Cheapest way to land in Syria?

[sidshock]

I am anything but a travel guru.
I have a friend who I have not seen in 10+ years who lives in Syria.
I would LOVE to visit him. anytime in Sept/Oct/Nov is good, if I can find a cheap flight.
Traveling to one place and then taking a train or something into another to save $$ is fine.

Any place I can look to find a deal to get to Syria and back cheap?

I am in Toronto, and I can fly pretty much anywhere out of Ontario and Buf airport.

The cheapest I seem to have found through some search engines is $1300 approx with return. Would be there about 10 days.

Is this a fair price? Or can I land a smoking deal???
I've been seeing those european deals of about $550 or so by flying to one destination, and leaving from another.
Would anything as such apply to Syria??

[castor]

There's a civil war currently going on in Syria. Are you aware of the risk involved in such a trip? Do you speak Arabic at least?

[Simaahoy]

Royal Jordanian Air goes there from Amman, but you have to find a flight to Jordan. Emirates is an easier option, as they have flights out of yyz to Damascus via dubai.

I don't not think that Syria is somewhere suitable to visit at this time imo. If you watch or pay attention to the news you would know what I mean.

[eiad77]

Keep in mind the Visa fee is about $80, or it was when I was there in 2009. Also, are they even letting foreigners into Syria right now?

[kaycee8877]

Might want to check the news website, before you check the travel website ;)

http://www.voyage.gc.ca/countries_pays/report_rapport-eng.asp?id=283000

Avoid all travel
Canadians in Syria should leave now by commercial means while these are still available
Canadian embassy closed



but hey, i hate when all the chickens rag on mexican violence, so who am i to judge ;)

[whampoa]

Out of Africa Syria

[sidshock]

Oh, I'm well aware of the political situation.

The issue is, this is a friend I grew up with since I was 8 yrs old to the time I was about 24. He is literally a brother from another mother as the expression goes. :)

He might actually die, and I may never see him again because of these issues going on there right now. He is actually one of those that is against organized religion himself and believes organized religion is all about power struggles.

Anyways, he is also a very fortunate person on knowing the right people and being in a good location ( as good as it gets there I guess ).

So while it may be very dangerous, it is very hard for me to not see him at least one more time in my life.

Any no, sadly, I do not speak any arabic.

The only thing I can have going for me, when and if I go there, is a deep tan, and a beard, as silly as it may sound...

[gibguitar]

You have to be kidding, right? Do people simply not have the scruples to have a responsibility for their own safety?
This reminds me of those dumb U.S. hikers who went and got themselves kidnapped in Iran.
Do you want to go yachting with Somalian pirates, too?

[whampoa]

Oh, I'm well aware of the political situation.

The issue is, this is a friend I grew up with since I was 8 yrs old to the time I was about 24. He is literally a brother from another mother as the expression goes. :)

He might actually die, and I may never see him again because of these issues going on there right now. He is actually one of those that is against organized religion himself and believes organized religion is all about power struggles.

Anyways, he is also a very fortunate person on knowing the right people and being in a good location ( as good as it gets there I guess ).

So while it may be very dangerous, it is very hard for me to not see him at least one more time in my life.

Any no, sadly, I do not speak any arabic.

The only thing I can have going for me, when and if I go there, is a deep tan, and a beard, as silly as it may sound...

Of all the excuses to go into a war zone. This must be the dumbest or close to it.

[sidshock]

You have to be kidding, right? Do people simply not have the scruples to have a responsibility for their own safety?
This reminds me of those dumb U.S. hikers who went and got themselves kidnapped in Iran.
Do you want to go yachting with Somalian pirates, too?


Of all the excuses to go into a war zone. This must be the dumbest or close to it.

There are those that believe in self-preservation only, and there are those willing to do more within their limits.

One persons feeling or reason, even if different from yours, does not have to be "dumb".

It's just a different value.

Why don't all the canadian passport holders in Syria just leave and give up their Country for their own safety?
Come back to Canada, have all your rights and freedoms. Get some gov't assistance. Just because this is RFD, doesn't mean you should not have any values in your heart, and do whatever it takes, and harm whoever it takes at no matter what cost, as long as it doesn't harm you, to get the best deal.

[Simaahoy]

Oh, I'm well aware of the political situation.

The issue is, this is a friend I grew up with since I was 8 yrs old to the time I was about 24. He is literally a brother from another mother as the expression goes. :)

He might actually die, and I may never see him again because of these issues going on there right now. He is actually one of those that is against organized religion himself and believes organized religion is all about power struggles.

Anyways, he is also a very fortunate person on knowing the right people and being in a good location ( as good as it gets there I guess ).

