Is Palmyra doable as a day from Homs right now, or is that a fantasy. I have two nights and I do not want to sleep out there if the road is a maybe.

I based in Homs two nights and did Palmyra as a day. Minibus from Homs south, about three hours, a lot of checkpoints. Spent maybe five hours walking the ruins and the castle. Almost nobody else there. Back toward Homs in daylight. I would not sleep in Palmyra.

Damascus to Palmyra and back in one day is a long sit. We did Damascus + Palmyra over 48 hours with a driver. Different trip.

Someone told us: in Homs go to the public relations office (they have English on the 2nd floor) and ask if the road is a yes that morning. Start early, be on the way back by 3pm. Rental plus fuel was roughly $60 if you have a Syrian who can drive.

I used Farah buses between cities, sign is in English, they put you on the seat. For Palmyra I would still want a driver who has done the desert road this week, not a bus timetable from 2010.