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About Us

Posted by Raymond Gordon | Filed under Pages | Jan 10, 2009No Comments »

The Story of Damascus Hostel
Having retired and after living in Australia for nearly forty years I began making lengthy visits to my country of origin in the Middle East. I found it difficult to find good, clean accommodation at a reasonable price, especially in the Old City of Damascus. I was overawed with the ancient and diverse cultural aspects of this amazing city so I bought a house as a place to stay for occasions when I planned to visit Damascus with my family. I found the old house, built into a turret in the old wall of the city, too big and felt the need to experience hostel-type accommodation similar to when my daughter Natalie went to university in Perth, Australia, (she used to bring her friends to stay over ). This led us to start accommodation for foreign students in Perth, Australia and is what I was aiming for when I started Damascus Hostel in mid-2007.

Tourists began asking to stay and, to answer the demand, we began a type of Bed & Breakfast which eventually evolved into our guest hostel as it is today.

Before retiring I spent some 30 years travelling on business in South East Asia and the Far East. I used to spend 2-3 months a year away from home. I did not enjoy my stay at the hotels. I noted the things I would have liked to have had at those hotels and I included these in my Hostel. From experience, when landing in a foreign country and being unable to speak, read or write the language, every bit of information helps. That is what we try to give you: information to make your stay in Syria a pleasant one.

I was born in Haifa, Palestine and forcibly moved to Nablus in 1948 when war broke out. Nablus later became part of the West Bank of Jordan. After graduating year 12, I went to live and work in Kuwait in 1965. That is a story for another day and is the topic of a book in progress. After the 1967 war I could not return to Nablus and visit my family so I emigrated to Australia and my family, which now numbers over 50, followed. I studied electrical engineering at Adelaide University while working for BHP.

Soon after, I settled in Perth, Western Australia where I started my business in fashion and accessories for women which became one of the top ten in Australia. I was forced to sell the business in the late 1980s due to ill health caused by undiagnosed sleep apnea. In the late 1990’s I regained my health and made regular trips to my country of origin. I discovered a suitable house in the Old City which is today’s Damascus Hostel.
Welcome to Damascus Hostel, we trust you will enjoy your stay with us,

Raymond

Hotels de Charm in Old CityWe are the alternative
There are a number of boutique style hotels in the Old City. These provide specialty accommodation, the ultimate in charm and luxury at prices not everyone can afford. Check out some of these hotels:Beit al Mamlouka, Beitzaman, Beitruman, Talisman Hotel, Oriental Hotel.

Since we started our Hostel for students we soon discovered a big demand for reasonably priced rooms in the Old City. Therefore we changed from students to a mix of students and tourists. We provide accommodation that is comfortable, clean and affordable.

We have, at the Hostel, a CPAP machine for loan free to guests with sleep apnoea in case yours isn’t working. Visit www.sleep-cap.com

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