A store in Hama that seemed dedicated to Valentine's Day

As you’ve seen in this series, it’s easy to fall in love with alleged ‘bad boy’ country Syria and have the time of your life there—whether you’re a man or a woman.

I did, after all, and  I’m a SWF.

Before you go, though, there are a few things you should know that will help make your first trip a great one.

As awesome as Syria is to visit (cool video here), he does have a few issues you should know about in advance.

Most of these tips are unisex; some are specific to women.

DO…

1. Consider Getting the Visa in Advance

Are you American? If so, you  might want to bite the bullet and do this–even though it’s pricey at $131. While many people are lucky—they wait 2-8 hours at the border, then pay just $30 to $50—some are unlucky are are rejected outright.

I met a couple (in Izzy) who’d tried to enter Syria via Lebanon. They were sent back to Beirut and had to fly one way to Amman—for about $300. They were really disappointed, too. I met other Americans who were turned down.

My best advice is to read travel blogs and see what the current situation is.

2. BYO…I

Bring your own way to get on the Internet—a netbook is ideal—or an iPad, iPhone or some other device that you use to stay connected. You can’t count on the connection at Internet cafes. The good news is that there’s often wifi available at hotels and cafes—and it’s often quite good.

PS: Syria’s mom is a bit weird about the Facebook and Youtube, so don’t be surprised if you can’t access them. But don’t worry—a subversive cousin has come up with some workarounds (eg, proxy IP addresses) for FB. Sometimes adding “s” after “http” is enough to get you on…

3. Stay at Hostels/Backpacker Places

I saw some places that a great value (mid-range quality/low-budget price), but there weren’t any travelers like me there. Just two men sitting at the front desk smoking, with a lot of men and some families were coming  and going. It didn’t feel comfortable to me as a solo female, so I kept looking. Don’t commit to a room unless it feels 100% right.

4. Accept Invitations/Help From Syrians

If someone offers you help, take them up on it. Some people will walk you all the way to your hotel or drive you where you need to go. And if they invite you to their home, you should take them up on it. (Women might want to only accept invitations from women and families—despite low risk in general.)

5. Learn Some Arabic

You should know how to say “hello,” “thank you,” “no thank you” and “how much.”  “I’m married,” and “leave me alone” are good for women to know. And if you learn how to ask “how much,” it’s good to know the numbers so that you can  understand the answers.

Modern Standard Arabic or dialect? That’s up to you.

DON’T…

6.  Talk About the Male Neighbors–Especially Izzy

Syria and his mom (1/2 of the government) get a bit intense if you talk about his neighbors Lebby and Izzy (Jordy’s OK, though.) In fact, you’re really can’t even say Izzy in its full form (see, I learned well—I won’t even use it in a sentence here on my post–LOL).

Most people just call him Disney. It rhymes with Izzy and it’s a good code name. And you want that because if you do say Izzy and someone hears you, Syria’s Mommy gets upset

PS: Don’t attempt to have a date with Syria if you’ve had one with Izzy. Syria’s Daddy (border officials) will get pissy, I can promise you, and you’ll have to go back to Lebby or Jordy. And as you know, it’s never good to go back to an ex.

7. Dress for a Night at a Club

It may seem obvious and a bit of a no-brainer, but it’s not advisable for women to wear spaghetti straps, tank tops or to show cleavage. Syria doesn’t care for provocative or revealing clothing. Remember—he’s not Barcelona or Ibiza!

The reason? He’s just not used to seeing uncovered women. And believe me, even if you’re having a bad hair day or feel bloated or dress like you’re going to the supermarket, he’ll be looking anyway. He can’t help it. And most of the time, there’s no offense intended.

8. Be too friendly

Yes, Syria’s a nice guy, but  he is a guy and if you’re a woman, it’s easy for him to misread a basic smile and think it’s something more. Female travelers shouldn’t be as friendly as they would in a European country. White lying re: being married or engaged is a good idea if you’d like to avoid the attention you’ll get if you ID yourself as single.

9. Worry

It’s a very safe country. Not the kind of place where you have to wear a money belt and hide your money in three places. Having said this, there are some nusiances such as (women) getting too much attention.

Pick pocketing, assault and rape are rare, but a friend of mine from France, waiting for a bus, was approached by a man who tried to kiss her. She backed away and kicked him in the butt!

10. Be Afraid to Have Fun/Party

If you’re in Damascus, a place that’s used to having foreigners, including students, things are a bit liberal. There are a few areas in the Christian Quarter, like LaTumba, where there’s a pretty good party scene going on. That’s where you go if you want a drink. Find some friends at your hostel and have a night out.

How About You?

