Muscat, Oman. Anyone Been?
Discussion
I've was flicking through Trip Advisor, looking for somewhere sunny and warm to travel to for a week or so in November and I stumbled upon Muscat, Oman.
I'd like to visit The Gulf but I really don't fancy Dubai. Muscat seems to be a bit more laid back.
Has anyone been there recently? Any views or tips you would like to pass on?
I'm thinking of staying at the Shangri La Al Waha Resort And Spa. Anyone been there?
TIA
I'd like to visit The Gulf but I really don't fancy Dubai. Muscat seems to be a bit more laid back.
Has anyone been there recently? Any views or tips you would like to pass on?
I'm thinking of staying at the Shangri La Al Waha Resort And Spa. Anyone been there?
TIA
Blib said:
I've was flicking through Trip Advisor, looking for somewhere sunny and warm to travel to for a week or so in November and I stumbled upon Muscat, Oman.
I'd like to visit The Gulf but I really don't fancy Dubai. Muscat seems to be a bit more laid back.
Has anyone been there recently? Any views or tips you would like to pass on?
I'm thinking of staying at the Shangri La Al Waha Resort And Spa. Anyone been there?
TIA
The Omani's are a very warm & friendly people. The country has great scenary & has real character unlike most of the Emirates.I'd like to visit The Gulf but I really don't fancy Dubai. Muscat seems to be a bit more laid back.
Has anyone been there recently? Any views or tips you would like to pass on?
I'm thinking of staying at the Shangri La Al Waha Resort And Spa. Anyone been there?
TIA
I'd thoroughly recommend the place, I'd describe it as a quiet place rather than more laid back.
I stayed at a number of places on business, but the Al Bustan Palace when there on pleasure.
We went to visit friends there a couple of years ago and I can honestly say that it is my favourite place in the middle east. People are very friendly and open, scenery is spectacular and there is still enough of the old souk/buildings left to make it authentic feeling. Well recommended.
Went there a few years ago as the brother- and sister-in-law were living there. Stayed in the Interconti for various complex reasons (not recommended but ok).
I really liked the place. Very, very quiet; sleepy almost. Friendly people. The British seemed particularly welcome as the current (apparently) benevolent Sultan was put in place with British military help.
The countryside is quite spectacular - a craggy, rocky desert. Some interesting old buildings to visit. If you go further afield you can find tropical rainforest.
However, you have to remember that it is a Muslim country and whilst very liberal it is not like Dubai (thank god). You can go on the public beaches in western swimwear but, if you are a girl in a bikini, I wouldn't recommend it. By the hotel pool, it is absolutely fine. Alcohol is available in the hotels and special licensed venues frequented by foreigners but won't be found elsewhere, IIRC.
To be honest, I thought it was the best of what Dubai was 20 years ago and hasn't degraded into bling and russian hookers.
I really liked the place. Very, very quiet; sleepy almost. Friendly people. The British seemed particularly welcome as the current (apparently) benevolent Sultan was put in place with British military help.
The countryside is quite spectacular - a craggy, rocky desert. Some interesting old buildings to visit. If you go further afield you can find tropical rainforest.
However, you have to remember that it is a Muslim country and whilst very liberal it is not like Dubai (thank god). You can go on the public beaches in western swimwear but, if you are a girl in a bikini, I wouldn't recommend it. By the hotel pool, it is absolutely fine. Alcohol is available in the hotels and special licensed venues frequented by foreigners but won't be found elsewhere, IIRC.
To be honest, I thought it was the best of what Dubai was 20 years ago and hasn't degraded into bling and russian hookers.
AstonZagato said:
I really liked the place. Very, very quiet; sleepy almost. Friendly people. The British seemed particularly welcome as the current (apparently) benevolent Sultan was put in place with British military help.
Spot on description. The Sultan is a former Sandhurst graduate, & the SAS did a very efficient job on the communists very early in his reign hence his British leanings!By way of example the first time I went, I drove up to the Omani embassy in Doha to sort out a visa and went in. Got directed to the visa officer. I spent 1 1/2 hrs drinking coffee & chatting with the guy about everything. After this time I needed to get back & so politely asked about getting a visa. He took a copy of my passport, asked me when I wanted to go & said I'll give you a call when it's sorted, which he did.
dreamer75 said:
Amazing place - we stayed at The Chedi and it's incredible !
