Travel Insurance Jordan
While considering travel insurance for Jordan and which policy and coverage to get, it is worth keeping in mind that Jordan is the safest country in the Middle East. Tourists are welcomed warmly and the local customs highly value hospitality towards guests. The local population are open to foreign visitors and acclimatised to tourism activity. Most visitors experience no difficulty and are instead surprised by the hospitality of locals, and never have to use their insurance. Both male and female solo travellers in Jordan can feel safe throughout the country. There is a strong tourist police presence to ensure visitors can travel with peace of mind. Jordan also has lower levels of crime than most European nations. The federal police agencies are well equipped and intolerant of criminal activity of any kind, acting quickly to prevent any disturbances from affecting the country’s stability.
Despite Jordan being a safe country for tourists, we recommend getting a travel insurance for Jordan. There are plenty of options for insurances, and we have compared them and recommend our guests to get travel insurance for Jordan with World Nomads, as we believe this is the best travel insurance. It is also the insurance recommended by Lonely Planet. Their profile is global and suits perfect for someone who is keen to discover all the adventures Jordan has to offer, but still have the safety of a trustworthy insurer would anything go wrong. World Nomads’ travel insurance covers trip cancellation, missed connection on your way to Jordan, rental car damage and of course medical emergencies. Furthermore there is a 24 hour helpline available in multiple languages. Fill in the details to get a personalised quote for your insurance. For a week travelling in Jordan it should be about USD100 – a small amount to pay for the safety of a good insurer. Get your Jordan travel insurance here.
Choosing the right travel insurance policy and coverage
These are things to consider in order to stay safe in Jordan. We list them below, so you can take it into account while choosing the coverage for your insurance.
- Driving in Amman does not observe European driving rules. Right of way, indicating and lanes are loosely observed.
- Public hospitals in Jordan are basic and if you need medical attention it is important to be aware of the options available to you.
- Where prices are not listed they are negotiable (and often listed prices are also). Some visitors feel cheated when they overpay for items. However, it is important to understand that locals also receive the same pricing. It is critical to expect to negotiate as a part of almost all transactions in Jordan.
- Heat and exhaustion are concerns in summer months. Amman is hilly and days get very warm, so make sure to drink plenty of water.
- Care should be taken with taxi-fares and ride hailing applications are best used where ever possible
- Female solo tourists can experience some verbal harassment, such as cat calling and attention seeking behaviour from local men.
- Women should in general be conscious of the culture and the overall separation of men and women in most Arab cultures.
- There is no social stigma on smoking cigarettes, and it is also very common with smoking indoors. If you have health issues or are pregnant it can be a consideration.
Female solo travellers safe in Jordan
Female solo travellers can consider Jordan a safe travel option and face no limitations in this liberal society. However, there are worthwhile adjustments to make to avoid potential problems. While large cities are culturally dissimilar from Europe, in contrast, rural areas of Jordan women are absent from public life. Within homes, there is one room where the men socialise and one room where the women socialise. It is uncommon for local women to walk on their own. In the most extreme cases, women are not permitted to meet men outside their own family.
These cultural norms have implications for western women travelling in the country. It is important to be mindful of your communication, signals and body language when visiting rural areas. Seemingly minor gestures, like a smile, a friendly hand on the shoulder or exchanging contact details, can be misinterpreted. It is important to understand that many men have very little female interaction outside their family. Although this is unlikely to lead to an unsafe situation, it can complicate your travels and it can be time consuming to try and resolve situations that arise. Therefore, the advice for female solo travellers outside major centres and touristic areas is to avoid:
- physical contact
- spending time one on one with men
- exposing legs or shoulders
- discussing topic of intimacy
- body language and communication that signals a connection with individual men
Although Jordan is a safe country to travel in, a travel insurance can add extra ease to your trip.
Contrast of Jordan to the region
Jordan has managed to remain unaffected by the negative factors in the region, primarily because of:
– Publicly popular royal family
– Freedom of speech and opinion
– No oil production
– Proximity to Israel and Jerusalem
– Role as caretaker in Jerusalem
– Population of refugees
– Hard-line policy against religious extremism
This allows the country to provide a safe place surrounded by the chaos of the region. Important as it offsets the incorrect connection between violence and both Islam and Arabs. At Arabian Nights we value our role greatly in providing an example of good Muslims and removing the stigma that the recent past has attached to both our religion and broader people group.
Although Jordan remains unaffected by the problems of the region, it is always worth considering an international travel insurance while travelling overseas.