Muscat vs Dubai for November break

[ChasW]

Had a very pleasant November winter break in Dubai last year at the Royal Mirage. I am thinking of Muscat this year. Interested in opinions of people who have sampled both destinations.

[davidbravo]

If you want a very Westernised Gulf state go to Dubai. If you want to experience a country inhabitated by people proud of their country & who like to welcome visitors with open arms, restrained development, incredible countryside, etc etc then try Muscat. It's a great country that moroe and more Brits are discovering - go before it gets spoilt.

[GlenMH]

davidbravo said:

If you want a very Westernised Gulf state go to Dubai. If you want to experience a country inhabitated by people proud of their country & who like to welcome visitors with open arms, restrained development, incredible countryside, etc etc then try Muscat. It's a great country that moroe and more Brits are discovering - go before it gets spoilt.

+1 on all counts. The chavs (and Russians...) have ruined Dubai.

[ChasW]

Thanks for the reassuring comments. I noticed Russians more than Chavs in Dubai and they did not add anything to the ambience!

The travel agant was very helpful telling to avoid Russian half-term etc.

[Old Merc]

We stopped off in Muscat and Khasab during a cruise only spending a day at each place.Fell in love with the place and wished we had stayed much longer.In Muscat we hired a charming taxi driver (about £17 an hour)he loved taking us around HIS!! country and talking about its history (in perfect English)and went out of his way to go to the places WE wanted to see and be our guide.He even had the appropriate dress for my wife in his boot when we visited the main Mosque.At the end of our trip he gave us a free "welcome to Oman" DVD.We have been to Dubai a number of times and found Oman the complete opposite,must go again.