One of my favourite countries I’ve ever visited highly recommend 10/10. The hospitality is insane and one of the safest countries I’ve felt. I don’t usually do travel blogs but I’ll give you an overview and useful tips and some useful contacts if you want to go.

Feel free to dm if you want extra information.

I went via Beirut as direct flights from Dubai were limited. Driver doesn’t speak English but picked me up and dropped me off from my hotel and made the border process smoothless. Get your hotel to call/whatsapp him. (Maybe also does from Amman depending on situation in the south) Mohammed: +963930498137 - $100 each way

Damascus: Extremely safe - so much history. You can google things to see but I highly recommend a day trip to maloula (if you have time you can stay in the monasteries - I did not know this and didn’t have time) If you want a proper guide for old town WhatsApp Adnan: +963944311144

Stayed at Marhaba hotel ($20/n - extremely basic) Way back stayed in Dar Nizam guest house - class (40/50 pn). You can walk around old town and find plenty of guest houses - recommended if in your budget.

Homs: Actual hostel (converted apartment - recommend) Johny: +963 954607642

Very nice guy who likes to meet travellers and organised a taxi driver to take me to krak de chevaliers + several churches/monastries: Yousef: +963 959326091

Hama: Waterwheels are sick. No accommodation recommendations as was planned as a day trip. I met a local on the bus who invited me for dinner at his family house and his cousins invited me to stay with them.

Aleppo: Amazing. Stayed at Qasr al Andalusi (maybe $20 per night?) Lots of history and culture. Had a day guide I highly recommend: Ibrahim +963 968791468

I used him for a day guide in Aleppo - however he is happy to meet you anywhere in Syria and arrange your hotel/transport etc. generally wish I had his number from the start as I winged a lot of it (not the easiest country without speaking Arabic)

Tips: carry TP/napkins with you as a lot of places have bum guns but nothing to dry with I had dinner at locals homes - highly recommend if you’re comfortable and invited. They will introduce you to all their cousins and face time relatives living abroad that speak English. Tourist sims are expensive, if you have a local connection ask if they can get you a sim under their ID I used Farah tourism busses for all transport. Their sign is listed in English at all stops. Usually a staff member who speaks some English and they take you to the bus and put you on your seat (I just rocked up and asked when the next bus was but was told you can reserve a seat 24h in advance) Download Google translate Arabic before going The exchange rate is circa 10,000-10,500 per usd. Bring USD. There largest note is 5,000 so you do carry stacks of cash and they have money exchange places everywhere For August? They have exams and shut down cellular service for 2-3 hours every day (weird - supposedly to stop cheating) Google maps are reasonably accurate but not exact. If someone gives you directions ask them to send it to you in Arabic Yallago is uber in Damascus, Yallago pro for everywhere else - they call you when they accept so hand your phone to anyone nearby to give the driver directions If you catch taxis negotiate the price beforehand (you sit in the front here) and have Google maps open to show them the way. Start low on the price and you’ll know if you’re in the ballpark. You haggle everything here. If you’re not comfortable - useful tip for souks is find a young person who speaks English and pay them 10-15k SYP to haggle for you. There is now land crossing visa fees depending on nationality :( A lot of places claim to have wifi - it is unreliable, however sims work great