A wonderful hotel in an AMAZING city. Anyone who hasnt been - get to Damascus now! The Talisman is in a quieter part of the old city, but only 5 mins walk from the hustle and bustle of the busy area. The pool area is great and the rooms are supremely comfortable. Truthfully, I found the staff indifferent and not particularly helpful when asked about the local area. This is perhaps reflected in a pretty mediocre service culture in Syria - dont get me wrong, the people are the friendliest ever, but service is not a huge thing. This has its plus points - I bet you Damascus is the only place in the middle east where you can wonder into a carpet shop, look at amazing carpets, and not have one person come up to demand a sale. I called into the Beit al Malmoula (?) - its style is much more cozy than the rather formal Talisman and I hear that its great as well.

I stayed here with my family in October (i.e. not so long ago). They just finished renovating the hotel 2 weeks before we got there (they had apparently not renovated the whole place before... I think).

Anyway, I would HIGHLY RECOMMEND the hotel. The service is unbelievable, the place is beautiful, gorgeous, breathtaking (you feel like you're an Arabian princess (if you're a girl) and sometimes, at nights, you feel like just lazying away there (if you have company traveling with you, that is)).

When you get there you think "dude, where have I arrived, am I not paying a fair amount for a room?" The door is unmarked, and it's in a small narrow alley. The experience when they open the door is awesome though. You're like WOW I did NOT think this happened anywhere but in MOVIES. This is especially if you get there at night. You're like, wow, the tiny doors open up to a palace and you're like WOW!

Each of the rooms are decorated a little differently. It has all the luxuries of a 5 star hotel, and all the local charm of a Damascene house. I've heard Beit ul Mamlouka is nice too, but the prices here are better (I know Beit ul Mamlouka's prices but haven't seen the place). I WOULD HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT!

I stayed in the Talisman with my husband and 2 children (7 and 16) for two weeks in June. It is a special hotel: the rooms are very big, well-equipped, and beautifully furnished. The small pool in the tranquil courtyard is lovely, clean and refreshing. And you can walk from the hotel to a number of delicious resturants that are themselves in recently renovated Ottoman houses. The hotel staff are also very friendly and kind.