So while it may be very dangerous, it is very hard for me to not see him at least one more time in my life.

Any no, sadly, I do not speak any arabic.

The only thing I can have going for me, when and if I go there, is a deep tan, and a beard, as silly as it may sound...


Why after all these years you would want to see him? Go ahead if you want, some international flights still go there, but again Canadian embassy is closed in the country and if you get into trouble don't expect any help.:-0

[sidshock]

With the above said, I appreciate everyone else warnings, and awareness in concern for my safety with the exception of gibguitar and Whompa's postings.

That's what I like about RFD, always some good info.

Anyways, back on topic. I am still looking for the best deal for a there and back trip.
Also, where ever I may go through to save some money, I can't have an Israeli Stamp in my passport, or I will be refused admittance into Syria as well. I think also a Jordanian stamp is an issue? Or do they issue the same Israeli Stamps? I need to research this more.

[sidshock]

Why after all these years you would want to see him? Go ahead if you want, some international flights still go there, but again Canadian embassy is closed in the country and if you get into trouble don't expect any help.:-0

I'm aware of this also. ( Embassy closure )

We still keep in good contact. He sends me pics of his family and so on. Honestly, is like a brother to me. Feels much more of a brother to me than my actual REAL brother. It's hard to explain. If I could I would. I am going to see if he is able to go to Dubai to meet up for a week as an alternative.

[gibguitar]

One persons feeling or reason, even if different from yours, does not have to be "dumb".

And how exactly do you plan to locate this person or even travel through the country without knowing the native tongue? Unless you're GI Joe, there's nothing you can do for this person besides encourage them to flee the country. I can almost guarantee you that you will wind up trapped in Syria until the situation resolves itself, especially since the Canadian embassy is closed. You may as well save some money and buy a one-way ticket. You will encounter extreme difficulties trying to leave the country.

[eiad77]

With the above said, I appreciate everyone else warnings, and awareness in concern for my safety with the exception of gibguitar and Whompa's postings.

That's what I like about RFD, always some good info.

Anyways, back on topic. I am still looking for the best deal for a there and back trip.
Also, where ever I may go through to save some money, I can't have an Israeli Stamp in my passport, or I will be refused admittance into Syria as well. I think also a Jordanian stamp is an issue? Or do they issue the same Israeli Stamps? I need to research this more.

You can have a Jordanian stamp, you just can't have a Jordanian (or Egyptian) stamp from a land border crossing with Israel. I have heard of people successfully requesting their passport not be stamped when they enter Israel for this reason, but it probably depends on the border agent.

[sidshock]

And how exactly do you plan to locate this person or even travel through the country without knowing the native tongue? Unless you're GI Joe, there's nothing you can do for this person besides encourage them to flee the country. I can almost guarantee you that you will wind up trapped in Syria until the situation resolves itself, especially since the Canadian embassy is closed. You may as well save some money and buy a one-way ticket. You will encounter extreme difficulties trying to leave the country.

He would meet me at the airport or entry point.
He is not "wanted".
Just not liked by some religious factions.

[Firebot]

I'm aware of this also. ( Embassy closure )

We still keep in good contact. He sends me pics of his family and so on. Honestly, is like a brother to me. Feels much more of a brother to me than my actual REAL brother. It's hard to explain. If I could I would. I am going to see if he is able to go to Dubai to meet up for a week as an alternative.

You seriously underestimate what is going on in Syria if you think he can simply get out of the country that easily. For sure it would be easier for him to meet you in a different country but realize it can cost both of your lives. Syria is a war zone and many countries will turn syrian citizens away rather then accept a potential refugee. You should help him get out, not try to meet for a friendly coffee at the worst possible time simply because of your own selfishness that you must meet him now.

http://www.syria-today.com/index.php/business/20093-going-through-hell

[pablonutribar]

You seriously underestimate what is going on in Syria if you think he can simply get out of the country that easily. For sure it would be easier for him to meet you in a different country but realize it can cost both of your lives. Syria is a war zone and many countries will turn syrian citizens away rather then accept a potential refugee. You should help him get out, not try to meet for a friendly coffee at the worst possible time simply because of your own selfishness that you must meet him now.

http://www.syria-today.com/index.php/business/20093-going-through-hell

+1 You sound like kind of an idiot mate. Speaking as someone who has been to Syria a few times, and who is still in regular contact with a certain Syrian there, I can tell you it is NO PICNIC. She just told me last week that her family is scared to go outside, as three or four people were killed in her neighbourhood last week. In fact, the last time I talked to her, she was scared as hell - the army had surrounded her family's (upscale) district in Damascus (the safest place in Syria at the moment!) and were preparing to invade it.




