Hi there
I'm going to Syria next month.. We have booked some hotels already but I like the thrill of leaving some things to the last minute. Is this wise in Syria? Will locals meet us off the bus with laminated photos of their hotels for us to stay in, or will we end up trudging along main roads desperately looking for a Hotel sign?
In case it matters, the places I'm thinking of doing this in are Hama and Palmyra.
Thanks
R
We walked into hotels in Aleppo Hama and Palmyra without problem. Damascus might warrent a rezzie, though, depending on where you want to stay.
Hi,
I spent 17 days in Syria in 2003 October. I didn't see touts at the bus stations or elsewhere. When I arrived to Palmyra the minibus driver took me directly to a hotel without asking for it. I'm pretty sure there must be touts hanging around the bus station in Palmyra but I missed it because of this.
I hope Syria didn't change much in the last 5 years! That time it was still a normal country, with few tourists and reservations were not necessary at all.
Very few touts. Every place I tried was available first go, taxis are cheap to get you to the hotels or just walk, I did!
Most of the budget to mid hotels in Hama are located in the centre near the 2 waterwheels behind the large government buildings. And Palmyra is a small town easily walkable plenty of taxi drivers to take you to their commision paying hotels.
Especially next month, since tourist season is done, you will have no troubles getting into hotels even in Damascus. In Hama really there are just two hotels that any one really stays at Riyad and Cairo, but both it is totally fine to just walk in. Do have them show you the rooms and negotiate as appropriate but honestly rooms and such are so cheap here sometimes its a rather pointless endeavour. Hotels are well marked and in case you honestly in the and cant find one flag a taxi and they are happy to get you to a hotel. Have a great trip.
There have been problems with aggressive touts in Palmyra. Check out beforehand, based on recommendations, which hotels you prefer and don't listen to anyone who tells you they're closed, etc. A phone call before you go might be advisable here.
Yes, Palmyra is full of touts. They can be quite aggressive too. I didn't notice this anywhere else in Syria. The Palmyra site is great, but you have to get used to just saying no. One of the more favourite ploys is "promise me you will buy from me" as you enter let's say one of the underground mausoleums, if you don't say anything, as you leave they "Oh, but you promised!!!" and start fussing. I just laughed at them, and said no I didnt say that YOU did...
I ran into that a bit in Bosra al Sham as well. My favorite was giving my three year old the gum they were selling, behind my back, then expecting me to pay for it! They can be sneaky! Just be firm and say no like micvan has said.
Just another person confirming yes, very easy in Hama (I didn't spend the night in Palmyra). Get off the bus, get in a taxi and ask for either Riad or Cairo hotels...they are either next door to each other or practically so.
Depends on time of day you arrive...there should usually be minibuses between Homs and Hama, and the Hama bus station is in walking distance of these hotels. But if you arrive in the middle of the night as I did, a taxi from Homs to Hama isn't too expensive.