O/T I know, but if The Chedi in Oman is ANYTHING like as good as The Chedi in Thailand, then it must be absolutely f
king brilliant.The one in Phuket is amongst the best hotels I have stayed in anywhere in the world.
Blib said:
I'm thinking of staying at the Shangri La Al Waha Resort And Spa. Anyone been there?
TIA
We stayed at the Al Bandar part of the complex. Less children and not as expensive as the Al Husn.TIA
We had a really great time. Very peaceful, relaxed and the food available (you can charge to your room in any one of the 3 hotels) is fab. The Morrocan in the Al Husn is simply superb.
However, it is a bit remote from Muscat (about 1 hr). So if you want to see the markets, sites of Muscat I'd stay in a hotel there, or do as we did multi-centre.
We wanted to stay at the Chedi - but when we went was just after the typhoon that wrecked the place. We stayed at the Grand Hyatt which was OK. But if we we go back we will definitely stay in the Chedi.
If you like alcohol just check there are no festivals on during your stay - alcohol isn't served then.
Thanks everyone for the help so far. I really appreciate your input. PH at its best IMO.
Mattt, I hadn't even noticed that there was a Mid-East forum on here?
TBH, the Chedi is a bit too expensive for me to justify for a mid winter week away, although it looks absolutely magnificent.
Funkygibbon, thanks for the advice about the Al Bandar part of the complex. I shall look into booking there.
I shall be travelling on my own and I'm looking for some peace and quiet. Just me, some books and a swimming pool.
Once again, many thanks and if anyone else has some tips for me, please feel free to stick them up on here.
Mattt, I hadn't even noticed that there was a Mid-East forum on here?
TBH, the Chedi is a bit too expensive for me to justify for a mid winter week away, although it looks absolutely magnificent.
Funkygibbon, thanks for the advice about the Al Bandar part of the complex. I shall look into booking there.
I shall be travelling on my own and I'm looking for some peace and quiet. Just me, some books and a swimming pool.
Once again, many thanks and if anyone else has some tips for me, please feel free to stick them up on here.
Blib said:
Funkygibbon, thanks for the advice about the Al Bandar part of the complex. I shall look into booking there.
I shall be travelling on my own and I'm looking for some peace and quiet. Just me, some books and a swimming pool.
Al Bandar will be perfect then. We booked via trailfinders and we got one meal a day included in the cost. You could use this at any time of the day. There is a fab indian buffet (not like anything you've seen in UK) in the Bandar.I shall be travelling on my own and I'm looking for some peace and quiet. Just me, some books and a swimming pool.
Have a great time.
Blib said:
I shall be travelling on my own and I'm looking for some peace and quiet. Just me, some books and a swimming pool.
The only drawback to the Shangri La is that it's a bit of trek out of town if you don't have a car. And town is really well worth a visit - why come all this way just to sit by a pool? The Old Souk at Mutra is an essential visit to get a real flavour of Muscat, and I'm sure the hotel will run excursions. For a bit of fun, there's a wild Tex Mex place called Paso Real that's worth a visit, but also do search out a proper Arabic meal - mezze, kebabs, mouhallabiah and more.Muscat is a wonderful place to visit - laid back, friendly and worth every minute. Make the most of it.
Oman is a fantastic place. I'm biased since we have a second home there (but of course we wouldn't have bounght one if it wasn't nice). We have a place at a new development a few miles along the beach from The Chedi (or the shedi as I call it).
People keep asking about Sharm El Sheikh and I often suggest Muscat as an alternative. No problems with the sts, excellent diving, weather, people, no scruffyness like Egypt. But my suggestions fall on deaf ears. Trust me, Oman is almost a secret holiday destination. No tourist tat, no restaurants with pictures of the food outside, no hawkers.
The Shangri-La is lovely (whichever one of the threee hotels there you actually stay at). It is a few miles from the rest of the action though - rent a car, driving is easy out there (although a little 'Middle East' in some people's recklessness).
The Chedi is all trendy and super modern/minimalistic. Trying to hard for my liking. I prefer the Grand Hyatt, which looks a bit gaudy but the overall experience is great. The Al Bustan is super nice too.
