guide books

"As you wish" is the response to most questions in Syria, making the LP Guide very necessary. It contains excellent information on rarer sites and ruins along with very good historical information about them.

The hotel information was very helpful since good lodging in Syria can be hard to find. The information on the souks is very good for those that like to shop. Finally in the same vain, their food section was very helpful for different budgets.

The LP Guide is more detailed than the new Neos Guide published by Michelin, but unfortunately the maps are awkward to read in the LP guide and the detail maps to some of the less well traveled sites are not very reliable and the directions are poor. (I searched for a specifically described site near Aleppo for over an hour.) Overall though, it contains very detailed information, which is definately necessary in Syria since one is unable to find such information locally without considerable effort. I would recommend the Neos Guide for an overview and quality maps, and the LP guide for more detailed information. Both guides are necessary for a meaningful and hassle free trip.

I've just arriving from a travel to Syria. I've travelled a lot and I've ever used LP guides. This is one of the best. During my travel in Syria sometimes I had asked to myself: where can I find this, that, those...all the answers, the most weird too, are in this book. During my visit to the dead towns (near Aleppo)the guide wared me about wild dogs. So, you can't believe it, I'll find the dog. The guide don't say how can I save my pour legs...but this was a my problem not of the book. Is like to have a friend with you who knows everything about this country

Having needed to help my guide/driver navigate the backroads of Syria a month ago, I can say with total confidence that Neos Guide is an "Absolute Must Have" book along with the Lonely Planet "Syria". The city maps especially are extemely clear and necessary, the cities and historic sites are well described, and the recomended selection of sites to see, is superior to suggestions offered by local guides. Trust your book, your guide's actual travel experiences may be limited.

Acceptable hotel accomdations are a bit problematic in Syria and the Neos Guide was indespensable; hotel descriptions were accurate, the location maps clear, and the prices as quoted. In the final analysis I was always best off selecting a hotel recommended by Neos.

The section dealing with culture and customs was helpful in avoiding social snafus. The historical section was brief and concise.

This is simpy a excellent and necessary guidebook for the independent traveler to Syria and Jordan, for business or pleasure.