Wondering if ATMs and places in Jordan like restaurants shops easily take American Express or its better to get a Visa or Mastercard
American Express didn’t help much in Jordan. Local shops, desert camps, and even restaurants in Petra didn’t accept it. ATMs from Housing Bank worked fine with Visa/Mastercard. Daily budget was 70-90 JOD including food, taxis, and tourist sites. Carry cash too for tipping and souks. Amex was only useful at one international hotel chain. Visa is the must-have card for Jordan travel, not Amex.
My Amex was rejected everywhere in Jordan except one big hotel in Aqaba. Restaurants in Amman, shops in Madaba, and even rental car companies wanted Visa or Mastercard. ATMs also wouldn’t accept Amex. I budgeted 60-80 JOD daily covering meals, taxis, and entrance fees. Visa was reliable for both hotels and restaurants. Amex was just dead weight in my wallet.
I carried Amex to Jordan and barely used it. Even in Dead Sea resorts, they preferred Visa. ATMs wouldn’t recognize my Amex either. Meals cost 5-10 JOD in local restaurants, while Petra entry alone was 50 JOD. I averaged 70-100 JOD daily with tours and taxis. Mastercard worked fine everywhere, but Amex only worked once in a luxury Amman hotel. Don’t depend on it.
In Jordan, American Express acceptance was extremely rare. Hotels in Amman sometimes allowed it, but Petra ticket counters, Wadi Rum tours, and local restaurants didn’t. ATMs from Arab Bank and Cairo Amman worked with Visa/Mastercard, not Amex. I budgeted 50-70 JOD daily for meals, taxis, and site entry fees. Visa was the safest bet across Jordan. Amex won’t get you far once you leave the capital.