Allenby/King Hussein Bridge border crossing
Replies: 8 - Last Post: Jan 22, 2013 10:03 PM Last Post By: marcopoloo
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Allenby/King Hussein Bridge border crossing
My wife and I did this crossing a few days ago....our objective was to get from Tel Aviv to Petra in a day, then visit Jordan for 7 days and return to Israel.Egged bus from Tel Aviv New Central bus station to Jerusalem Central bus station 1 hour 18 NIS each
Egged bus # 961 gate 21 from Jerusalem Central bus station to Allenby Connector bus stop 45 minutes including waiting time 12 NIS each
Here we had to take a taxi with the Taxi Mafia at the bus stop for 25 NIS each!!! We both agree we should have chosen a day other than Friday to travel as there would have been more sheruts from Jerusalem we could have got onto.
At Allenby Bridge Israeli customs we paid that whopping 176 NIS to leave Israel and enter Jordan. We sailed through passport control and customs in 15 minutes. Then we had to wait nearly 2 hours to take the mandatory bus from Israeli Customs through no man's land to the Jordanian side. This was 2 hours by the time we got to Jordan. 5 JD each for the bus and 3.5 JD for each bag (note it should have been 1.5 JD!!!)
Jordanian immigration and customs was a breeze...15 minutes. However our Debit card would not work in the local ATM thankfully our VISA card did...this apparently (from other travellers) is the norm in Jordan.
Went to the street outside customs and there were lots of rental car choices, but by this time it was 2PM (there is a 1 hour time change here from Israeli time) and almost everything was closed because it was Friday! A local tout found us and thankfully called the Avis guy to open up for us. We got a small car with full 0 deductible insurance for $50 US a day. I know we overpaid and I know it would be cheaper with a local car rental outfit. 1 hour 15 min. to get the car.
Gassed up (28 JD they start on empty and you finish empty) and took the car along the Dead Sea road to a fantastic road up a great mountain range through Tafila . We really took our time and reached Petra by 7:30PM. Stayed at the Rocky Mountain Hotel 15 JD per night each.
Got the 2 day pass at Petra for 55 JD. Ate meals at the hotel (Dinner 8 JD and packed lunch for inside Petra 4 JD) well worth it.
The return from the Jordan side was much easier. Departure tax 10 JD each, bus through no-man’s land 5 JD (bags this time 1.5 JD)
Sherut to Jerusalem Damascus gate 38 NIS
1
Thank you for trip report especially the KHB border crossing.I guess you have a visa in advance.Very few people start their visit to Jordan from that border crossing .It is interesting and informative TR.
thanks
2
Thank you for the report.Just for information sake I'll mention that you did it the long way. It's faster, cheaper and easier to take the bus to Eilat, cross to Aqaba there and take a direct taxi (private or shared) to Wadi Musa (Petra).
That would have cut a couple hours off your trip and is a lot less expensive.
5
I had more or less exactly the same experience this summer, also crossing on a friday, and during ramadan that was. Same prices. Took a "taxi" to Petra, since I wanted to get there before dark. Got in a really bad argument with the driver in broken Arabic-English and was in a terrible mood when I reached Petra. Fortunately I had a great evening at the sight, watching the sun set and drinking tea wih the bedouin and it turned out to be a good day.As for this route being a bad choice over Eilat, I would do a lot just not to have to come close to Eilat. I also wanted to see Amman, which made this route make more sense...
7
I guess a was little bit harsh writing it like that, what I meant was just that Eilat isnt the kind of place I want to spend to much time, I guess it just reminds of the worst kind of resorts by the sea... This was also at the end of July, when Jerusalem was boiling, so I can only guess how hot it was in the south...And that I easlily could arrange a visa in advance for Jordan, and wanted to see Amman, made the choice easy...
