Holiday Reviews
We invite every traveller who books a holiday via us to send in a review. Because we don't run the holidays they're completely independent and unedited... remember to read between the lines though, as two people on the same trip can have different views!
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Adventure holiday in Jordan, independent reviews
 Reviewed 10 Sep 2008 by Ken Sharp |  |
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Petra was undoubtedly the most spectacular part of the holiday - It is a truly amazing place. However waking up just before dawn in Wadi Rum and watching the sun rise was the most moving experience.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Drink plenty water! I took a 2 litre bladder which I carried in my rucksack which allowed me to sip small amounts constantly. Make sure you have head protection - red and white Shemah headgear is worn by many locals. They are cheap to buy and give great protection. Don't expect too much luxury. Hotels vary, some are basic but all were reasonably clean. Food again is adequate rather than exceptional. Lots of buffets and it helps if you like houmus and pitta bread. Do expect to have a great time. You will be in a smallish group and will soon all be on first name terms.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Jordan is not really geared up for mass tourism and the small group using existing facilities does minimise impact. The virtual absence of the likes of McDonalds and Starbucks mean you are relying on locally owned and run establishments. However there is a lack of recycling facilities and also evidence of some litter in Wadi Rum. thankfully I was not aware of any of our group contributing to it.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Best ever! The tour operator provided a busy but balanced itinerary and we crammed in far more quality experiences than I thought possible.
| Reviewed 18 Sep 2007 by Sian Martin | |
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
It's hard to choose from camel rides in the desert, sleeping under the stars, exploring the crusader castles and floating in the dead sea but I think it would have to be sunset over Petra.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Be prepared to do a bit of walking and always carry a water bottle and hat.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Yes we bought from local people and our guide was amazing - Cheers Ibrahim - kept us laughing and got everyone involved - we made a great team and I'd happily holiday with all again!
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Amazing - selection of places and activities, our amazing guide Ibrahim, excellent value - just excellent.
| Reviewed 2 Dec 2006 by Jane Phillips | |
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Petra - none of the photos I had seen give it justice, really magnificent, the monuments but also the sheer natural beauty of the place. Equally the trip to Wadi Rum, amazing.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Beware of the Amman taxi drivers. It can be a white knuckle ride and they'll charge you way over the real price if they think they can get away with it.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Yes, the only questionable part might be the 4x4 trip in the desert, to me the vehicles seemed out of place.
4. Any other comments?
WOW, definitely a five star rating, I wasn't sure as it was the first 'package tour' I'd done but it was really great. I am so glad I went.
| Reviewed 14 May 2009 by Kumi Coulthard | |
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Petra, especially the second day when we were off the tourist route and did optional walk from Monastery to Little Petra.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
A reasonable level of fitness is required for Petra. Be prepared for early mornings and dodgy plumbing!
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Yes. However increased tourism at Petra is spoiling it because of over supply of donkeys, horses, carts, camels etc which seem unregulated.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Good, but tiring.
| Reviewed 14 May 2009 by Helen Bray | |
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The first view of the Treasury in Petra. Our local guide, Abdul, arranged us so that we all turned round and got that classic view through the siq at the same time. It was incredible and brought a tear to my eye.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Eat where the locals do at least once. The food is superb and very reasonable and you get to people-watch at the same time. Also take the time to talk to the people you meet, even in the hotels. They're friendly without being pushy and have a great sense of humour!
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
We stayed in hotels which were individual, not a chain, and used a local guide (although not for the whole trip). The Bedouin camp in Wadi Rum was locally owned and run and was good on conserving water etc. However, 23 of us were transported in a 46-seater coach which is not environmentally sound.
| Reviewed 17 Mar 2009 by Eric Lowry | |
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Our holiday to Jordan was full of such a variety of activity that it is hard to choose just one memorable part. Petra was even more spectacular than we had imagined, Jerash is the most fantastic Roman historical city we have seen, beating even Palmyra. The night in Wadi Rum with the camel ride during the afternoon was fabulous. Flopping (one cannot really swim) in the Dead Sea with its 30% salt content was great fun.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Book up quickly but not if you like beach holidays. The snorkelling at Aqaba was disappointing, the Madaba stop for the mosaic not worthwhile, but everything else was what we wanted. March is good for temperature and we only had rain on the last day in Amman. Even the desert walk was in a comfortable temperature. Be quite forthright with drivers if they start using mobile phones while driving and if they start racing each other (our group was in 4x4's in the desert).
