How to visit the Dead Sea in Jordan

If you’re in Jordan a visit to the Dead Sea is a must. However, figuring out how to get to the Dead Sea is not nearly as simple as you would think.  There is a TON of inconsistent and dated information online that can stump even the most seasoned traveler. I ended up relying on the expertise of local friends and fellow travelers to determine the logistics for getting to the Dead Sea.  

The Dead Sea is accessible from Jordan, Israel, and Palestine. Crossing international borders in this area can be time-consuming, logistically challenging, and may require a visa.  For these reasons, I recommend visiting a beach or resort within the borders of the country that you are already in - in my case Jordan.

In Jordan, to access the Dead Sea, you can go to the public beach or visit one of the many resorts along the sea.  Many of the resorts offer day passes, or you can opt to book a room to gain access to the resort’s beach (often this is cheaper).  Usually, the rooms are priced for two people; however, friends of mine booked a room and were able to bring two additional people (just two of the individuals in their group checked in).  The resorts have security so keep this in mind, but if there is an issue you can pay for the extra day passes for additional people.

Where to go

Public Beach: Price 10 JD/Person

We opted to skip the public beach for a few reasons.  The first being that I was traveling with a group of young women and we had no idea what was acceptable beach attire.  Are bikinis acceptable? Did we have to track down a burkini? Jordan, in general, is a pretty accepting place, but when it came to beach etiquette, we felt we would be more comfortable at a resort and avoiding potential unwanted stares or being culturally inappropriate.  Another major concern we had with visiting the public beach was where we would store our belongings while we were floating. Since there are security checkpoints along the route to the Dead Sea, we knew we would need our passports and wanted to make sure that they were secure.  

Dead Sea Marriott Resort & Spa: 100 JD + for a hotel room,  55 JD/person for a day pass (includes a food credit)

The Dead Sea Marriott Resort & Spa has many pools, beautiful views, and an enormous beachfront. A number of my friends have gotten the day pass here and enjoyed the resort.

Holiday Inn Resort Dead Sea: ~60 JD for a hotel room, 25 JD/person for a day pass

The Holiday Inn Dead Sea Resort is incredible.  We decided to book a room here because it was the most economical option (I found a fantastic deal on Expedia). I loved everything about this resort from the pools to the pristine beach.  There were ample towel & bottled water stations throughout the property, and the staff was incredibly attentive. Although we did not spend the night the room we booked was clean and spacious.

Kempinski Hotel Ishtar Dead Sea: 114 JD + for a hotel room

For the lux option, there is no better choice than Kempinski. This stunning resort boasts nine outdoor pools, a pristine beachfront, and tennis courts. If you are looking to stay a night at the Dead Sea, this resort has come highly recommended by my Jordanian friend.  

How to get to the Dead Sea

The Dead Sea is accessible from Amman by bus, rental car, or cab.  We opted to take a taxi because the buses are not always reliable and we did not feel comfortable driving in Amman.  The cab cost was around ~20 JD each way. We used the same driver both ways and agreed upon price and pick up/drop off times before we left our hotel.

Quick note: Uber is available in Amman, but it is illegal.  Since there are many roadside checkpoints outside of Amman, I advise against taking an Uber outside the city limits.  You’ll be putting the driver and yourself in a potentially risky situation.

Other things that you need to know about the Dead Sea

The same salt that makes you float in the dead sea makes every small scrap or cut unbearable.  Avoid shaving the day you plan to visit the sea and keep that in mind if you have any cuts or scrapes.  You’ll also want to avoid floating on your stomach (imagine if the salt gets in your eyes...ouch).

You’ll also be pleasantly surprised to find that it is harder to get sunburnt at the Dead Sea since there is an extra atmospheric layer, but I still recommend wearing sunscreen.

Don't forget to use the dead sea mud! Our resort had buckets of mud on the beach. We layered it on our skin, let it dry, and washed the mud off in the Dead Sea (I avoided my face and hair). You'll be surprised how soft your skin is after.

Finally, don’t make the same mistake I did and wear a light colored swimsuit to the Dead Sea.  The mud can and will stain your swimwear, so I recommend wearing a dark colored suit.

x Smack

A Perfect Day In Mindo

The Mindo Cloud forest is a short drive from bustling Quito, but it feels like an entirely different world.  To get a real feel for Ecuador venture out of the city and hit the road to Mindo. Driving in Ecuador seems terrifying - common road rules like lanes & passing etiquette don’t always apply here.  My mom and I opted to hire a driver through our hotel (The Quito Polo Club) to take us to Mindo for the day. The drive took about 2 ½ hours with our driver, Jimmy. Early on in our journey, Jimmy took us to Mitad del Mundo to see the monument for the center of the earth.  Next to Mitad del Mundo is USAN (Union of South American Nations) headquarters.

