taxis, Amman

An American expatriate who has lived in Amman for a long time, and takes about 50 cabs every month. estimates that 90% of the drivers are decent chaps, but the other 10% are scoundrels and can create a miserable travel experience.

To avoid getting ripped off by a taxicab driver, you should know the following:

1. The driver must turn the meter on. If he says it is "broken," or it "needs to be reset for benzene" get out of the cab and hail a different one.

2. There is no such thing as a "hotel taxi." Many ordinary yellow cabs hang out around the major hotels, claiming to be "hotel taxis" and charge exorbitant rates. The bellhops and concierges of the hotels are in on the scam. These cabs never turn their meters on, and will quote fares up to 5 times higher than what should be charged. To avoid them, simply walk away from the hotel a block or two and hail a cab there. A genuine hotel taxi should be more like a limousine -- a different kind of car and not the usual yellow color.

3. Prices in Jordan, including taxi fares, are shown to the third decimal place. When you first get into a cab and the driver turns the meter on, the meter should read 150 or .150 . This means 150 fils (also called 15 piasters), which is only 15% of a Jordanian Dinar (JD). One dinar is represented by 1000 or 1.000 . Some sleazy cab drivers take advantage of tourists who do not know this -- telling them that 1000 means ten dinars, instead of the correct one dinar. In the early summer of 2008, the initial charge was raised from 15 piasters to 25 piasters. However, some of the meters have not been reset to reflect this higher initial charge. It is legitimate, in this case, for the taxi drivers to ask you for 10 extra piasters on top of the quoted meter fare. But you should always note what the initial fare is as soon as he turns the meter on.

4. Carry plenty of 1 JD notes, and save coins for taxi rides. Taxi drivers will always grumble if you try to pay with a 5 JD note, and they may refuse to make change from a 10 JD note. Taxi drivers do not expect tips, but if the fare is close to a round number (say, 1.750) it would be customary to round up (in this case, 2 JD).

4. All taxi drivers are required to display a card either on the visor or in the windshield, on the passenger side, with their photo, name, driver number, and license plate number. Many drivers, however, do not display this card.

5. If you believe that you are getting ripped off, note carefully the date and time of the trip and the driver number or license plate number(preferably both), and file a complaint. The telephone numbers and email address on the display card with the driver's photo do not work. Instead, call 487-4310 x273 (this is a land line) or 077-719-6196 (this is a mobile phone). The person answering speaks little English, so it's preferable to have an Arabic speaker call. They may ask you to fax a written complaint. The fax number is 489-1397.

Getting around in Amman is very easy. Is not a city to walk around, but you can get a taxi very easy. At the airport, you can arrange with one of the taxi drivers to get you to your hotel. It's a set fare!.

Taxi are yellow and they are eveyrwhere. You just do the "New York style'' to raise your arm. There are other white taxis, but these one are not private. I cannot recommend because I didnt try it.

We went around taxis to bunch of places. Al taxi drivers now the location that you are going. You must set up the price before riding in and it goes around 1 Jordanian Dinar to 2 dinars... I would say 3 if you are going very far away.

It costs around 20 dinars to the hotel from the airport by taxi. There is little public transport available and most people just use taxis as petrol is VERY cheap in Amman.

The main type of taxi is a yellow taxi but you can also hire a white taxi but they are written in Arabic.

Most taxi drivers speak English.

Street taxis are widely available throughout the city. However they do not accept credit card payment, ie it has to be cash, it has to be in Jordanian Dinars and they do not give you any sort of receipt.

Because I had to claim my taxi expenses back from the company, I asked the hotel to arrange a taxi for me and add it to my room bill, which allowed me to use my credit card for that and gave me a receipt as well.

To go almost anywhere in Amman, a taxi fare is approximately 1JD.

From Abdali Bus Station to downtown, the fare is 0.5JD.

The Taxi Driver is required by law to put the meter on. The Meter price is always less - example from old Souk to Jama Janoub Bus Station is just over 1JD, the driver will offer you a flat rate of 2JD.

Women should sit in the back seat - always - even if the driver suggests you sit in the front. Don't be shy about this - Jordanian respect assertive women.

Taxis are yellow, service cars are white - which are basically shared taxis.

Amman - Aqaba

In Amman, go to Jama Janoub Bus Station and use the Service Cars (white cars - the driver and car are licenced) to get to Aqaba for 7JD /$10USD per person for 4 people. The car leaves when it fills up. On Friday May 19, 2006, I used this service, arriving at the station just after 9:00pm, the wait to fill the car was less than 1 hour, and we left Amman at 10:00pm, arriving in Aqaba at about 1:00am (4 hour drive). You can pay for the 4 seats (28JD or $40USD) and leave right away if you like.

A taxi from Downtown Amman (Souk) to Jama Janoub Bus Station is just over 1JD.

Mini buses South to Petra and Aqaba are also available at Jama Janoub Station.

Taxi is the best way (and almost only) to get around Amman on your own. It's very inexpensive, and rather fast compared to big tourist coaches, cause taxis tend to move faster in often city traffic jams.

There are two kind of taxis. The yellow ones are a la carte route. You catch one, and you go where you want. The lighting word TAXI is at the top of the car. The white ones, which a lighting pannel in arabic, have already fixed routes, which are expressed in arabic signals, and you share them with others who want to take the same route. Is quite inexpensive too.

One important thing: almost everybody in Jordan speak english, at least basic english. Taxi drivers are not an exception, and they can understand you and speak basic words. But, mind to tell your destination in the arabic name, otherwise they won't have a clue of where you want to go. It happened to us twice out of three taxis we took.

Finally, try to avoid those taxis waiting at hotel's entrances. They will try to charge you more, just for the only reason of being a tourist and staying at a hotel. Just walk a couple of minutes away from the hotel and you'll be able to find one almost everywhere.

Taxis in Amman are plenty.
They usually have a meter and the drivers use it !
just few of them are using the airco as it consumes more petrol and in Jordan, petrol is not cheap.
The starting price is 0.15 JOD and go according to the distance.
You can get to most places in town for less than 1.5 JOD.