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Certainly, we spent 25% of the total cost while in Jordan and unlike the Bedouins took no material from any site or desert to minimise impact. We also were sparing with the amount of water we used and took sufficient clothes not to have to use laundry.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Marvellous. We went to Jordan because of Petra (and Petra is staggering in its scale) but came back with so many other wonderful memories.
Read the operator's response here:
Thank you for your correspondence regarding the tour. We were delighted to read that you enjoyed your trip. It is always good to know our efforts are appreciated and therefore we are pleased to pass on your kind comments to all those involved with your tour arrangements. We were concerned to hear that the drivers were using their mobile phones whilst driving. We have standard operating procedures in place which we expect all drivers to follow. These state that they are not permitted to use mobile phones when driving. We would like to assure you that we have taken this up with our local agent as a matter or urgency and we will ensure that the drivers receive further training on our operating procedures. Thank you for bringing this to our attention. Thank you for taking the time to write. We hope to have the pleasure of your company on another trip in the not too distant future.| Reviewed 24 Nov 2008 by Michele Bowers | |
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The Dead Sea, and the hike up to the Monastery and the Turkish bath.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Warm clothes for the nights in the desert.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Yes, it involved the local Bedouin and the campsites were well run.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
A good holiday, a mixture of walking and historic sites.
| Reviewed 13 Oct 2008 by Caroline Jones | |
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Sleeping under the stars at Wadi Rum.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Tell them the sanitation is really bad at the second camp. The one portaloo for the 20 people at camp over 2 days was really nasty.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Yes.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Very good.
Read the operator's response here:
We were delighted to read that you enjoyed your trip. It is always good to know our efforts are appreciated and therefore we are pleased to pass on your kind comments to all those involved with your tour arrangements. We are glad that you found sleeping under the stars in Wadi Rum to be your most memorable and exciting part of the holiday.We note your comments on the portaloo during your two day camp and have investigated this issue with the Operations Manager for your tour. It is usually the case that we only provide one portaloo and this is usually sufficient. A lot depends on whether it is used properly as there are cases when paper is put in them and this ends up blocking everything. This will be something that we will monitor closely for future tours and if this issue continues to arise we will take the appropriate steps to rectify this. Thank you for taking the time to write. We hope to have the pleasure of your company on another trip in the not too distant future.
| Reviewed 17 Jan 2008 by Mavis Mackinnon | |
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Being in Petra and in the Wadi Rum. Wonderful wonderful time. Also hiring horses to go to little Petra instead of the bus. We saw desert and incredible sunset. All thanks to our guide for arranging this unforgettable memory.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Cheaper than doing it on the internet. I saved app. £550 by going with Responsible and had the best time with everything included and lots of the freedom I so enjoy when doing it by myself.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
In the evenings we went to local restraunts and then on to little local shops. There was no pushing us into a shop of the guides choice but he offered us advice. We didn't really mingle with the bedouin at Petra unless we had a camel ride or donkey ride. At the Wadi Rum we had tea in different places in the desert made by the Bedouin and at camp we were able to get a feel of their lives by sitting and sharing a fire and conversation. Lovely people.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
I rate this holiday as one of my best and I have been on numerous world wide. The amount of places, activities and history we encountered was amazing. FULL MARKS..
| Reviewed 11 Nov 2007 by Gaynor Kirby | |
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The walk from the campsite through the mountains to the Monastery in Petra.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Yes, very impressed with the tour leader who was born in Petra and had a wealth of local and archaeological knowledge.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Generally extremely good, with one or two provisos to do with "optional" extras which really were not optional at all, and we could, we feel, have spent the time (and money!) more fruitfully.
| Reviewed 7 Nov 2007 by Luke Scollan | |
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The walk through the Sik to Petra and also the desert experience in Wadi Rum.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Be prepared to go with the suggestions of the local guides/tour leaders as they know so much about their country.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
I felt it benefited local people minimally but not sure if it minimized impact on the environment.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Excellent holiday.
| Reviewed 1 Aug 2007 by Chris Nicholson | |
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The silence at Petra by candlelight, in front of the Treasury, after the walk down through the siq. Beautiful and moving, a chance to reflect on all those who had passed through this area over thousands of years.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
If you make a late booking as I did, don't bother with arranging an expensive transfer. Just take a taxi. The rate seems to be fixed at about 20JD, and even at 1.30 in the morning there were plenty of taxis. Also, don't be afraid of going in July-August: the heat is great, but tolerable (41C when I was there). And at that time of year you don't need to take a fleece for the night in the desert.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
It was low season and relatively quiet at the end of July, so yes, there were some money making opportunities for local people when we came. We kept things tidy as we went along but it is a bit disheartening to see all those plastic bags blowing around at the roadside. We couldn't avoid buying mineral water in plastic bottles and cans of soft drinks: wonder if any of them get recycled?