USAN

From Mitad del Mundo we had a two-hour scenic drive ahead of us.  The Quito Polo Club sent us along with packed lunches, so we had plenty of snacks for the road trip.  When we arrived in Mindo our first stop was the Cascadas. To get to the hiking trail, we first took a bright orange cable car across a valley.  The views were incredible! Then the hike began. The trail itself is well maintained, well marked, and the footing is secure.  The tough part is the altitude. If you are not used to being at a high altitude like me, you will catch yourself getting tired and out of breath quickly.  To prevent getting seriously ill take it easy during the hike - walk slower than usual, take breaks often, and drink lots of water. There are very few people, and cell service is weak so you do not want to fall ill on the hiking trail.  

The hike to the Cascadas took us around 21/2 hours and was well worth it for the incredible views.  Along the hike, we saw countless butterflies, hummingbirds, and some unusual flowers. The main waterfall is well worth the trek. The area surrounding the falls is beautiful and peaceful.  

Besides having great hiking trails and restaurant options there are a number of cool things to do in Mindo.  River rafting and zip lining are popular activities, but there was no way I was convincing my mom to do either.  Many people enjoy stopping at the butterfly and hummingbird garden, but we honestly felt like the sites were a bit of a rip-off. Staff use brooms to get the butterflies to move around for tourists and I saw many dead butterflies with broken wings in the garden.  

After our hike, we had lunch in downtown Mindo.  There are plenty of great restaurant options, and we stopped in an Ecuadorian restaurant that Jimmy recommended.  One thing you will notice about Ecuador is that there are a lot of stray dogs. If you’re a dog person like me, it will break your heart.  During our lunch, the cutest puppy (I named him Pepito) wandered into the restaurant and sat next to me hoping for leftovers. It took all of my willpower not to bring Pepito back to Quito with me.

Pepito

We had a wonderful time in Mindo, and I would go back in a heartbeat.  My one regret was not touring a chocolate factory.  Later on, in our Ecuador trip, we met many people that raved about the chocolate tour. I guess I just have an excuse to go back!

x smack

Easy Wisconsin Weekend Trips from Chicago

There is something special about Wisconsin - from quiet lakefront cabins in the Northwoods to music festivals in Milwaukee there is something for anyone. Lucky for us Chicagoans Wisconsin is close and easy to visit for just a weekend. This year I’ve spent many weekends reacquainting myself with my home state and can’t wait to share my favorite weekend trips with you.

Minocqua

Minocqua is one of those places that is straight out of a postcard. This Northwoods lake town is full of charm, and I promise you will fall in love with the cute shops, friendly locals, and endless activities. The highlights of my visit were the fantastic food options, seeing the incredible landscape, and shopping for vintage treasures. Minocqua is about a five-hour drive from Chicago. The best times to visit are summer, fall, and winter depending on what you want to do. Winter is great for snowmobiling, fall is excellent for hiking and seeing the leaves change, and summer is great for boating, fishing, and hiking.

Minocqua, WI

Milwaukee

Milwaukee is Chicago’s hip younger sister. Milwaukee has a burgeoning culinary scene, world-class breweries, charming neighborhoods, and an incredible lakefront. Best of all, it’s easy to get to - you can take a train or drive from Chicago (both take ~two hours). One of the things I love about Milwaukee is the festival scene. Summerfest is the most famous, but the city has festivals nearly every week in the summer.

Lake Geneva

Lake Geneva is a two-hour drive from Chicago and is one of my favorite places to visit in the summer. The lake is beautiful, and there are lovely options for dining and shopping. A couple of my favorite activities in Lake Geneva include walking the lake path (it goes around the entire lake), grilling brats from Lake Geneva country meats, and of course swimming and boating.

Lake Geneva, WI

Madison

Madison is best known for the University of Wisconsin, but there is plenty to do for nonstudents. The Farmer’s market in Madison is one of the best in the country and well worth the drive from Chicago to visit. The capital building and Lake Monona are also incredible. To get to Madison drive from Chicago (~two to three hours). My favorite times of year to visit are in the Summer and the Fall.

Madison, WI

x smack

Disclaimer: My trip to Minocqua was sponsored by Wi Travel Best Bets in return for my honest review.  All opinions expressed here are my own and are not influenced by Wi Travel Best Bets or their affiliates in anyway.