I have stayed at the Carlton before more than once in past years and since then it has improved. By the standards of independent Syrian hotels (i.e. not an international chain with standardized service) the hotel is very good. By international standards it falls down in several ways. For many years heavy sanctions have been imposed on Syria and so it is impossible for them to buy certain modern products and it is also difficult for ordinary local people to travel to Europe and the USA and see how things are done. So you need to accept that you're not getting an international experience here. Maybe they should charge lower prices in that case, because Syrian prices are usually very low..

Anyhow they are busy renovating the 2nd floor of the hotel and the new rooms are very nice. The public areas are pleasant. Most rooms are pretty shabby (although spacious) and they keep them clean. Food in the restaurant has greatly improved, although it is definitely not up to the standard of the food in most ordinary Syrian restaurants, and the menu is always the same because the vast majority of their guests are one night stays in tour groups. But I was happy to eat there several days.

Breakfast is a mixed experience. I don't see why they can't do decent coffee at breakfast. It's really horrible stuff. On the other hand, some days there is a man making flatbreads with a stove - these breads are really nice. On the whole breakfast is very Middle Eastern, with olives, pickles, cheese, eggs, humous, yogurt, halva, sometimes cakes. No fruit, which is crazy because local fruit is really good. And orange squash instead of fruit juice. Duh.

The staff are friendly and try to be helpful specially the guys that clean the rooms. But you will meet a stone wall if you try to get them to do anything about the noise. This is the biggest problem here, because the hotel has a big business catering for local parties and has several function rooms and poor sound insulation. Sometimes noise starts at midnight and goes on till 3.30. AM. The staff have to spend their time fending off irate guests, they can't change anything so don't even try. I used good earplugs but this would be the thing that really put me off coming back here.

It is true that there is nowhere to go for a nice walk, but There are 2 small malls very nearby with Western style shops (if that's what you want) and excellent supermarkets, coffee bars, etc. and the cafe at one of the supermarkets, the Grand, will cook your own fish for you (which you can buy at the supermarkets). You won't find anything similar in the centre of town, or most other locations in Syria. I liked sitting around in the mall and watching the people. The whole area around these malls is up and coming, with modern blocks of flats replacing tumbledown buildings, although there are many interesting (though shabby) areas of old shops and houses just beyond them. The centre of damascus is a short taxi ride away.

The government buildings are still there (in the other direction from the mall) and the armed guards, who are mostly bored stiff and spend their time hanging around with their friends.

There's a good laundry service at the hotel and free wifi in the lobby. The gift shop is open periodically and has more than averagely interesting stuff in it - including some antiques, although nothing in the line of tobacco or sweets. On the whole I didn't mind the Carlton and it has more personality than the chains. Except for the noise.