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
I loved it. So much history yet to be excavated, and so interesting to see how the heritage is being preserved. The buffet meals are a good way for both veggies and carnivores to eat together without worrying about what to order. But each meal there seemed to be so much left over!
| Reviewed 9 Nov 2006 by Helen Heyman | |
We had the most wonderful holiday and I can't quite believe we packed as much in as we did for me the most memorable moment had to be seeing the dawn over Wadi Rum and watching the desert change colour. For my husband it was the first sight of the Treasury as we walked through the gorge.
It is hard to describe the scale of the site at Petra and no photographs could do it justice. We would advise anyone going to Jordan to have local currency in small denominations, as tipping is the norm.
Our guide took us to local restaurants and businesses, and we were using the services of local people. A number of people in our group had been on many of these types of holidays and many with this operator. I would say that we will do this again very soon and will use the same company.
It is hard to describe the scale of the site at Petra and no photographs could do it justice. We would advise anyone going to Jordan to have local currency in small denominations, as tipping is the norm.
Our guide took us to local restaurants and businesses, and we were using the services of local people. A number of people in our group had been on many of these types of holidays and many with this operator. I would say that we will do this again very soon and will use the same company.
| Reviewed 26 Mar 2005 by Anne O'Reilly | |
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Walking through the Siq at Petra and getting the first glimpse of the Treasury, floating in the Dead Sea.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Travel light, and talk to the locals.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Mainly we used local guides, ate in local restaurants and used local facilities, e.g. the Turkish Baths near Petra (not another tourist in sight!!).
4. Any other comments?
Fabulous time in Jordan: definitely would recommend the trip.
| Reviewed 12 Nov 2005 by Heidi Pegrum | |
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Most remarkable bit of the holiday was exploring Wadi Rum, and also Petra on our own(sorry two bits)
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
No specific tips, but dress warm as even though it is cold, hotels don't put on heating in November and a few showers were cold in the mornings. No concept of vegetarian food, just got vegetables and rice and no protein - not a problem for a short visit.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Saving on hotel water and room heating probably minimised impact on environment, lack of sink plugs in some hotels didn't. Bathroom drains emptying onto floors not too good for very local environment. Disappointing that the national flower of Jordan appears to be the shreds of black plastic bags the shops give out, which are stuck to every thistle and bush in the countryside. The holiday did not seem any more environmentally responsible than any other holiday I had been on to be honest. Not sure it benefited locally people specifically, other than by providing employment. the national guides were both good.
4. Any other comments?
The holiday was between ** and ***. It was enjoyable. Beautiful country, but not brilliant organisation. Petra was all I expected it to be, Wadi Rum was better. The holiday was classed as Lawrence's Jordan, but other than visit to Seven Pillars visitor centre, had nothing much to do with or reference to Lawrence. It was just Jordan (and that is fine really). Ramadam did have more of a influence on the holiday than we were led to believe by the Tour Sheet as sites closed at 4.30pm and last entry was therefore 3.30pm. The coach arrived at one site at 3.35 but we were let in.
Read the operator's response here:
Hotels used by us are central heated as well as provide air-conditioning. Hot water should be available at all times. If on rare occasions this does not happen staff should be made aware so that it can be looked into.We cater as best we can for all special food requests. Consideration should be taken into account for the area a trip is being taken and the availability of foods especially in third world countries which still have very traditional dishes . We are aware that some restaurants may not offer a large selection of vegetarian main dishes as meals predominantly contain meat dishes. Breads, dips and salads are however widely available. In Wadi Rum for example we provide 2-3 hot vegetarian dishes & a minimum of 6-7 different salads.
Drains emptying onto bathroom floors as shower units can be an open part of the bathroom, is very common in Middle Eastern countries. We maintain high standards when using its hotels - and as we use small family run hotels characteristics of these can vary from the larger international chain hotels.
We agree about this issue! Our local operator works closely with us as a tour company to ensure that our camping sites are always totally free of rubbish. Our operator also tries to educate the locals to keep the countryside in general clean.