Syria Travel Forum

Is it still possible to visit Quneitra? I suppose the information in the LP is still correct to obtain a permit? any help is welcome!
Ciao!

Hi,

I've read there is a night bus from Aleppo to Amman. Does it still exist?

When returning we would like to from Aqaba to Lattakia (yes, I know, it seems a weird route, but there are reasons for it). What is the shortest way to do this? Are there night buses to shorten this (for example Aqaba -> Damascus)?
Thank you!

We will be travelling to Syria from the end of July till the end of August. In which regions is a bus reservation or accomodation reservation "necessary" and if so, how many days in advanced should we book? Roughly, we will visit Damascus, Aleppo, Palmyra, Hama & Lattakia.

Thanks!

Hi,

When precisely is a visa extension necessary? If you are more than 15 days on a row in Syria or if you are more than 15 days in total in Syria? We will travel about 10 days in Syria, then 14 days in Jordan and then again about 10 days in Syria. So in total we will be for more than 15 days in the country, but never 15 successive days. Do we need an extension?

Thank you!

Hi,
Planning to visit Damascus and had a few Qs. since my last visit there was ages ago
-which hotel is better Al majid which i`m more inclined towards, Sultan or Salam having read the last two hotels reviews here ,overall and location wise as i would like to visit the old city ,souk al hamediah and ommayad mosque ? Al majid is in assaffra is that close to omayad mosque,hamidiah etc.?whithin walking distance or ?
-Which hotel is close to buses that leave for palmyra ,busra as i would like to go for a day trip? how far is Almajed from the that particular bus station?
-Is it ok if i wonder around in Palmyra on my own ,any possibility of being hassled.
-Are currency exchange outlets widely available , better rates than banks? do they have a uniform rate or ? how many Syrian liras to a US dollar ?
-Do you still need to declare the amount of currency you bring in and leave with ?
-how much is the airport taxi ,is that counter where you pay and get a coupon still there ?
-ok last one, do you need to hand in your passport when checking in hotels like almajed for instance .
Thanks for any replies.

Has anyone taken it before? I would be very grateful for any information.

Thanks a lot in advance!

Is it possible to travel from Amman to Damascus by railway?

Hi!
Since the vocabulary in the end of Syria & Lebanon Lonely Planet guide book seems too short for me, I am wondering how much Syrian Arabic differs from Egyptian Arabic? I could buy Lonely Planet's Egyptian Arabic Phrasebook (there is none for Syrian Arabic) if the difference is not that big. I will be travelling around various regions of Syria - Alleppo, Dayr az-Zawr, Palmyra, Hama, Damascus - maybe you need this information to answer me as I know Arabic varies also inside Syria.
Thank You in advance!
js77

Hello everyone...

Be grateful if someone could tell me which direction, in relation to central Damascus is the Mounth Qasiyoun? Is it south of the city?

Thanks

We would like enter Syria on the border crossing between Baalbek and Homs /Beqaa valley/. I want to ask some VT- erīs from Syria od Lebanon, if it is possible in this time, or not?

BBC news: "Syria has closed a border crossing in the north-east of Lebanon for "security" reasons.

Damascus closed two other crossings when fighting first broke out in the camp, also for safety reasons. Only the Masnaa crossing remains open"

Is it safe to visit region Baalbek and Bekaa valley, and Tripoli?

Thanks

Peter

HEy everyone!

does anyone know of a good Arabic teacher, who gives private lessons in Damascus?

Thanks
S.

Hi everyone!
We're planning to travel to Syria in summer and we'll only be able to spend there one week. I just wanted to know which places do you recommend us to visit, the ones we shouldn't miss, bearing in mind that we don't have so much time. I also wanted to know what kind of transportation do you recommend us to use. Are buses a good choice?
Thank you very much in advance for your advice!

Hello all,

I was just wondering if any Americans / Europeans have had problems recently entering Syria with an Israeli visa in their passport (or Americans simply entering with an American passport). Last year, I know of several instances where Americans were simply refused at the border and I myself with an EU passport was held up despite having a Syrian visa in advance.

I will be living in Israel for the summer and would more than anything love to visit my former Uni. and friends in Beirut, but not sure how feasable it will be... (I do have US & Polish passports but neither one seems to be preferrable when crossing Syria -and am highly questioning the switching passports between any borders...). I'd be most happy if anyone could advise! Thanks so much!

Hello,

How long does it take to drive between Damascus and Palmyra by car ?

Thank you,

George

Dear All;

My family and I will be in Damascus from June 4 to june 8. I am looking for a nice 3 bedroom furnished apartment. If you can be of any help, please send me an email to marajabi@yahoo.com.

