I've just had a very interesting conversation with Wendy Botham of Petra Moon Tours, one of our Travel Specialsts in Jordan...Back in April I reported how things were busy down in Egypt, with hotels in short supply and people being encouraged to book early. Well it seems that the problem in Jordan is even 'worse'.It seems that the reputation of Jordan as a safe Middle Eastern country with stacks of things to see and do has got out and people are flocking there. Hotels in Petra - arguably the country's highlight - are full and there are no plans to build more in the town of Wadi Musa where most people stay.The situation is being alleviated in Amman and at the Dead Sea where new hotels are being constructed (a project that Wendy says started 3 years ago and has 2 more years to run), but Petra remains a pinch point. Guides are at full stretch with few if any being available at last minute.So, is it all doom and gloom? The answer is a definate no. There are several ways of enjoying a visit to Jordan - it just takes some careful planning...1. Obviously book ahead - ahead means 6 months at least; 9 months or more for Christmas or Easter.2. Travel in the off season - visit May to the end of August and you should find some rooms available.3. Be prepared to take budget accommodation in Petra (plus it leaves money for a splurge elsewhere).4. Consider a small-group trip - such operators (Explore, Intrepid, GAP, Families and Walks Worldwide, Equine Adventures - see Travel Specialists/UK for their pages) hold flight and hotel room allocations, but note you still need to book well in advance.5. Visit Petra as a day trip from Wadi Rum or Aqaba - SPecialists such as Aventure Jordanienne can tailor-make arrangements excuding a stay in Wadi Musa and yet still enabling a visit to Petra.6. Camp outside of Petra. If you are happy to stay in the desert outside of Petra you can still enjoy daily visits to the site AND you get to sleep under the stars.According to Wendy if all things remain equal there doesn't seem to be a time when Jordan is going to see a slowdown. Certainly the credit crunch hasn't slowed things up. The Jordan Tourist Board has gone to great lengths over the last decade to try and get across to the public what all of us in the industry knew - Jordan is a wonderful, safe country with heaps to see - seems the message is finally out there.
