Sheraton Aleppo is your standard five-star fare - a warm comfy room (very important in cold, cold Aleppo), king-sized bed, usual English channels on cable TV (read: BBC but interestingly no CNN), 24-hour restaurant where breakfast buffet is served, coffee and tea-making facilities, etc.
But there is more to like here: the rooms are larger than usual 5-star (it feels like it) and the Filipino chef at their Asian restaurant Ikebana would give you complimentary sushi if you're nice to him (the sushi was not bad for the only Japanese restaurant in town). Service is also attentive and friendly, although they could have more English-speaking concierge (it was a bit strange for an international hotel chain without an English-speaking concierge on duty when I needed some assistance, and it was 11 AM). Check-in was quick and they even gave me a room at one of the more exclusive floors (4th and 5th).
I also liked their pub - Piccadilly - yes, it's their version of an English pub. Good place to hang out for some drinks and fraternize with well-educated, well-bred locals (even if they're a tad tipsy).
And if you're lucky (and care about Arab superstars), you might spot some celebrities like Egyptian singing sensation Tamer Hosny who had a show at the hotel.
Overall, I wouldn't mind staying here again. The hotel is barely a year-old having opened only in February 2007 - so everything is new, faultless and functioning, including the heating system - a welcome treat after braving Aleppine winter for a day's sightseeing.
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Theme: Hotel
Comparison: more expensive than average
Prices: US$80-120
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Phone: 963-21-2121111
Address: Al Khandaq Street, P.O. Box 13964, Aleppo, Syria
Directions: Sandwiched at the intersection where the old city overlaps Al Jdeida and the 'modern' downtown area in Bab al-Faraj, location is one of Sheraton's best assets.