You can fly direct with Oman Air from Heathrow too (BA say they fly direct but you sit on the runway at Abu Dhabi for an hour each way).
We're back out there 13/22 Nov, then for Christmas/New Year - I can't wait.
Enjoy.
People keep asking about Sharm El Sheikh and I often suggest Muscat as an alternative. No problems with the s
ts, excellent diving, weather, people, no scruffyness like Egypt. But my suggestions fall on deaf ears. Trust me, Oman is almost a secret holiday destination. No tourist tat, no restaurants with pictures of the food outside, no hawkers.The Shangri-La is lovely (whichever one of the threee hotels there you actually stay at). It is a few miles from the rest of the action though - rent a car, driving is easy out there (although a little 'Middle East' in some people's recklessness).
The Chedi is all trendy and super modern/minimalistic. Trying to hard for my liking. I prefer the Grand Hyatt, which looks a bit gaudy but the overall experience is great. The Al Bustan is super nice too.
You can fly direct with Oman Air from Heathrow too (BA say they fly direct but you sit on the runway at Abu Dhabi for an hour each way).
We're back out there 13/22 Nov, then for Christmas/New Year - I can't wait.
Enjoy.
I lived in Muscat for 4 years from 2003, whaddya need to know? 
The souq is a must, if only to see how '2009' it is. Jam packed full of cheap Chinese toys, pashmina shops and mobile phone repairers. The Muttrah harbour is quite nice to stoll along the corniche, check out the fish market if you get there early enough.
Great for diving, even snokelling is good. The Oman Dive centre are the guys to go and see. They also run Dolphin watching trips. If you are into fish there are many boats that'll take you out to catch them in the Marina or Yacht club, there is also an aquarium here if you just want to observe without suffocating them.
I'm not sure if you can do it any more but you used to be able to go camp on a turtle beach to the East and a guide would get you up at stupid-O'clock to go watch shark-food waddle down the beach or a massive turtle......errr......turtling.
Try and do a 2 day desert safari, stop in a village and visit the pit weavers, drink obcenely strong coffee/eat mushy dates and let them make you buy some ....errrr.....woven stuff. Into the Wahiba sands and visit bedouins, also let them sell you some....errr......woven stuff, drink obcenely strong coffee, watch their cable TV. Ride a camel, have a quick go at sand-boarding and then a very decent BBQ. Stay a night under the stars in the hottest cinderblock 'outhouse' in the world. Bottle of wine atop the dunes as the sun goes down. Next day go to Wadi Bani Kalid for a swim and the grottiest packed lunch you can imagine! Brilliant trip!! Absolutely beautiful inland.
Then there is the Grand Mosque, worth a guided tour. Be amazed at.....err....a big carpet (no it doesn't fly) and a huuuuge lampshade. Whoopdedoodah.
Don't leave without a look around Ruwi - the old commercial part of town. Lots of neon and roadside schawarma stands
Hotels;
If you want peaceful serenity the go to the Chedi. Stunning, Stunning, Stunning. No kids, fit birds. Sweet.
The Al Bustan is not bad too, but they have a piano/cigar bar FFS. Don't forget your tennish bat and your lemon/pink cardi.
The Hyatt is pretty good and the Intercon also, but these are a little more 'touristy' and many of the local expats have 'membership' to use the pool/gym etc so can be quite 'kiddy heavy' at week-ends/after school - especially at that time of year as they have just had a whole Summer indoors.... Most expat brats frequent the bars in these 2 and there is live music from the same band, playing the same music, to the same people day after day after day after....you get my drift. Great if you enjoy rock covers, Tequila and have a thing for 18 yr old girls.
The Sheraton used to have the most amazing seafood buffet on a Tuesday night. All you could eat Lobster for about 20 quid. This is definately the place to stay if you like small, dark, seedy hotel nightclubs with an oriental girl each side of you, stroking your legs, up...and down....up....and....sorry, bit carried away there. It's in the central business district; it's a supply/demand thing.
