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 Posted: Thu Jan 12, 2006 11:41 am Post subject: SYRIA TRAVEL TIPS (Travelling to Syria essentials) |
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SYRIA TRAVEL TIPS : Travelling to Syria essentials
Tipping
It is usual to round sums up in restaurants or taxis. Don't forget to thank guides and chauffeurs. It's traditional to offer a few coins to anyone who has given you service.
Hours
Friday is the only rest day of the week.
Offices are open from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Stores are usually open all day until 6 or even 8 p.m. in summer.
Museums are closed Tuesdays.
Driving
Drive on the right. Roads are generally well-maintained. Potholes, however, are common on secondary roads. Most road signs are in Arabic only. The traffic can easily disconcert a foreign visitor: right of way is often ignored and horn blasts are constant. It's preferable to hire a car and driver, who can often also serve as guide.
Banks - Post Office
Banks are open from 8 to 2 daily except Friday. Stamps are available in hotels and post offices.
Shopping
Cloth-making is a very ancient tradition in Syria. In the Damascus souk, look for silver and gold brocade. In Alep check out the brightly-colored silk scarves. You can also bring back olive oil or bay leaf soap. Marquetry is a specialty of Damascus, though plastics are now often replacing mother or pearl or camel bone for inlay! The rugs found in souks are not the product of local artisans, but usually come from Iran, Turkey or the Caucasus and are relatively expensive.
Source: The WorldWide Traveler
Dress
Conservative dress is recommended for Syria. Travelers should exercise caution when photographing historic sites. Photographs may be taken of regular tourist attractions, such as ancient ruins and temples, but warnings are issued against photographing government buildings, government property, and anything other than tourist sites.
Source: U.S Departement of State
Duty Free
The following items may be imported into the Syrian Arab Republic without incurring customs duty (irrespective of passenger’s age): 200 cigarettes or 50 cigarillos or 25 cigars or 250g of tobacco; 30g perfume for personal use; 570ml of spirits; 500ml of lotion and 500ml of eau de cologne; gifts worth up to S£250.
Travel Internal
AIR: Syrian Arab Airlines fly to Aleppo, Deir ez Zor, Latakia, Palmyra and Qamishly. In general, fares are exceedingly cheap.
RAIL: The railway extends 2200km (1364 miles). A service operates between Damascas-Aleppo-Kamechli. A second line runs between Aleppo-Latakia-Banias-Tartous-Homs-Damascas-Deraa. First class carriages are air conditioned. There is also a connection from Haleb to the Lebanese border.
ROAD: There are 25,887km (16,086 miles) of roads. Traffic systems are poor and there are numerous accidents. Second-class roads are unreliable during the wet season. The principal route is Aleppo to Damascus and Dar’a (north–south axis). Traffic drives on the right. Bus: Services run from Damascus and Aleppo to most towns and are cheap, widely used and efficient. There are orange-and-white air conditioned Karnak (government-operated) buses. Reservations should be made well in advance. Karnak bus routes serve their own terminals, which are usually in or near the city centres. There are also privately-run bus and microbus services which started recently all over the Syrian Arab Republic. Taxi: Shared taxis are available to all parts of the country. Service taxis (old limousines) run on major routes and cost 50 to 70 per cent more than Karnak buses. Regulations: Speed limits: 20kph (12mph) in the city; 80kph (50mph) on highways. Documentation: International Driving Permit required. Green Cards are not yet accepted in the Syrian Arab Republic. Insurance is required by law and a customs certificate is needed. These are available from touring and automobile clubs.
URBAN: Publicly owned bus services operate in all major towns and cities. Most buses outside the capital, however, have no signs in a European script to indicate destination or stops, which can make travelling rather difficult. Taxis are widely available. Fares should be agreed in advance and according to the meter in the cities.
Travel International
AIR: The Syrian Arab Republic’s national airline is Syrian Arab Airlines (RB) (website: www.syrian-airlines.co.uk). British Mediterranean (a franchise partner of British Airways) operates regular services from London to Damascus and two services to Aleppo.
Approximate flight times: From Damascus to London is six hours and from Aleppo is four-five hours.
International airports: Damascus (DAM), 25km (18 miles) southeast of the city (travel time – 30 to 40 minutes). Two other international airports, Aleppo and Latakia offer connections to Amman and Beirut airports. A bus service runs every 30 mins from 0600-2300. Return is from the city centre. Taxis are available, but it is advisable to negotiate fares beforehand if there is no taxi meter in the cab. Facilities include banking, restaurants/snack bars, duty-free shop and tourist information.
