families with children. The currency is the lempira, whose exchange rate is 18.89 to the US dollar and prices can vary from very cheap to upscale for hotels, meals, entertainment, tours, etc. A cold bottle of local beer costs 20 Lp and includes the million dollar breeze coming off the Caribbean Sea! I admit that Roatan has become very commerical but Utila is just as great for diving and cheaper, and Guanaja is becoming more well known. Do your research, learn some Spanish greetings, use your manners and be welcomed by the great folks here! Re: Safety -- just be sensible! Jordan is certainly cheaper than travelling and staying in Europe, but not at $5 per night for a dorm bed for a solo traveller - unless stay in a 1 star hotel. Of course if you're three or four, then you can pool resources and lower your costs. Or you could bring your own tent like me... and camp in the desert of Wadi Rum! For three weeks in 07 I travelled throughout the country, visiting Crusader castles, Roman ruins in Jerash and the superb amphitheatre in Amman, the oasis and reserve in Azrak. Azrak is also where the black balsite fortress used by Lawrence of Arabia is found. Stayed in the Petra Hotel in Wadi Musa, just outside the gated entrance to Petra. Took one of the local Toyota buses from Amman to get there, cost just 5 dinars, about $7USD for the three hour trip. If you