A wonderful restaurant with a beautiful view. The service was excellent and the dishes very delicious. They offer oriental food as well as “western” food. We had fattousch (bread salad), spaghetti, calamaris, onion rings and many other things. Every time we drank from our water glasses, someone came and refilled it immediately. In the end, they brought us some fruits (sliced on a plate) and chocolate. Very clean bathrooms. We were 4 persons and paid about 2100 Lira, I believe. The main dishes there cost about 100 Lira. It is a quite noble and expensive restaurant for the Syrians, but for us Europeans, it was cheap. I would always go back there, if I was in Aleppo again.
But you have to pay cash, no credit cards or so.

This review concentrates on the business lounge, rather than the airport itself to which I only make light comments.

The entrance is basic and might cause frustration for those seeking assistance and/or airline offices. Security is friendly and good, and once checked-in you quickly pass through customs and up the escalator to the departures/transit area, where the business lounge is situated.

I have used the lounge in the past by paying for the pleasure, but this time I am flying business class with Emirates and so received a "free" invitation. The lounge services customers from a number of airlines including Etihad, Emirates, Gulf Air and Air France.

There are a few internet-enabled computers available, a seated TV area, basic refreshments and very basic snacks, comfortable seating (but not good if you plan on sleeping).

The lounge operators, while friendly and helpful, do not seem overly professional or courteous. I had to ask several times for the password to the WiFi, and press them when the incorrect password was supplied. I was told I could use the desktop computers, but that is not helpful when you need to connect your own portable computer for whatever reason. Eventually the correct password was discovered and shared with me, although I felt like I had been annoying by asking for it.

When compared to an Emirates lounge at Birmingham (for example) this lounge falls far short of expectation and delivery of service. The cafe in the general area seems better stocked and with more attentive staff.

Business class travel is not cheap, and business travellers have expectations of what is normal in a restricted-access departure lounge: helpful and courteous staff who appreciate you may be tired or pre-occupied, a range of hot and cold drinks, a small range of foods that can accommodate most types of diet (vegetarian, Muslim, gluten-free, etc.)

In context with the rest of the airport the lounge is acceptable and comfortable. When taken out of the Syrian context, it falls a little short of expectation and requirement.

I've stayed here three times over the past two years and it is definitely improving: free WiFi and 'coffee shop' in the lobby, refurbished rooms with nice fittings and good bathrooms.

And I appreciate things have been difficult for Syria in recent times.

BUT, this is not a Four Star hotel. I am not a travel writer (I am a geologist as you know) but I have stayed in many hotels all over the world and I know what a four star hotel should be like. The breakfast is extremely limited (no fruit, no cereal, very basic). Dining choices are limited and the ambiance is seriously lacking if one assumes four star standards.

For an honest, three star hotel I would give it the thumbs up. It is still undergoing renovation, so I heartily applaud the owners for making such a good effort. Keep going, and this will be a sure favourite with travellers and businessmen in years to come.

Nice little hotel in the old part of Damascus, with good access to the christian quarter and the main shopping areas, souk, citadel, etc. Friendly staff and comfortable spacious rooms, all seemed to be unique.

This is a decent hotel in Aleppo, Syria. The staff speak reasonable English. Internet access if free. The rooms are average by UK standards, but pretty good by theirs. They are certainly cleaned every day. TV is pretty dire so take a book or two. Just outside the hotel is a cashpoint which is very useful and if you turn left out of the hotel then first left at the end of the building, there is a great little shop which is like a UK corner shop but the prices are very fair and you can get most things. You can drink at the bar but I would advise canned beer not the draught. They do an excellent steak in the restaurant. All in all a pleasant stay.

The name palmyra comes from palmeraie (palm grove): the town is an oasis in the middle of the desert. You can find miles of Greco-Roman ruins as is merchants have been kept away outside of it, a must-see during a trip to Syria, even though the only access is by road:
three hours from Damas. I would recommand a guide for the trip.
PS: As with le Crac des Chevaliers, the town’s name on Qype is not right but the location is.