Have questions about Syria? Just ask. Have a tip to share? Please do. And just want to say, once again, that I highly recommend Syria as a travel destination. Check out the other parts of this series to see why:

Part 1: 1st Date & Still Smitten: Thought he was a ‘bad boy,’ but learned that he was great. Reasons you should considering checking him—Syria—out.

Part 2: Torn Between 2 Husbands: A fun day in which I worked as an extra on a Syrian TV show and had two husbands—and met a famous actor.

Part 3: Juicy Details of My 2nd Date: Experience my trip via a photo essay and vid-style slide show on YouTube. Vicarious thrills guaranteed.

Information about obtaining a visa for entrance to Syria can be found here.

Ummayad Mosque, Damascus

As you read in Part 1 and Part 2 of this series, within just a few days of arriving in Syria, I was pretty smitten with Damascus and then, torn between two…husbands.

I was also torn between staying with there and checking out his slightly conservative brother Aleppo and the rest of the country.

Moving On

I made the tough decision and moved on from the great city—as wonderful as he was—and began my date with Aleppo and all the other great places I could squeeze in.

I was told that he (Aleppo) was “wonderful,”  but also “a bit conservative.” I didn’t care. If it didn’t work out, I could just….move on.

As luck with have it,  I met a traveler from France who’d already dated Aleppo and knew what he was about.

We became friends on the bus and ended up spending the next two days with her and a Armenian friend of hers.

And Aleppo did not disappoint. In fact, it was quite amazing. But there, too, I felt the urge to stray and so, I moved on again.

Aleppo Citadel

So…what was my 2nd date with the rest of the country like?

As awesome as the 1st date, frankly. And so, I’ve combined them into one experience—one date, so to speak—that you can actually be on, vicariously, through my video slide show (found below).

Meanwhile, here  are some adjectives that describe my date with/trip to Syria.

Exciting

It’s not the bad boy reputation, per se, that makes him exciting (although one may feel a slight tingle when crossing the border). It’s more the fact that you’re in…the Middle East. Syria, like his neighbors in the region, has its history, politics and controversies.

And so, actually traveling there (vs merely reading about it), you do initially feel a certain sense of excitement (vs merely reading and wondering about it). You have the chance to see what it is/what it’s about for yourself.

Sweet/Helpful

People in Syria are nice and helpful; on many occasions, I was offered help when I was lost and even accompanied to where i was going. When I met Syrian women on buses, they made sure I got the right taxi. If I asked anyone for directions, they were glad to accommodate.

The boy in this photo took a taxi with me (and went several miles out of his way) to make sure I’d arrived OK at my destination. He also gave me a free Arabic lesson.

Spiritual, etc.

On my date with Syria, I found many way to get in touch with my spiritual side. For those who are religious or simply looking for solitude and reflection, opportunities abound.

An example of a place where you can do all three is Mar Musa Monastery, where you enjoy Arab hospitality in a medieval atmosphere and can do what you’d like in order to find peace. There’s a meditation/service that’s optional and hills nearly where you can hike. Plenty of backpackers go there, as well as Syrians (Christian and Muslim), visit this very welcoming place, which happens to be free (volunteer work is required.)

Generous

The country is so affordable you almost feel like someone else if paying for the date. And as far as those dates go, you can’t beat the dining experience. The food is simply fantastic–whether you’re in hole-in-the-wall spot where the falafel is under $1 or a more upscale spot where you’re getting lamb kebob in cherry sauce (as seen below). It’s all good and you can’t go wrong!

Lamb kebob with cherry sauce, common in Aleppo

Dreamy/Romantic

There’s something romantic about Syria. Whether you’re in a restaurant with a rooftop balcony overlooking gorgeous buildings and mosques or watching the sun set over the horizon, there’s a certain vibe of romance. How about a nice Turkish bath? Sure they’re segregated, but still….they’re quite wonderful

Turkish bath in Damascus

Mysterious

It’s not that he plays hard to get, but rather that there’s so much to him, a lot of it from that past, that you’ll find yourself drawn in by his mysterious side. His history is fascinating (sure, he’s got some baggage, but what country doesn’t?).

Krak des Chevaliers, one of the most important/best preserved crusader castles in the world

Ready to meet Syria?

Come join me, on the Chicky Bus, for a vicarious journey. Fasten your seatbelt because it’s wild ride—and an enjoyable one. Warning, though: the music is so good (bought it in Jordan for $2) that you might start belly dancing and better yet, you could be tempted to buy a ticket to Damascus!

Think you might want to check out alleged ‘bad boy’ Syria?

Then don’t miss the conclusion to this series: SWF in Syria: Tips for a Great Relationship with this Bad Boy. I show you how to make that first trip a great one—and how to deal with some of Syria’s issues (eg, his jealousy of his cousins Lebby and Izzy. )

Do you have any questions about travel to Syria? If you do, feel free to post them in the Comments section. I’ll be sure to answer them in the conclusion.