Much to my surprise, I was greeted by Mohammad Masoud at 5:45am outside of my hotel. Pickup was for 6:00am. I love that he was early. He was ready for me: a cooler with bottled water chilling, Kleenex between the two front seats and a mind to make good time!! SWEET! Mohammad was exceptionally professional and polite and surprised me further by saying that I was the only one in the group. WHAT??? I was going to have a private trip and driver at no price change???? Most tour companies would have canceled. That they did not says to me that this company wants to back up what they offer- no matter what. When you are on a tight schedule, that dependability counts for A LOT. Thanks, Mohammad! We made excellent time from Amman to Petra (2h45m), including Mohammad's suggestion of a stop for some tea with dried sage leaves. From the heat, I had only recently developed an unending cough-- and may I say that between the cough cough coughing and frequent nose blowing (I used almost his entire box of Kleenex that was there for his client's use), it would have annoyed.... anyone!!! (It sure annoyed me!) Mohammad, who showed ZERO agitation, did his best to offer a local remedy for chronic coughs and you know what? My cough did subside somewhat. Thanks, Mohammad! As he was dropping me off at the Petra Visitor Center (where you buy and your entrance ticket-- and hire a guide if you want), he gave me his contact/WhatsApp number and told me precisely at what point in the Petra return walking journey to text him-- and exactly where his car would be waiting--- because, his role was to be there waiting for me. He did not want me yo wait a minute. That dependability means a lot too, perhaps certainly (if not even more so) when you are traveling alone. Thanks, Mohammad!" And after my several hours of hiking at Petra (with a privately hired guide), I texted him as directed and there he was: ready and waiting, as promised! The car was all cool and he had removed another bottles of chilled water and had it in the drink cup holder for me. Mohammad was a superior driver. I do not write this casually. Years ago, in New York City, I was in a four car pile-up accident and was a passenger in a taxi. I got twenty stitches in my chin. It was a traumatizing event. Genuinely, rare is a cab ride that I am not on edge, particularly when traffic gets tight or cars are close. With Mohammad, who drives a fabulous stick shift, I didn't even realize how relaxed I was as a passenger until writing this review. And we had absolutely been in tight traffic! The man knows every turn and bend on the highways and in the roads. His driving prowess was a cause for comfort! Thanks, Mohammad! Perhaps one last thing to share is the care he extends to his clients even in the cleanliness and upkeep of his car. The car was dust-free, crumb-fee, even on the exterior the tires had been shined to a glow-- and that is not easy to do in a desert environment. In every possible way, my time with Mohammad was pleasant and enjoyable. He is a driver who was not ready to initiate conversation, which is a real plus at 6:00 am, if you are not a morning person! However, he was most certainly engaged and engaging, given the appropriate times in the trip. When we stopped on the return trip for some Turkish coffee, which he would bring to me in his car, he knocked on the window so I would not miss "the camels inside a modern camel". (See photo) To make that effort was incredibly kind of him --- seeing the camels was a slice of local life and, because they were not in my eye's line, he didn't want me to miss them.... and you know what, I never will! Thanks, Mohammad! Also, the license plates were a bit of a mystery to me and he pointed out many along the way including the KSA ones. (That's Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for you likewise uninitiated!) See photo I am thankful that I was assigned to Mohammad and I will never forget him. Meeting someone as nice as he was always makes me wish that I could also have met his wife and two sons. He gives a most positive impression of all that is favorable in the Jordanian people-- and I am thankful to have spent a day all alone in his care and company! Thank you, Mohammad, I told you I had a good review to write 😁😁😁😁😁 you were a terrific ambassador for your country and an excellent driver!











