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Guidelines for Visitors
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Arriving in Aleppo The Airport The passport and currency regulations at Aleppo airport are identical to those in Damascus. Aleppo airport is smaller than its counterpart in Damascus, but in general going through customs and passport control rarely takes more than 30 minutes. Getting to Town An ICARDA staff member usually meets visitors at Aleppo airport and takes them to their accommodation. In the unlikely event when there is no one from ICARDA to meet you, please call Mr. Mohamed Zeitoun in the Visitors Section. On the other hand, taxis provide reliable and economic conveyance to town and most taxi drivers are familiar with the Center's in-town hostels and the principal hotels. The fare from the airport to the town in Aleppo should not exceed SYP200. The drive from the airport to the city rarely takes more than 20 minutes. Whether arriving by air from abroad or car from Damascus, do not go to ICARDA's Tel Hadya headquarters after 3:00p.m. The ICARDA Guest House in Aleppo The ICARDA Guest House in Aleppo has fully-furnished bedrooms. A receptionist/operator is on-duty 24 hours to answer questions, place local and international phone calls, and provide assistance in general. Food services are available at ICARDA Guest House. Hotels Visitors are sometimes accommodated in hotels in Aleppo when the ICARDA Guest House is fully occupied. Aleppo utilizes four international class hotels: The Chahba Cham, the Pullman Chahba, the Mirage (former Amir Palace), and the Planet hotel. The Chahba Cham is Aleppo's newest (5-star) hotel, and is equipped with a modern swimming pool, a restaurant and a discothèque. The Pullman Chahba (4-star) has a restaurant serving both western and local dishes, a pizzeria and a café, as well as a discothèque in the evening. The Mirage and Planet hotels (4-stars) are centrally located in the heart of downtown Aleppo, just a few minutes away from the covered souks, and have the same facilities as the other two hotels, except the swimming pool. In Aleppo, the medium-priced hotels are Tourism and Baron; and the most recent and old style motels/restaurants of Zamaria (Martini), Beit Al-Wakil and Tourath Haouse. The latter three motels/restaurants are located in the oldest part of Aleppo. Click here to see phone numbers. Restaurants No visit to Aleppo is complete without a meal in one of the city's many excellent restaurants. During the summer Aleppeans like nothing more than spending an evening over a relaxed meal at an outdoor restaurant in the company of family and friends. Among the most popular outdoor restaurants are La Palma, Al Etihad, Al Hourrieh, Al-Farouk, Romano and Touring Club. Other restaurants with both indoor and outdoor facilities are Sissi House, El Yasmine House, Al-Qantara, Kasr El-Wali, Grand House, Wannes, Al-Shallal, as well as the restaurants in the Pullman Chahba, Chahba Cham, The Mirage and Beit Al-Wakil hotels. Renting a car You can rent a car both in Damascus and Aleppo. To drive in Syria you must have a valid International Driver's License. Communication Long distance phone calls can be made from ICARDA offices in Damascus and Aleppo. Although Arabic is the national language, many Syrians can communicate in French and English. If you get lost For many coming to a new country for the first time, it is difficult to quickly find one's bearings. An unrelenting flow of new sights, sounds and smells keeps all the senses busy, and can sometimes be overwhelming. We hope the information in this pamphlet will be useful during your visit to Syria, but it is impossible to foresee every need or situation that might arise. What one quickly learns, though, is to never underestimate the readiness and willingness of Syrian people to help, to provide information and to smooth your way. Hospitality, a basic theme in Syrian culture, is taken very seriously. This applies to the city dweller as much as to the farmer or shepherd. Where this pamphlet falls short, the people of Syria step in. If ever in doubt, if ever confused or lost or simply curious, do not hesitate to ask. You won't be disappointed. If you feel unwell Should you feel unwell, help is close at hand. Syria has many well-trained doctors specializing in every conceivable field of medicine. While you should contact ICARDA Visitors Section personnel at once, the hotels in Aleppo and Damascus have doctors on call 24 hours a day. ICARDA staff in Aleppo rely on the skills of its Medical Consultant, Dr. Ammar Talas, who may be reached at 2238228 / 2228738 (hospital) during normal working hours and at all other times at his mobile (093 26 26 28). |
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