Damascus Travel Forum

Hey everyone,

I'll be arriving in Damascus early in July, and I'll be staying for quite a while. Anyway, I've been visiting Damascus every summer now for a couple of years, and I thought I might try and travel a bit outwards this time. So, my plan is to take a train, the Taurus Express (Toros Exkspresi), from Damascus to Istanbul. As much as I've been to Syria, I've never really traveled anywhere else by train so I have no idea how to go about this. I know my way around the city very well but I was wondering how and where I could buy tickets? Should I buy them while I'm still here in the U.S. or will it be okay if I buy them when I arrive in Damascus because I will be arriving in July but I am not planning on traveling to Istanbul until August? Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks so much!

- Dana

I've got a terrible fear of cockroaches. I don't mind so much if I see them outside, but I hate to think of seeing them in a hotel bedroom or bathroom.

I was planning to visit Syria, but can only afford budget accommodation, and I read in the Rough Guide To Syria that such accommodation usually has a cockroach problem (this book was several years old, though).

So I'd like to know: if I choose hotels costing around $30 -$50 per night (for one person), will cockroaches be a problem? And if so, how much would I have to pay for a hotel without cockroaches?

Thanks.

Hi
Looking forward to a trip to Damascus and Syria in November with my wife 2 year old and young baby (yet to be born - due this week). Some questions that I cant seem to find in the guide books:
1/ Is it OK to breastfeed in public? If so are there any local guidlines that should be followed?

2/ I hope to find a reasonablly priced (IE cheap) central hotel that would be OK for a family - any suggestions would be welcome

That is about it for now...I am sure that there will be more to follow. Cheers Edwin (Australia)

Hi all,

Thanks in advance for your help. I am a Brit who will be staying in Damascus (first visit!) between May and the end of August, and despite trawling the web for hours, I can't seem to find the answers to the following questions, so if anyone could help me, I would be very grateful.

1. I've recently quit smoking after many years, and am finding life without cigarettes difficult, to say the least! The NHS won't supply me with enough nicorettes for my entire stay, so I'm wondering if it is possible to buy nicorettes or similar brands from pharmacies in Damascus, or if I would need to go to a doctor to get a prescription, if this is possible? What are the costs?

2. Is it possible to buy the contraceptive pill at one of the pharmacies, or would this require a doctor's prescription? I'm bringing some with me, but am just a bit worried that they might get damaged or something. Would there be any problems at the airport on arrival if customs search my bag and find the pill?

3. I'm female, and would like to go to the gym and use a swimming pool a few times a week in the evenings - are there any in or around the Old City which are specifically for women or have specific hours for women-only gym or pool sessions? Is it possible to pay to use the gyms and/or the swimming pool in one of the hotels, such as the Sheraton? I've contacted a few hotels, but have had no reply to my emails. How much would this cost?
Also, would a sports bikini be ok to wear (not a skimpy string one, it's bikini shorts and a crop-top, but it does show my midriff)?

4. Are there any group evening dance classes available - belly-dancing, salsa, arabic, any kind really! Again, what are the costs and location?

5. I'm on a tight budget as I'm a student, and would like to cook for myself - where are the best (and cheapest!) supermarkets located, and is it possible to buy 'western' foods like breakfast cereal and pasta?

Sorry for so many (boring!) questions, and thanks for your help!

Cheers,

Ellie

I'm looking for a COMFORTABLE hotel in Damascus, ensuite, pretty central, clean. Because we're going on our honeymoon we want to be left alone, so please no 'we all sit round chatting in the evening' kind of place! No offence, we just want time to ourselves. Looking to spend no more than £50 per room. Can anyone help? Or would self-catering be better, and if so how do I go about finding a place to stay?

Where can I get a good city map of Damascus in English?

Cyprus or Syria? January weather?

I'm trying to decide where to spend January?

I'm doing a trip in Turkey which ends in January, and I have two options afterwards

1) Syria (I am interested in an entire tour of the country, in January, but I am unsure about the weather, and access to natural highlights, like mountains, coast, desert, etc...If January is a bad time to tour around Syria, let me know why.

2) Cyprus (also in January), I've heard Cypriot Springtime begins early, so I am thinking about Cyprus. I'm not sure about Cypriot natural beauty in January? I don't like skiing, but I do like mountain photography. How's the whole island of Cyprus in January.

Thanks

I want to go to Damascus this fall to take courses at the University of Damascus, but I would like to know how much it will all cost.

The courses are either 300 USD to 400 USD per level but how much should I budget per month for accommodation, food, and other cost of living expenses. How much does a home stay vs living by yourself cost? I would probably be in Damascus for 9 months or so. The Syrian Studies Association page mentions that living in the suburbs is much cheaper but is it hard to reach the university from there?

Is is possible to find work as an English teacher/tutor part-time?

Hi I am looking for accommodation for a large group. About 15-20 people in April. Can anyone help me find a house to rent or a hostel that has enough rooms and isn't too expensive? Please help!

L

Canadian traveler wants to enter Syria from Turkey, but where to get visa?

I am interested in a 3 month Turkey, Syria, Lebanon trip starting in October in Istanbul, crossing the border to Syria, and finally Lebanon, before flying out of Beirut in mid-January.

