machines to run out. So if there is a public or bank holiday, make sure that you take money out early and then you don't have to worry.
Credit cards have not really 'taken off' in Jordan and although you may be able to use a card that has a Visa sign, you may find that you get charged an extra 'commission' charge on top. In addition you will also find that you can use credit cards in quite upmarket hotels and restaurants, not for day to day purchases.
Traveller's cheques can also be taken into Jordan and these can be in US dollars, euros or British sterling, all will generally be accepted without any problems, although if you take US dollars then you will know exactly how much money you will be getting. Usually it will cost you around 5 dinars to exchange traveller's cheques.
Safety Issues
Despite the fact that Jordan is so close to the Middle East and it ahs a border with Iraq, it is actually a very safe country. Three bombs did explode in Amman in 2006, which was a little scary, because all three took place in hotels, however, there have been no problems since then.
The main area where you should exercise caution is the area near to the Iraqi border, but even then, this is relatively safe.
Jordan is quite a liberal country, but you should not take things for granted and just because it is liberal, people are at heart still very much focussed on the Muslim way of life. So they do not like people visiting any religious or historical sights with immodest dress, nor do they like people to be over affectionate in public. In addition, they are not overly tolerant towards people who are gay or lesbian, so if you are, then be mindful of this and simply exercise a little discretion.
Drug use is also frowned upon and as such may incur heavy penalties, so again, be respectful of the culture which you are visiting.
But unlike many countries in this area, Jordan is safe and the people are quite friendly and seem to like travellers venturing into their country. For some time, Jordan has been quite an expensive place to visit and to some extent this has meant that it is not a cheap package holiday destination, with travellers who do come, tending to be slightly more discerning or interested in history or the historical sights. As a result, Jordan, despite all it has to offer, has not been awash with travellers and so it is still at that stage, where it welcomes them.
Spending Jordanian Dinars
Jordan has always been slightly more expensive to get to than many other countries, but once in the country it always had a reputation as being towards the high end of the Middle East in terms of prices. It used to be considered more expensive than say Egypt, but much less expensive than Israel.
However, over recent years, Jordan has seen prices escalate quite significantly, mainly due to the effects of the rising price of oil and as a result, it is much more expensive than it once was. This has had a significant impact on the Jordanian people as well, many of whom are finding that they are much poorer than they were. So if you have been to Jordan before, you will find it much more expensive than it used to be, so do not assume that you are being overcharged, or ripped off all the time, it is simply a case of economics.
One thing that you should also be mindful of is that although you are in the Middle East, this is not a country where haggling is so common. Yes, you may be able to negotiate a discount on items, but at best you will only be able to get the price down by say 20% or sometimes a maximum of 25%, but if you offer an extremely low price, such as half what you think it may be worth, then the vendor may actually be offended by this and feel that you are mocking him and his attempts to simply make a living, like everyone else.
Often this means that it is difficult to know exactly what to do when shopping, since you don't want to be ripped off, but also you don't want to cause offence.
Many people go on organised trips to Jordan and have a tour guide go with them, explaining everything and 'looking after' the group. They may take you to a shop where they claim that you will get a 'good deal'. This is sometimes, but not always, the case. It is possible that the tour guide and the shop's owner are in league together and the guide is getting a 'gift' for bringing in tourists. But it may be the case that the guide has brought you to the shop because they know that the prices charged are fair and reasonable: so it is just a case of being aware of these two scenarios and making your own choice about whether or not to buy in shops that you are taken to.
A guided tour can also be invaluable in the sense that you do get a real sense of history, of the fact that this is a country with such a rich past, but many people felt hat the tour guides provide a somewhat 'sanitised' version of what is going on in the country and you never really get to meet 'real' Jordanians, which after all is the purpose of travel.
So before you go, then think about whether or not you want to travel independently, with all the excitement (and some hard work as well on your part) that independent travel entails, or whether or not you want to see Jordan's sights and historical artefacts without spending too much time with local people. Basically there are reasons for and against each type of travel, so go with whichever you feel most comfortable with!
Overview
Jordan is quite simply a spectacular destination. Genuinely warm and friendly, with some fantastic sights, it is one of those countries that after you have been, you simply want everyone to experience its delights, but then, after some thought, you don't want everyone to go, since this could actually spoil the sense of wonder and awe that Jordan inspires in its visitors.
Petra is probably the most famous sight in Jordan, with its archaeological ruins of an ancient city. It is expensive to go in, but once you have entered it, only an iron soul could fail to be blown away by it: it really is that amazing. Most people say that to get a real feel for it, you have to stay for at least a couple of days and if you only schedule in one day then in all probability you will regret it, so stay for at least two.
There are other sights as well as Petra, with some fabulous fortresses and castles to be seen. One of the most famous castles is Karak Castle, which acted as a fortress during the time of the Crusades! So that is how ancient a history this country has.
Whatever your dreams about Jordan, you will very likely find that they are surpassed in reality. It is a truly beautiful country and one that seems exciting, romantic and yet fully able to be liberal and look forward to the 21st Century, which is an amazing combination.
Many people are scared of visiting Jordan because of the fact that it is in the Middle East, but as long as you check out whether it remains a safe country prior to travelling, then you should be perfectly safe and the fact that many people are staying away means that you do not have the crowds that you may expect.
For further information on the delights of Jordan, check out http://www.visitjordan.com and simply be blown away by its majesty!
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