Aleppo (ALP) (Nejrab), 10km (6.5 miles) from the city (travel time – 20 minutes). Bus and taxi services go to the city. Facilities include banking, restaurants/snack bars and tourist information.
Latakia Airport (LTK) is situated 25km (16 miles) from the city. Although there are no scheduled flights serving this airport, some chartered flights run here.
Departure tax: S£200. Children under 10 years of age and transit passengers (continuing their journey within 24 hours and not leaving the customs zone) are exempt.
SEA: The principal ports are Banyas, Latakia and Tartus. The nearest car ferry sails to Bodrum in western Turkey. Beirut (Lebanon), however, is served – from Alexandria, Cyprus and Greece – and Damascus can then be reached in a couple of hours by road. An attractive alternative is to take a ferry either from Italy (Ancona, Brindisi or Venice) or from Greece (Piraeus) and go as far as Turkey (Bodrum, Izmir or Kusadasi). From any of these ports it is easy to join the main road south via Aydin, Dinar, Antalya, and the steep rugged coast through Alanya, Anamur, Mersin, Tarsus, Iskenderun, Antakya, to Aleppo or Latakia. Three days should be allowed for the sea crossing and another three for the drive. Certain lines offer a mixture of cruise and car ferry; the return journey could be made via Bodrum, Heraklion, Rhodes, Santorini and Piraeus. Cruise ferries are organised by Cypriot, Greek, Italian and Turkish companies and their programmes vary year by year. Contact a travel agent for details.
RAIL: Links go via Ankara (Turkey) and Istanbul. Change at Ankara for the Taurus Express to Aleppo.
ROAD: The principal international routes are from Istanbul, via the E5 road to Adana, Ankara and Iskenderun in Turkey. Enter at Bab-al-Hawa for Aleppo, or at Kassab for Latakia. From the south, the best routes are from Aqaba on the Red Sea in Jordan. To enter the Syrian Arab Republic with a car, a customs certificate must be produced; it is obtainable from Automobile Clubs and Touring Clubs against a deposit. Bus: Services are available across the desert, with routes from Aleppo and Damascus to Istanbul; Damascus to Amman; Damascus to Beirut and Tripoli; and Damascus to Riyadh.
Climate: The Syrian Arab Republic’s climate is characterised by hot, dry summers and fairly cold winters. Nights are often cool.
Source: South Travel
Getting Around in Syria
When in Syria, you will have many options of getting around the country. Fares are relatively inexpensive for buses, taxis, and trains. Other alternatives for travel are car rentals, and national flights through the national Airline, Syrian Air.
Trains - Trains are an ideal way to see Syria and get to your planned destination. Service is adequate and timely. Sleepers are available for long trips and all trains are Air Conditioned.
There are routes that run from Damascus - Homs - Hama - Aleppo - Deir Ez Zor - Al Qamishli. There is also a route than runs from Homs to the coastal cities of Tartus - Baniyas - Latakia.
Another route that has been reestablished is the route from Damascus - Dera - and crossing the border and unto Amman, the Capital of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.
Buses and bus transport around Syria, is by far the most convenient method of traveling. At the top end of the scale, bus service is offered by Pullman or Karnak bus companies. These two luxury coaches, provide routes to all major cities. These services usually cost a little more, but the service is quite better than the microbuses. These two services offer refreshments and usually provide a movie for your entertainment. They also provide international travel connecting Syria to its neighbors.
Microbuses and Service buses are more affordable, but a little less comfortable than the elite bus service companies. There are frequent stops and can be overbooked at times. Seating can become sporadic and buses can get crowded rather fast. However, this is an ideal way to meet the local people and witness there customs.
Taxis - Taxis are ideal for traveling within cities. The service is affordable and drivers are always helpful to foreigners. Be sure to read the meter correctly and ensure the driver is not over charging you.
Car Rental - Car rentals are available. Check with the Airport, Hotel or Travel Agent for bookings and reservations. This is a great way to see Syria, since you can make and plan your own schedule. Be sure to have a map and if traveling in the desert, be sure you have extra water, fuel, spare parts and tools. It is even advisable to travel in pairs by taking two cars.
Source: café-syria |
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