Thanks

i send a email to the hotel would it seem not to work any more(got if from lonely planet guide book)

any one has the new one=
??

i used afamia@hotel.sy.com

Thanks

i want to take a bus/share taxi from damascus to amman(and later go to petra)

how much is it and are there often bus connection? also has anybody expricen with crossing the boarde to jordan from syria.
can i get the visa on the boarder control( european passport) and how long does take the whole travel?

thanks !!!

Hello,

Are there any organized trips/buses that go from Damascus to Beirut with a stop in Baalbek ? How would I go about organizing such a trip ?
Alternatively : How often/at what price do buses go from Aleppo directly to Beirut ?

George

Does anybody know if there is passenger ferry service to Syria? Ideally from Egypt but more realistically from Cyprus. Any ferries at all from anywhere?

Dear all,

i will next week to damascus and low for a low cost hostel/ back packer

any place you know of or would recommend? any emails web pages or othr infos are highly apreciate!!

does have any one expirence with american travel cheques??
are there any problems to cash them in hte local banks there?

Thanks!!1

Can anyone in the region assist in finding information regarding her whereabouts?

Passport name: Jacqueline Nicole Vienneau
Passport number: JP588938
Height: 5' 6"
Weight: approx 130 lb
Brown hair and brown eyes
Age: 32 (looks younger)
She had a 6 month Syrian visa # 000166020, issued Oct 5, 2006 and good until Apr 5th 2007
Any information on her whereabouts, past or current, should be sent to local police or Interpol.

File No. 2007-13000
Kevin.Fahey@rcmp-grc.gc.ca Interpol

Wayne.Martin@rcmp-grc.gc.ca Canadian Foreign Affairs

adriana.omalley@rcmp-grc.gc.ca RCMP - Vancouver
(604)817-0816 Gary Schweitzer

Here is a link to her brothers blog, it has the latest information available:

http://vienneau.livejournal.com/
Thanks to you all for reading this, and any possible help you could offer.

John

Will come for holiay to Damascus on the 17may and try to find a cheap place to stay (hostel / hotel) anyone know a place of ?

how is the nightlife there .

also want to try some hammans and suggestion?

thanks for ur help

Hi everyone,

I'm going to be in Damascus for a few months beginning in about two weeks and I was wondering how the internet cafes work. Does the government censor the internet and if so, which sites(email sites?)? Also, if I bring my laptop, will I be able to connect it to the internet? Thanks!

Daniel

Hello Everybody!
I'm investigating about bus/train connections from Istanbul to Damascus or Aleppo.I've found some information that train from Ist to Dam (toros expres) is not in service until june 2007.Does anyone knows detailes?Can anyone tell me about alternative?Can't find bus routes from Ist to Dam.Please help me:)

Hey everyone!

Can someone help hook me up with a 2 bedroom, furnished apartment, with a western toilet, in Ruknudeen, Damascus? will be needing the apartment from August 2007, for a year.

Anyone?

Thanks
S.

Missing Canadian backpacker,

A dear friend has gone missing in Syria and we are currently looking to find anyone that might have had contact with her during a trip to that region.

Here is the information that we have: My Sister, Nicole Vienneau, Has Gone Missing in Syria - http://vienneau.livejournal.com/39588.html

I also put that link on Digg - http://www.digg.com/world_news/My_Sister_Nicole_Vienneau_Has_Gone_Missing_in_Syria

Any help in locating her is greatly appreciated.
Thank you.

Hi, Looking for any info, feedback on the Ghazal and Afamia. Also trying to find the phone no for Afamia. Not much on the net.

thanks :)

Australia is one of those countries that doesn't have a syrian embassy at which to get visas so i have been told that technically I'm eligable to buy my visa at the border. As I am travelling overland from Amman to Damascus I have some concerns about this. i have heard that the service taxis may well not service you if you don't have your Visa already and that it can be a real pain holding up the buse on the border. I will be in Egypt before Jordan and had heard that you can get it there, though I'm not sure if that was only at the syrian crossing. Has anyone tried to do either of these things before? I only plan to spend a day or two in Syria on ym way through to Istanbul so I might be able to get a transit visa??. any ideas?

I'm travelling overland from Egypt to Istanbul in a couple of weeks. For the Damascus to Istanbul leg I don't want to wait around for the weekly train but have found trains from Damascus to Aleppo and from Aleppo to Adana to Istanbul. So the troublesome leg is Aleppo to Adana! I know there are taxis (though a touch pricey) and keep finding confimation that there are weekly buses but can't seem to track down a timetable for the buses. Does anyone know how to get hold of this information or any better alternatives?
Your help would be greatly apreciated! Thanks.

I am seriously considering going to Syria to study Arabic for a few months. Could anyone who is doing it already/has done it recommend it? Is it an interesting/affordable place to live?