Lonely Planet Review

You don't really come for the spartan rooms (which while spotlessly clean, come with little more than a fan and air-conditioning: these are budget rooms at mid-range prices unfortunately) but the hotel's string of services, which is a big pull for many travellers. Reception staff are one-stop tourist information shops. They're multilingual, can organise tours, make travel arrangements, book a driver, and organise airport pick-ups. Owner Mohammed Ali, a former pilot, can often be found in the hotel's cafe and majlis - a highlight of the hotel, with ornate ceiling, Oriental lamps, traditional kilims, and brocade curtains - and is happy to share his knowledge of Syria with travellers. There's also lots of travel information in reception, along with a small library of books to borrow and a guests' notice board.