Travel Answers

Damascus

Does anyone know how I can get information about buses/trains from Istanbul to Damascus, Syria? Which bus/train companies? When do the buses/trains leave from Istanbul? How much is the fare? How long is the journey? Many thanks ahead.

Any opinions? I've visited Marrakech a few years ago (was in Granda this past fall) and am very interested in going back to Morocco however Beirut and Damascus have gotten under my skin and are very unfamiliar thus alluring. Damascus is said to be the oldest city in the world. Beirut was (possibly still is?) the Paris of the East - and I hear the food in Lebanon is amazing. Beirut and Damascus for me is so far off the map which makes it very attractive while Morocco is a bit more familiar and is an incredible country. Help!

Hello everyone got a question. How would I be able to get to see this wonderful castle the Krak Des Chevaliers from Damascus ???? Is it possible to do a day trip ??? Do you fly from Damascus or take the train or drive I read it's 280 KM away so I'm thinking that's at least 4 hr to get there and 4 hours back .... If I hired a taxi how much would I be expected to pay ???? Any info would help ... Thanks... jlanza29

Hi All, I am planning a trip to Damascus to visit my boyfriend. He has his own apartment there and I was wondering if there will be any problem with me staying with him at his apartment if we are not married. Hope to hear soon thanks P

The information given on the Internet is that I need a VISA to visit Syria (to download form, attach photos etc). I have just spoken to my closest Consulate (UAE) to find out cost and the gentleman tells me that I can get a VISA upon arrival at Damascus Airport. Can anyone please confirm this. I am UK citizen. Currently resident in Bahrain. Thanks.

When I get to Damascus, I should like to book a day tour (coach, bus), incorporating all the best there is to see. What would you suggest? Any tour agency contact to give? Any info - pleased to receive. Thanks

is there an airport fee when departing from damascus international airport. one website i browsed says 200SYP then another 1500SYP... anyone who recently used DAM who can shed light to this? or its included already in the airfare? thanks in advance... =)

Hey Syrian friends. My name is Ali and I am 29 years old from Dubai. I need some urgent help. This trip came at the last minute so mind you I am obviously lost and scrambling to make the best of preparations. I have read the guides but wish to have some personal recommendations as I wish to make the best of this trip, and since I will be visiting with the parents, I urgently need some advice on the best way and places to make friends whilst I roam around alone, as many know that family is fun, but not all 10 days! :S So first off, I need a place. I know this is very short notice, but we managed to get a place for a day or two and I hope anyone can point out to any sort of decent and reasonable priced places to stay. I've been once before, and have learned the hard way that concealing where you are from is best practice, as for some reason prices multiply ten fold as opposed to traveling from another province. I am looking for clean hotel furnished type of apartments, not really a hotel, and not a private apartment either. 3 rooms would be ideal and price would need to be reasonable as I am looking for advice not to get ripped off. Location is also important, with Mezza street a good place, or close by. Term is for 10-14 days. Can you please let me know the price range I should expect as any other person would? And any ideas where can I find some ASAP? A particular question, my uncle is on medication and I would like to know if pharmacies dispense medications without prescriptions or is it necessary to visit a doctor? Would a doctor's note from Dubai suffice? Then there is socializing. It's funny to say, but I need friends when I visit to show me around. I've just joined the site, so please suggest any ideas and any if there are fun people out there, message me. I promise to return the favor when any one of you visits Dubai. Guys and girls are welcome ;) . Some of my closest friends are Syrian hence why I am sure there are lots of fun people around to hang out. And if I am approaching this the wrong way please help out if you've done this before. Precisely, any particular areas I should visit? How about the dating scene? And I mean harmless fun, no funny business. Anyone able to help guide me through this? Much appreciated. Hope to hear some helpful tips soon. Thanks again and be nice on my first posting :) Ali

Can any Damascene let me know the fancy, hi-end, must visit restaurants/clubs in and around Damascus. Thanks, AJ

Hi All, Im gonna visit Syria and stay at Damascus for 2 nights. Im little confused about hotel. I need a budget hotel which is good located and clean. Do you have any advices? Thanks

salaamz i wont to knw where does one go shopping at good prices in damscus and if i want to go for a islamic tour who do i contact thank you please reply to my email is kassam@webmail.co.za

I have an unexpected "window" coming up and I was looking into London to Damascus flights. They seemed to be quite expensive. Is there an alternative way to get there that would perhaps be overland and therefore enhancing the experience? I will be travelling by myself. Cheers Sharon

Is anyone informed if visas for Beirut can be obtainted at the border where the busses from Damascus arrive? What about visas for Syria, I heard controversial news about obtaining it at the airport, for how long?

