Sunbathing (female) and overlanding from Turkey to Syria without Arabic?

Getting in and around Syria with little to no Arabic will not be a problem. Though learning a few simple phrases will go a long way in further rolling out the welcome mat for you. There are a ton of beaches here, all of which to my understanding cost a fee from any where in the amounts of 100 pounds per person to 250 per person, or by the day rentals with a tent and table and chairs. Just depends on the beach. As for bikini beaches I would say best to head to the resort like Cham Palaces. I dont think there is any rules against bikinis here, but some beaches might get you some pretty good stares. Most beaches you will always find those of us who are fully covered in the ocean, but those who arent still tend to wear biker stretch type shorts and a sports bra or t-shirt. But this is definately going to be beach to beach. The proper name for the robe is abaya and hijab being the headscarf for general speaking. Most of the roof top sleeping is co-ed from what I understand, though you will also find rooms in expensive as well. Meeting local people isnt that hard, I would say stick to local service buses, eating in cafes vs restaraunts etc. Also you might try visiting couchsurfing.com where you can meet locals willing to host foriegners visiting the country. I would not recomend hanging out in a mostly male shisha bar, that isnt goingto send a very good message about yourself. Although not a completely islamic country, and much free-er than ie Saudi Arabia, you still have your local/cultural ideals that people hold strongly too. Some cities are more conservative than others as well, like Hama, where I am tends to be one of the most conservative cities in the country. If youd like to stop in here for tea, just holler, not technically local but closing in on local Happy to show you around a bit~ :D
Takec are

Aisha

Make your beach holidays in Turkey. Syria is not famous for beaches,but for historical places. Bikini only at the hotel beaches of Lattakia (or at the hotel beaches of Lebanon). Last Turkish beach before entering Syria: Arsuz (close to Iskenderun).
This summer, there was a hydrofoil between Mersin and Lattakia (faster and more comfortable than the bus ride).

The ability to wear a bikini at the Hotel Beaches only in Lebanon is not strictly speaking correct. You could wear a bikini at a public beach in Lebanon if you wanted.. in fact several picutures were published of bikini clad women greeting the UNIFIL arrivals in 2006, and that was in the South.

However, if you are in the North or near Beirut itself then the only beaches really worthwhile are the Beach Clubs, which are beaches you must pay to attend, although they do not always belong to hotel, they all offer some level of facilities.

The hotel beaches I saw in Lattakia (at the Meridian) were poor compared to those on offer in Lebanon (more like brown dirt than sand).

..... and up to me, the sandy hotel beach of Resthouse Tyr is one of the best in the whole Levante.

Hello!!
As most poeple said, Do your sunbath part in Turkey. It's beautiful and you won't be bothered. I spent 3 months accross middle east this summer and I never never had any problem with arabic. Of course as a lonely traveler from outside they are curious and come talk to u. I went to Lattakia and really i wasnt confortable to swim in my bikini. I kept a t shirt and even then man were trying to talk to me and observing me during my stay at the beach. they are durty and not so famous. You will see a bit everywhere women wearing their tchador, long black fabric, in the water and beside woman in bikini, its strange but interesting. They are lots of cheap hostel and usually they arent mix most of the time..
I f you need anyother info, dont hesitate to pm me.. I went to Iran, Syria, Turkey twice, Lebanon, Jordan, Israel and palestine this summer!
have a nice trip its the best area i visited up to now!
vanes

In Syria & Lebanon, most dorm rooms/roof-sleeping situations are co-ed. In Jordan they are more likely to be separated.

Similar to couchsurfing.com that oomwesam suggested...I used Hospitality Club. I didn't make as much use of it as I should have...only in Lebanon did I meet up with someone I wasn't staying with. I stayed with hosts in 3 other places and was always slightly disappointed that women either didn't respond to my inquiry or responded after I'd already made plans to stay with a guy. However, it's entirely possible that most of the women lived with their families so they weren't as quick to confirm lodging...all the men I stayed with lived alone. I wish now that I had contacted some women just to meet up for a chat.