Oh yeah, forgot the most important part. Skip the duty free, check out the grocery store on Zahran St, almost directly behind the Sheraton Amman, with the "SWEET" sign on the awning. The back section is a great selection of beer/liquor/Jordanian wine, lowest prices I've found in the city.

Thank you all!

Won't make Petra this trip, but will try and schedule 2 days there on next rotation through, would love to see that area for sure.

The local tips I will definitely look in to, I'm arriving at noon-ish and leave the next morning, so plenty of daylight on first day, then a full night.

Much appreciated Gentlemen.

The Dead Sea was a nice spot too, great place to take a dip.

I always heard the Dead Sea smells funny...any truth to that?

yea i think it did, all the people were rubbing the mud on thir faces and bodies saying it was good for the skin. Alot of people go there just to swim and such. It was a cool little trip and a very weird feeling how your body floats from all the salt. But well worth it if you have the time and there are nice shops along the way as well.

Oh yea suposebly there are snipers and military there to shoot you if you look like your trying to swim to Israel. If i remember right there is a marker and you better not swim beyond it. But all this was awhile back (2004). And this is what i was told by a local...