• Jordan

    What to Know About Visiting the Dead Sea

    Floating in the Dead Sea is a bucket list item. The buoyancy of the water is unlike anything else on Earth, and the scenery surrounding it is just phenomenal. Before you head to the Dead Sea, make sure you’re prepared with these tips! 1. Remember the Dead Sea is the lowest point on land on the planet. Yes, this is a somewhat “duh” comment, but this can be incredibly relevant for anyone with sinus problems. I went to the Dead Sea straight after landing in Jordan (and had quite the sinus infection from India), and by the time we got there, I thought my sinuses were going to explode. If…

  • Food,  Jordan

    Jordanian Recipes to Try at Home

    I don’t know about you, but I love bringing something of a vacation home with me. One of my favorite things to bring is recipes and food ideas! Jordan has a surprisingly diverse cuisine (surprising only because when was the last time you saw a restaurant in the US specializing in Jordanian food?). In all honesty, Jordanian food is not always the world’s most beautiful food – but it more than makes up for it with taste! Some fun recipes to try include:

  • Jordan,  Packing and Gear

    What To Pack To Visit Jordan for Women

    Jordan is an open country, but it’s still a conservative one. Women should plan to cover up just a bit, especially outside key tourist attractions. At tourist-heavy places like Petra, it’s normal to see women in shorts and t-shirts, or even tops that have bare shoulders. In the cities, plan to wear sleeves and cover your legs (at least to the knees). At the resorts, resort-wear is expected and normal. A good pool coverup is essential, and don’t hesitate to wear a bikini. (Do NOT, however, wear a bikini at a public beach.) This is a post that’s focused on roughly April – October, when the weather is mostly warm.…

  • Jordan

    Petra: The 8 Wonders of The World (Part 1)

    One of my favorite goals that I accomplished was to see all 8 Wonders of the World before I turned 30. It was a fun adventure, and in this series I’ll walk you through what the eight wonders are, and about how to visit each one. General Info Location: Petra, Jordan Nearest Major Airport: Queen Alia International in Amman, Jordan (airport code AMM) Overall Difficulty to Visit (ranked among wonders, 1 is the most difficult, 8 is the least difficult): 2 Why That Difficulty Rating? There are not as many international flights into Amman as others like Rome, Beijing, or Rio de Janeiro. There is no public transit that you…

  • Egypt,  Jordan

    Taking The Aqaba-Nuweiba Ferry Between Jordan and Egypt

    If you’re into ancient world wonders, it’s pretty likely you’ll think about going to Egypt and Jordan in one trip. They’re quite close together, and the Pyramids and Petra are both incredible sights. But how best to get between the two countries? Especially if you want a trip to Mt Sinai thrown into the mix, you’re going to start wondering about overland options rather than flying. And that’s when you find the ferry that goes between Aqaba, Jordan and Nuweiba, Egypt.

  • Jordan

    Three Awesome Nights in Jordan: An Itinerary & Guide

    Jordan was one of my favorite places on the trip, and I already can’t wait to go back. It’s a surprise of a country! As an American, I think it’s easy to lump it in with the “Middle East” and “Next door to Syria: Don’t Go!” but that couldn’t be further from the truth. My experiences with Jordan were that the country is safe and welcoming. In fact, as much as renting cars in foreign countries terrifies me – I’d rent a car in Jordan next time I go. The traffic is not bad, the roads are incredibly well-maintained, and the signage is good (and largely translated to English). And…

  • 30 Before 30,  Egypt,  Jordan

    Egypt: Getting There is Half the Fun

    Getting around Jordan and into Egypt is no small feat. Most places suggest to go around Jordan and end up back in Amman, then fly to Egypt if you want to see it as well. But there is another way – there is a ferry from Aqaba to Nuweiba, which are both ports on the Red Sea. It can be an easier and cheaper way to get from Jordan to Egypt, especially if you want to do anything in the Sinai. For me, I knew I wanted to be in the Sinai for at least a bit, so I decided to go ahead and take the ferry. Alas… as I’m…

  • Costs,  Jordan

    Spreadsheeting: How Much I Spent in Jordan

    Jordan is one of those surprisingly and shockingly expensive countries. It’s one that you’d expect to be quite cheap and then WOAH just kidding. It’s not. I think part of what makes a country cheap for travel is the internal infrastructure for transportation – and in Jordan, there is not a cheap option for getting around. If you want to rent a car, it seems quite safe. I didn’t have the guts to do that. So if you don’t, you’re relying on either a guide or a taxi – both of which know that tourists have to get places and have to pay – so they charge accordingly. I decided…

  • Jordan

    Wadi Rum: The Martian Was Filmed Here

    I knew from the time I’d seen pictures online that if I was going to make it to Jordan for Petra, I definitely wanted to go to Wadi Rum as well. I’m so glad I saw those pictures and decided to go! Wadi Rum is a desert that’s essentially in between Petra and Aqaba, and it’s a popular place for tourists to go on Jeep rides, camel rides, camping, etc. I definitely wanted to spend a night at a camp there! So I did. We drove into Wadi Rum, and it’s truly otherworldly. The rock formations are giant and gorgeous, and we got in right around sunset, which made them…