And then there is the Shaggy La. I'm not too impressed with it really. But then the last time I stayed was just after Typhoon Gonu had wrecked the town (and my villa). The beach was gone (literally down to bedrock) and they were on emergency power so the A/C was off. The bar still worked though! The biggest problem I have with this place is that if anyone asks where to go in Muscat this always comes up top of the list.... so it is busy as hell. Watch out for just about everyone in the Middle East decending on the place during the National Day Holiday on the 18th (I think) of November.
Don't forget to leave with some incense, a Kanjar, some dates, coffee, Gold etc. Just in time for Christmas you could bring everyone you know some Gold (very cheap bangle at around 20 quid - 22 carat too, but paper-thin!), Frankinsence and Myrrh (with a little silver burner!). Will go down a storm!
I believe the correct end to this would be... HTH
The souq is a must, if only to see how '2009' it is. Jam packed full of cheap Chinese toys, pashmina shops and mobile phone repairers. The Muttrah harbour is quite nice to stoll along the corniche, check out the fish market if you get there early enough.
Great for diving, even snokelling is good. The Oman Dive centre are the guys to go and see. They also run Dolphin watching trips. If you are into fish there are many boats that'll take you out to catch them in the Marina or Yacht club, there is also an aquarium here if you just want to observe without suffocating them.
I'm not sure if you can do it any more but you used to be able to go camp on a turtle beach to the East and a guide would get you up at stupid-O'clock to go watch shark-food waddle down the beach or a massive turtle......errr......turtling.
Try and do a 2 day desert safari, stop in a village and visit the pit weavers, drink obcenely strong coffee/eat mushy dates and let them make you buy some ....errrr.....woven stuff. Into the Wahiba sands and visit bedouins, also let them sell you some....errr......woven stuff, drink obcenely strong coffee, watch their cable TV. Ride a camel, have a quick go at sand-boarding and then a very decent BBQ. Stay a night under the stars in the hottest cinderblock 'outhouse' in the world. Bottle of wine atop the dunes as the sun goes down. Next day go to Wadi Bani Kalid for a swim and the grottiest packed lunch you can imagine! Brilliant trip!! Absolutely beautiful inland.
Then there is the Grand Mosque, worth a guided tour. Be amazed at.....err....a big carpet (no it doesn't fly) and a huuuuge lampshade. Whoopdedoodah.
Don't leave without a look around Ruwi - the old commercial part of town. Lots of neon and roadside schawarma stands
Hotels;
If you want peaceful serenity the go to the Chedi. Stunning, Stunning, Stunning. No kids, fit birds. Sweet.
The Al Bustan is not bad too, but they have a piano/cigar bar FFS. Don't forget your tennish bat and your lemon/pink cardi.
The Hyatt is pretty good and the Intercon also, but these are a little more 'touristy' and many of the local expats have 'membership' to use the pool/gym etc so can be quite 'kiddy heavy' at week-ends/after school - especially at that time of year as they have just had a whole Summer indoors.... Most expat brats frequent the bars in these 2 and there is live music from the same band, playing the same music, to the same people day after day after day after....you get my drift. Great if you enjoy rock covers, Tequila and have a thing for 18 yr old girls.
The Sheraton used to have the most amazing seafood buffet on a Tuesday night. All you could eat Lobster for about 20 quid. This is definately the place to stay if you like small, dark, seedy hotel nightclubs with an oriental girl each side of you, stroking your legs, up...and down....up....and....sorry, bit carried away there. It's in the central business district; it's a supply/demand thing.
And then there is the Shaggy La. I'm not too impressed with it really. But then the last time I stayed was just after Typhoon Gonu had wrecked the town (and my villa). The beach was gone (literally down to bedrock) and they were on emergency power so the A/C was off. The bar still worked though! The biggest problem I have with this place is that if anyone asks where to go in Muscat this always comes up top of the list.... so it is busy as hell. Watch out for just about everyone in the Middle East decending on the place during the National Day Holiday on the 18th (I think) of November.
Don't forget to leave with some incense, a Kanjar, some dates, coffee, Gold etc. Just in time for Christmas you could bring everyone you know some Gold (very cheap bangle at around 20 quid - 22 carat too, but paper-thin!), Frankinsence and Myrrh (with a little silver burner!). Will go down a storm!
I believe the correct end to this would be... HTH
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