Jordan on my mind + tips for when plans change

Hello Reader

Since the war kicked off in the Middle East I've been thinking a lot about the people in that region and the trips I've made there. Luckily, our return flight from Australia transferred smoothly through Doha's impressive Hamad International Airport, just days before its airpace was closed.

I visited Jordan a couple of years ago for a friend's wedding and was overwhelmed by the warmth and friendliness of the people.

After the wedding, we drove south to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Petra, floated in the salty waters of the Dead Sea and went canyoning through the cool cascades of Wadi Mujib.

Some years ago, I also toured Lebanon with a friend, tasting wine in the Bekaa Valley and visiting the magnificent ancient ruins of Byblos and Baalbek. At the time, we wondered if we might hop over the border to Syria - but the following year that possibility disappeared in the civil war.

And while visiting Egypt, I spent a weekend in the stunning but remote oasis town of Siwa, all swaying palms and spring fed pools, where time seemed to have stood still.

None of these are direct players in the current war but their tourism will be affected by the ripples for some time to come. I've no doubt that the small business owners, tour guides and guest houses all over the region will be hard hit, and they deserve our support when tourism returns.

Let's hope that peace will be restored soon and that we'll be able to visit these beautiful places again. Once it's safe to travel again in the Middle East, don't hesitate, as you'll probably be able to enjoy tourist hotspots like Petra without the crowds.

In the meantime, enjoy the inspiration and I've also shared some tips on how to future-proof your travel plans from unforseen world events.

Wishing you safe travels wherever you are heading next.

Heather x

PS. Read my latest article on 8 stunning coastal paths in Sydney, Australia - from our recent trip in February

Travelling soon?

If you are travelling soon it really helps us if you use the booking links below.

We make a small commission at no additional cost to you, which helps keep this newsletter and blog free.

Hotels: I use Booking but Expedia is also good for flight + hotel packages.

Tours: For top end food tours, we recommend Devour Tours and small group tours with Take Walks. Both Get Your Guide and Viator are also great for tours and experiences.

Trains: For train bookings in Europe use Rail Europe. Byway Travel also offer great no-fly itineraries in Europe and beyond.

Car Hire: For car hire I use the car rental arm of Booking.com (but always check the scores and reviews of each provider).

Villas & Cottages: VRBO for villas and holiday rentals worldwide and Sykes Cottages for UK cottages.

Inspiration for the Middle East

Let's plan to visit again as soon as we can....

A guide to visiting Petra - our top tips

The Rose City of Petra in Jordan has enchanted visitors, since the ruins of this ancient Nabataean city were rediscovered by Europeans in the nineteenth century.

As Jordan's top visitor site, it's one of the highlights of any visit to the country and one that lived up to our expectations.

To help you make the most of visiting Petra in Jordan, we've put together this travel guide with all our top tips.

8 things to see in Siwa Oasis, Egypt

When I heard about the oasis at Siwa in the Egyptian desert, I visualised of a small patch of palm trees waving in the breeze. Perhaps few mud brick houses in the background and pools of water bubbling up gently from the earth.

In fact, Siwa is a large town of 25,000 people, with a bustling central square, two freshwater lakes and plantations of date palms stretching into the distance.

But, there's a seductive quality to Siwa that makes you want to slow down and just chill out, absorbing the relaxed atmosphere of the oasis.

Lebanon - and a lesson in Middle Eastern hospitality

Anyone who's travelled in the Middle East seems to come back with tales of the legendary hospitality that is engrained in the Arab and Muslim culture.

This little tale shows how I personally experienced this hospitality, in the backstreets of Sidon, after Friday prayers outside the Mosque.

Tips to future-proof your trip

Events in the Middle East have shown us how destinations that we'd love to visit may be unexpectedly hit by geo-political events. Here are a few tips if you're planning a big trip but don't want to lose out if you need to cancel.

Insurance - make sure you have travel insurance in place as soon as you book the trip, rather than buying it the day before you fly. That way you will normally be covered if you unexpectedly have to cancel. I normally take out annual travel insurance for this reason.

But do check the policy wording carefully. Unfortunately some things may be excluded (like war or terrorism).

Hotels - When booking hotels independently, go for the option that allows you flexibility in case plans change, even if it costs a little more.

I use Booking for my hotel bookings, as the cancellation policy is transparent. When booking direct with the hotel, check the cancellation terms carefully as they may be less generous.

Read my article on How to avoid hotel cancellation fees

Government advice - check the advice given by your government's website before booking or travelling - it's Gov.uk for UK travellers. If your government advises against all travel you won't be covered by your insurer. However, sometimes certain regions of a country may be off limit (such as close to borders), while the main tourist routes are open to visit.

Flights - regulations cover what you'll be entitled to if the airline has to cancel or delay your flight. These vary by region, length of flight and length of delay, with information easy to find online.

Airlines are required to tell you your rights, but the information is not always easy to find, so it's worth informing yourself about your rights for a particular journey before you travel. Useful information is available from the CAA for UK flights, the EU portal or the US department of transportation.

For peace of mind it may be worth paying more for a flight if it allows greater flexibility to cancel or rebook.

The silver lining - If there has been upheaval in a normally stable region, it often takes some time for tourism to normalise. During this time, immediately after a crisis is resolved, is often when flights, hotels and holidays offer best value, and tourist hotspots are empty. So look for holiday bargains once it's safe to travel again to the Middle East.