My question about Syria is visa-related. Lebanon is visa-free for Canadians, but Syria requires a pre-arranged visa, which means a Syrian embassy, which means getting a visa at the Syrian embassy in Istanbul, but is that possible? Some countries insist Canadians obtain tourist visas back in Canada, and not in a neighbouring country, obviously that's not an option. I would really like to visit Syria, after Turkey by bus, or train.

Thanks

Hello!
What is the best way for me and my wife to get a roundtrip from Damascus to Crac des Chevaliers back to our hotel on Wednesday the 11:th of February.
Is it to hire a car and driver, and if so how do I do it, and how mouch is a resonabel cost incl. car driver and petrol?
Best of regards
/Lennart

we were told that they have budget accomodations but nobody seems to be able to give us an address. If anyone can help us out we would greatly appreciate it.
Thank you all for your time.

Couple need to get from Beirut to Damascus. Anyone travelled this route recently? Any suggestions as to the easiest or best way?

Anyone know the address and telephone numbers of these hotels in damascus
salaam hotel
majed hotel
burj mustaqbal 2
haramain
Rabie
thanks ,
any other budget recomendations ?

We're looking for a riad style hotel in the Muslim quarter, must be clean and with a courtyard.

many thanks

I have checked the VT hotel recommendations for Damascus looking for something along Moroccan riyads: traditional, clean and affordable. Boutique hotels for 200 dollars up are way out of my budget and I am not into the bland international chains. Does what I look for actually exist at all? I've googled but so far to no avail.

Please help me!

I would appreciate any advice on the price and how to find a fully furnished, private, modern, rental apartment in the city centre of Damascus. We need accommodation for 6 adults and 2 children from Nov 19 to Dec 3rd 2008.

i am an irish guy coming to damascus for the first time. i am very excited. can anyone give some top tips on what to see? also what hotels are good and reasonable. i like unique and friendly and local places. i'd rather be in the heart of the action that in some sterile 'best western' type place. also if there are any locals who want to meet up and have coffee let me know.

Hello, I was in Damasco last year, and I ate a delicious mezze, I think is called KISHKE, but I am not sure. Is creamy cheese, with pieces of nuts, I believe, oil and pomegranate sometimes. I hope you can help me, thanks you and sorry for my english!
Clara

Hi,

I'll be in Damascus in October.

Does anybody know if there is a shop in Damascus where I can buy authentic Syrian swords? If so, what price do they typically sell for?

Thanks.

hello. irish guy here. travelling from istanbul to damascus in a few weeks. there is no embassy or consulate in ireland. is it possible to get a visa on the turkish/syrian border?

Hello,

i wanted to know, if in the Hotels everywhere you can pay with Syrian Pounds, or are there Places where you only can pay Euro`s or Dollar?

And how is it with Exchange? Can You Exchange Euro in SP at the Airport?

Thank you very much.

bye

Hello,

can someone tell me how much it would costs to send a packet from Syria to germany per kilo? And how long time it would take till arriving in germany?
Thank you very much for your help.

greets

i will be visiting damascus for one month in october and would like to attend a belly dancing school. where can i get info from? eg, contacts, prices, thanks.

Hi all, I will be coming to damascus at the end of august. I will be staying for about a year and I am looking for a furnished studio to rent. does anyone have any suggestions how to find one?
thanks!

Arriving in damascus from amman on august 11. Will be staying at al mamlouka hotel in the old city for 5 nights.
What is the best way to travel from Amman to damascus? I understand that many taxi drivers in Damascus do not know where this hotel is located so can anybody suggest what instructions I should give to the driver to ensure that I arrive at the right place or at least nearby.
I do not speak Arabic although my grandparents came from Zahle in Lebanon. Would it be safe to visit Zahle at this time and what be the best means of transport.Could the trip be done in one day and could I include Baalbek?
Thanks indeed for any info relating to the above questions.

I will be in Damascus in the early morning on 6:00 July 8, and from Damascus I have to go to Aleppo directly, Could anyone suggest how can we get Aleppo from Damascus? Is there trains or long-trip bus run between the two cities? The travel agency say there are flights, but only two flights one is in the very early morning departure on 5:00 (it's too early for us to catch the flight) one is in the afternoon, but too late for us, because we have to get Aleppo in the afternoon.

Any comment about the transportation from Damascus to Aleppo will be appricated.

Thank you very much in advance.

hello everyone,well im travelling to syria in october 2008 and i will be in lattakia for 6 days,is there any gay places?like coffe,bars,or disco,i know that syria is ilegal about being hommosexual,but i want a place just to relax,and not be pretend to be a heterosexual just because of the country culture,thanks a lot.

I would like an apartment in Damascus for July. I will be studying Arabic at Damascus University.

I have heard the old city is nice.

Where/how can I find a place to stay for the month?

I would prefer my own apartment (studio or one bedroom) but might be willing to share under the right circumstances.

Please post your responses and some way to contact you.

Thanks!

ABU BB

Hi everyone,
Im a polish student (girl) planning to come to Damascus this summer (August 2008) to learn arabic at the University of Damascus. Does anybody know any place to stay (syrian famielies or hostal or any rooms for girls to rent) Please answer at: ewaluch@ugr.es
Thanks!