Can anyone find out the telephone number of my old friends in Damascus: Milad and George Daye, Oriental Exhibition, Haret Zeitoun, Bab Sharky,Damascus. Thank you very much.

Dear VT Members I will be visiting Damascus mid of October for 4 days, with 2 days of work and 2 days of leisure (shopping/site seeing etc.) Can anyone guid me to have the best of Damascus in just 2 days. Thanks Atif

I need to be in Jordan by 8 January 2011 to join a team project. I had 2 days in Damascus in December 2003 and I want to go back. The plan is to have 4 days in Damascus and then travel overland to Amman. Does anybody have any recommendations for female friendly accommodation in Damascus. From my past experience I would like somewhere in the old city, with heating (it will be the middle of winter) and an ensuite bathroom rather than shared and down the hall. It does not need to have meals (including breakfast) iincluded because I am more than happy to go out for meals especially as I plan to walk alot and really explore the old city. I have Ross Burns' book on Damascus and will also buy the most recent edition of the Lonely Planet. The Damascus Hostel (www.damascushostel.com) gets a pretty good wrap elsewhere however I wondered if any women who have travelled in Syria had any personal recommendations on hotels in the old city of Damascus. Many thanks for any advice,

Does anyone have an email address for Damascus Rooms at 29 Aiar Str, Damascus, please?

I would like to make a daytrip to Baalbek from Damascus, but there is a scarcity of information on the practicalities of this. What are my possibilities? The cheapest options are preferable to me. Is there a bus from Damascus to Baalbek? Where in Damascus can I catch a Service or Microbus to Baalbek? What about the return journey? I would appreciate any help with my trip!

Hi all, I've been having a look for accommodation for 3 nights in early December however it's really hard to find! We're after cheap hotel or hostels. As an example, we paid USD$10 each per night in Cairo and were happy with what we got. Any suggestions? Also, any helpful hits or tips for 2 girls on a long weekend in Damascus would also be appreciated! Thanks, Nat

Hi, Can anyone give me some information for my following questions What is the best way to go to Amman from Damascus? What is the cost of shared taxi and how long it takes? Where can I take the shared taxi in Damascus? Thx.

I need the reservations fax address for the Talisman Hotel on Straight Street in Old Damascus

Does anyone know anything about this budget hotel in the old city? would it be a good place to stay in July? thanks is

What are my chances of finding (reasonably quickly) budget accomodation in Damascus around the end of June if I make no prior reservations? Thanks in advance.

asked to Damascus Rooms which is in Damascus, Syria if I could stay with my boyfriend and they say NO. I don´t understand why if I´m Mexican and he´s iraqi. Does anyone from Syria knows where can we stay together? Like renting a house or an apartment. Help Thank you Please answer only if you have the right information. This is not a political debate, is just vacations with my fiancee!

Our departure flight from Damascus is early in the morning so we want to stay at an airport hotel. However, no amount of googling did unearth more than indirect mentions that such a hotel might exist. I even found a picture titled Damascus International Airport Hotel with a P.O. Box for the address but nothing more definite. Does anyone know of any place to stay at Damascus Airport please? Thanks a lot in advance!

I will be arriving Damascus Airport 1:55am. What is the best way to get to my hotel? Many thanks in advance for any help on this

Hi Does anyone know the best way to get from Damascus to Beirut, and how much it costs, either shared or private taxi? Thanks Matt

Planning a trip from turkey to Egypt trough syria, lebanon and jordania. I know there is over 100 km costline in Syria,but is it free to swim everywhere. I and my husband love to snorkel and dive and when we are in Syria we would like to spend some time also in seaside.

I have been on the Syrian train web page and the only fast train that I can find from Aleppo to Hama leaves at 3:50 am? Does anyone knows if there is another? What time does the fast train leave from Hama to Damascus? Are these trains daily? traveling with aloha the coconut wireless

I will be in Damascus for 4 nights starting 17th April 2010. I have found out about 2 hotels that I would use, but I cant book them. Their websites don't have rates or booking forms online either? Any suggestions??? Many thanks in advance STEVE ps would love to meet any Damascus VT members while there :)