Frequently Asked Questions

Banks / ATM machines / Credit Cards / US Dollars / Euros:

AMERICANS!  Bring cash.  NO AMERICAN TRAVELERS CHECKS (thank you, George Bush and the Office of Foreign Asset Control –- and there are strange dealings with money transfers due to Dead Enders from the Bush regime.)

Syrian banks will work with foreigners who intend to stay for months.  Don’t expect instantaneous registry of deposits and incoming bank transfers.

I use Arabesk as my bank -- but even they can’t beat the Ghosts of Georgie on travelers checks.  A money changing office near the Souk Hamidiyeh will change travelers checks at a 20% discount -– but that service may change at any time.  In the banks, some clerks speak European languages. Go to a bank recommended by Arabesk.

ATM machines throughout Damascus will deliver cash -– but be aware of charges and unexpected sabotage by US Department of Georgie Dead-Enders.  Undersea cables to Europe sometimes fail -- and this closes down all foreign ATM service.

Before traveling to Syria, Americans and Europeans must tell their credit card companies they will travel in 'the Middle East.' Americans: DO NOT TELL YOUR CREDIT CARD COMPANY YOU WILL TRAVEL IN SYRIA. Tell them, 'the Middle East.' Syrian banks route credit card transactions through other countries.

Always monitor your Syrian cash and deposits –- Syrian Liras have no value outside of Syria.  Never believe you can change your Liras at the airport.  Spend down your Liras, calculate exactly what you need to get out, maybe hold some one, five, ten Euro or US Dollar bills ready to pay if you spend all your Liras.

Americans who work in Syria will be paid in Liras. Do not expect to cash a Syrian check outside of Syria.