Cash or card at hostels in Syria

Here’s the deal with Syria: every hostel and guesthouse you stay in will want cash, no exceptions. Places like Al Rabie in Damascus and Beit Wakil in Aleppo will expect you to pay in USD, euros, or Syrian pounds. ATMs don’t connect with international banks, so your Visa or Mastercard won’t work anywhere. My advice: calculate your budget, bring cash in dollars or euros, and exchange gradually as needed. It might feel old-school, but that’s the only way to pay for hotel here right now.

When I travelled in Syria, I thought maybe some hotels would take cards-nope. Stayed at Al Rabie in Damascus and they laughed when I asked. Cash only, in Syrian pounds or USD. Same thing at a guesthouse I used in Homs. I had to bring USD with me and change some into local currency. ATMs don’t accept foreign cards, so don’t even bother trying. It felt a bit inconvenient carrying all that cash, but that’s the reality here-cards just don’t exist as an option.

I stayed at Al Rabie in Damascus and Beit Wakil in Aleppo, and while both only took cash, I honestly didn’t mind. The owners were incredibly welcoming, and they helped me figure out the exchange process for Syrian pounds. I carried USD and paid for my stay upfront in cash. Once I planned for it, everything ran smoothly. You really don’t need to stress as long as you bring dollars or euros. The hostels themselves were fantastic, full of character and history-it was worth working around the cash-only system.

In Syria right now, cards are completely useless. Hostels, guesthouses, and even larger hotels in Damascus or Aleppo only take cash. Due to sanctions, international cards don’t work at ATMs or machines. I stayed at Al Rabie Hotel in Damascus, which was great value, but they wanted payment upfront in cash, either Syrian pounds or USD. The same happened in Aleppo at Beit Wakil-cash only. Bring enough USD or euros and exchange locally. Don’t expect to pay for your hostel with card-it won’t happen.