Traffic in Amman

Being stuck for hours in traffic jams in Amman doesn't really happen. A delay might be a few minutes or so. Now they've cleared out a lot of the hawkers in central Amman the traffic by the amphitheatre area is said to move quite freely. I shouldn't concern yourself too much about it. Stick to what you want to do. I've driven round Amman at all times of the day on all the days and had little trouble getting where I want.

The drive to Aqaba is pretty straightforward --- as is the drive to pretty much anywhere in Jordan --- and should present no problems if you don't leave the main highway. Amman, on the other hand, is a different story. Traffic jams are not really the problem. The problem is that the city is made up of a number of "rings" or districts and if you don't know where you're going, it can be very difficult to find your way back to where you started from.

Traffic jam is not a big problem in Amman.as stated iin above post it is knowing where you are going,and when to turn right or left at the intersection cos if you miss one you have to go for few kilometers before you find the next turn/exit.Road signs are not good in Amman and drivers/motorists have no patience or allowance for lost visitors on the road.GPS is recommended
when in Amman visit the downtown and Rainbow street.5 minutes by taxi.

cheers

From the hotel it's an easy drive. Go to 4th Circle, take a left to Abdoun, go straight to Middle East R/A, follow the road and you will end up on the Desert Highway. Note that near the airport there is a diversion. Keep to the right side of the road. The left goes to the airport. This is not indicated in English, only in Arabic.

Henkbos is dead on right (and thank you for reminding me they're "circles", not "rings"). However, what is not exactly clear is that while, theoretically, you should have no problem following his directions FROM the hotel, getting back is another story. Signage, as already pointed out, is piss poor and you MAY know when you hit the 4th Circle, you may not. In my case, I returned strictly by memorizing landmarks; but I won't lie and tell you that a number of times, I ended up way out in the far circles where it doesn't even LOOK like a city, because I didn't know where to get off. Amazingly, though you would think otherwise, finding English speakers in Amman is not an easy thing either.

My advice would be to give yourself plenty of time to find your way back and don't panic! In Alexandria, I actually had to pay a taxi driver to guide me, while following him in my car, to an out-of-the-way hotel. Believe me: it was a lot easier than asking Egyptians standing around how to find the place!