Actual exchange rates in Syria

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trrk
trrk

Are the exchange rates you actually get in Syria similar to the rates on www.xe.com?

For example if I'm quoted a price in euro or $US but want to pay in SYP what exchange rate is fair? Is it common for people to try to rip you off in these situations or can you usually trust people to offer you the correct rate?

Current rates on www.xe.com:
euro 63 SYP
$US 46 SYP

Am I likely to come across any situation where a hotel of something will only accept $US? The LP says this is common for mid-range to upper-range places but we will mostly be staying at budget places.

Thanks!

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erdinger
erdinger

All budget places accept SYP. If you want to pay in USD (which is not reccomended), it will depend on the place which rate they will give to you. If trying to exchange money (I only exchanged a very small amount of Turkish Lira in Aleppo), just ask around if you think the rate is not good enough.

I only paid a tour at a hotel in Hama in USD (to the Krak des Chevaliers and Apamea), but the prices for those tours were only given in USD. But again, I'm pretty sure you can pay them in SYP too.

The best thing is to get your money from ATM's. When I was in Syria a few weeks ago, my Dutch bank used the official daily rate. But it is a good idea to get some USD with you if you plan to travel to smaller towns that doesn't have ATM's.

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chriskean1
chriskean1

I'm in Syria at the moment, for a second visit (first was in 2005). The two times I've changed money I've gotten 47 or 48 to the dollar. I also easily found an ATM in Tartous that took my Visa card--there was no such luxury four years ago.

If you can pay with dollars, then you can pay with Syrian pounds. The reverse is not necessarily so.

CK

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