Ruth,
Actually I was there just 10 days ago and that was the price -- 56 JD from Madaba to Petra for a cab booked thru the Mariam Hotel (thanks for that suggestion). We got a cab from Petra back to the Amman airport for the same amount via the Desert Highway because we were able to hook up with one from the Mariam heading back there. Otherwise it would have been 80 JD.
Like here in the US, Jordan's gasoline prices have dropped dramatically in the last few months.
Absolutely true. 95 Octane fuel, for example, now costs JD 0.505 after a peak price of JD 0.840 several months ago. You have to give the Jordanian government credit for passing on the oil price drops to customers with minimum delay! (Although that's probably only because it fears fuel riots or a revolution...) I wish airlines would do the same with their fuel surcharges...!
I don't have data at hand to compare current prices with those before the original abolition of fuel subsidies. I think today's prices are still a bit higher. Also, I assume some price increases will not be withdrawn, e.g. the minimum taxi fare, which went up from JD 0.150 to 0.250. But do remember that you now have ammunition when the next taxi driver, hotel receptionist or guide tries to bully you into some ridiculous fare by whingeing about those "terribly high fuel costs"...
Yes, I came in to this thread to apologise to jpm50! I was surprised and indeed rather shocked to see that the price of a taxi along this road from the Mariam would be 54JD. It is even cheaper (for some reason) that the Desert Highway route!
I was wondering about car rental and driving at night. MY flight arrives into Amman airport from Istanbul at 1:30 AM on the 22nd of December and I'd like to see Petra the next day and know daylight at that time of year ends about 16:30 so was hoping to rent a car at the airport and drive then. Are the car rentals open at that time, are the roads (Kings Hwy) lit and marked well enough that I could navigate- traveling with my daughter? Any other advice on what to do with such an inconvenient arrival time- seems too late to arrive at a hotel in Amman for the night and then waste a good part of the daylight hours when we could be at the site by driving what other posters claim is a boring road, or are there drivers I could pre-arrange to take us? We will be returning to Amman for an flight to Egypt so would need round trip which was my preference for a car. Do we need a 4WD or are roads paved and any vehicle adequate if our intent is to see Petra mainl?