The only thing I can have going for me, when and if I go there, is a deep tan, and a beard, as silly as it may sound...

This just shows how ignorant you are to the situation in Syria. SYRIA IS NOT IRAQ OR AFGHANISTAN. There are plenty of clean-cut, blonde-haired Syrians - you don't have to go dirka dirka to fit in there. :facepalm:

If you're still insistent on going to that area - meet your friend in Beirut. Apparently Beirut is still relatively sane (at the moment anyhow).

To be honest, I'm not even sure the Syrian authorities will let you into the country when you arrive.....They're ornery pricks on a good day at immigration there...

[sidshock]

You seriously underestimate what is going on in Syria if you think he can simply get out of the country that easily. For sure it would be easier for him to meet you in a different country but realize it can cost both of your lives. Syria is a war zone and many countries will turn syrian citizens away rather then accept a potential refugee. You should help him get out, not try to meet for a friendly coffee at the worst possible time simply because of your own selfishness that you must meet him now.

http://www.syria-today.com/index.php/business/20093-going-through-hell

He's a Canadian citizen born in Canada. He can leave there quite easily. But his family is Syrian. I do not know how that situation can work. ( ie: does it make his wife and children eligible for Citizenship in Canada? -Probably. But will Syria let them leave in these times? I don't know )
He's also in a better part of Syria not directly affected by the war zones.

[sidshock]

+1 You sound like kind of an idiot mate. Speaking as someone who has been to Syria a few times, and who is still in regular contact with a certain Syrian there, I can tell you it is NO PICNIC. She just told me last week that her family is scared to go outside, as three or four people were killed in her neighbourhood last week. In fact, the last time I talked to her, she was scared as hell - the army had surrounded her family's (upscale) district in Damascus (the safest place in Syria at the moment!) and were preparing to invade it.



This just shows how ignorant you are to the situation in Syria. SYRIA IS NOT IRAQ OR AFGHANISTAN. There are plenty of clean-cut, blonde-haired Syrians - you don't have to go dirka dirka to fit in there. :facepalm:

If you're still insistent on going to that area - meet your friend in Beirut. Apparently Beirut is still relatively sane (at the moment anyhow).

To be honest, I'm not even sure the Syrian authorities will let you into the country when you arrive.....They're ornery pricks on a good day at immigration there...

Yes, I am ignorant. That is why I am gathering information.
thank you for pointing that out. I never said I would go full on Dirka Dirka.... (thank you South Park )
I know for a fact, some muslim cultures REQUIRE you to have a beard. I never said anything regarding hair colour. The kind of weather they have there would very much mean blonde, brunette, etc would be a little darker than your average Joe from Canada, and might in fact, help blend in.
Please don't graze over what I wrote quickly because of it being a short statement and respond to it as ignorance.

As for the informative part of your post, after that tasty insult, I will look into Beirut.


Look, I appreciate the informative parts of these posts here. But why must they be littered with: you're and F'ing moron, you're an idiot, etc.. etc...
Really, I get that it may be something you would never do. But if someone is willing, why not arm them with some knowledge and let them decide?
If you had a horrible experience, please, share that if you feel you'd like to, and if you feel it would help me see your side of why you feel this idea is not worth going, etc... I totally respect that.
But please, don't sit there, and fan a bunch of insulting horse sh*t at me, and then, maybe, toss a bone that might be worth some good info my way. Not only will this agitate me, and want to respond negatively to you. But it will also negate your positive information in the post, which, could really be helpful.

[Simaahoy]

I would suggest, you stay out of Syria for now. Around Aleppo as well as in Idlib area (both near the Turkish border) there is shelling, shooting, explosions, I have been told kidnapping, abductions (for money or simply people disappearing is rampant right now not only in Aleppo but all over Syria, so this is really a bad, time. Moreover, electricity, internet, telephone lines keep getting cut or at least interrupted for hours and sometimes days on end.
I really have no idea anymore which border is safe for leaving Syria. At the Lebanese border there are Hezbollah waiting to kidnap Syrians, at the Turkish border sometimes refugees are followed by shelling and shooting from helicopters, at the Jordananian border crossing tehre has been shooting, at the Iraqi border again abductions....
Anyway, I believe, nobody on Lonely planet will be able to give any helpful advice to this question, since Syrians do not really seem to use Lonely planet.
Keep watching the news, some people believe, the Syrian regime is on it's last legs, I read one rumour that Assad is already in Lattakia (ready to escape??), so hopefully there will be some change soon and then we will all be able to return to visiting this lovable country and survey the damage done to it over the past year.
Until then- take the boat from Mardin to Tripoli (may not be very safe either...) or Alexandria or fly. : )

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/thread.jspa?threadID=2145597&start=150