Damascus, Syria, is 100 miles from Amman, Jordan. Is it possible to drive from one city to the other? If so, I assume it is best to rent a car and driver. How do I do that? How long will the drive take?

If I want to go on to Petra on the same day, should I keep the same car and driver, or should I get a new driver from our hotel in Amman?

And if you have sightseeing and hotel advice about Damascus and Amman, I would love to hear it.

I stumbled across this old post of mine, and am still interested in the answer. Any takers?

Well I think the answer is yes you can drive there. I am basing this on the fact that you can get a car and driver from Beirut to either Damscus or Amman. I'd suggest contacting the hotel directly.

A quick check on Google came up with a lot of people describing their journeys by Service Taxi (shared old mercedes), but I think you are after something more stylish than that.

As for heading onto Petra, that is perhaps a little too far to do in one day from Damascus. I'd suggest an overnight in Amman, then take a locally sourced excursion from there. Petra seems to be well worth 2 days anyway.

With regard to your road trip from Damascus to Amman, indeed it is very much possible (and the preferred way for many travellers). With the recent terrorist attacks in Amman; however, I am not sure if land boarders are open/easy to get through to be very honest. As GK mentioned, check with the hotel upon arrival in Damascus and take it from there.

Petra is very hectic for a one day trip. Usually folks leave to Petra the day before, spend the night in a nearby city and head to Petra in the early morning hours the next day. Just an FYI...

Thanks, GK and BEYflyer. I'm beginning to think about what else to see when I come to GK's Beirut housewarming next fall (and hopefully meet you as well, BEYflyer. I'd like to travel Beirut - Damascus - Petra - Alexandria - Cairo. I've got a lot to learn yet about both the logistics of the travel, and the relative safety.

Pleasure to help whenever I can SanDiego1K. Mind you, there is a lot to see and do in Lebanon, so I hope you give us some of your time as well. Might I suggest the following: get into Beirut, travel to/from Damascus by car. Then take a plane from Beirut to Amman, then on to Cairo (and Alexandria) and back to Beirut. That ticket should be for about USD750 on ME and RJ. Not sure if this is the best use of your time, but an option nevertheless. Look forward to meeting you too.

SanDiego1k.. you always pack a lot into your trips don't you !

btw I have now read 'Hedonists Guide to Beirut' that you sent me from cover to cover and am really excited about all the great meals out/bars we are going to.. only 50 days to go until the big move !

Not sure about the drive from Damascus, but assume it can be done.

I was in Amman a year ago today, spent two weeks working in the embassy there.

Petra is a must see, plan on at least two nights there. This is a brief description of my trip, taken with colleagues so we had a car;

Drive down the main desert highway, got to Wadi Mousa the first day. That's a town a short walk from Petra. Stayed at the Movenpick hotel, quite nice and the closest to the entrance to Petra. Went into Petra first thing in the a.m. spent the whole day there. Won't describe Petra, others have done it better. Check Wikipedia.

On leaving Petra we went to the Dead Sea and drove up the coase, visiting Mt. Nebo on the way.

Don't have much time at the moment, but no-one should miss a chance to see Petra.