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ntropy · Joined: 11 Oct 2003 Posts: 671 Location: ghurba

Oman sounds like a great place to live/work. What do you recommend for those of us just coming in for a few days. Hotel recommendations? Muscat only.

Thanks

carnac · Posted: Fri Dec 01, 2006 1:01 pm Post subject:

Can recommend things to do and hotels, but your question is a bit vague. Don't know your likes and dislikes/hobbies, and don't know your hotel budget. Some of my favorite things to do are dolphin-watching excursions which include cruising the incredible coastline around Muscat and jumping off the boat at a secluded beach for a brief swim, and day trips to beautiful locales, for which you will need a rented 4x4. (not as adventurous as it may sound, just beautiful). Hotels range from cheap with zero amenities to luxurious, break-your-wallet prices. There are plenty of in-betwen hotels with decent prices and restaurants, but my definition of "decent" may differ. Why are you coming, if I may ask? Job-hunting (I can help)? Tourism (ditto)?Adventure(ditto)?Geology? Icthyology? Bird-watching?
Suggestion: Go to google, enter oman tourism or muscat oman tourism, wander around for a bit then ask about some things that you think might be interesting.
As a brief answer, I can personally recommend the Crowne Plaza Hotel - reasonable (I believe) prices, great beach, good restaurants, and they assist in arranging tours.
Brgds...//C

ntropy · Joined: 11 Oct 2003 Posts: 671 Location: ghurba

I'm just looking for a place to escape to during the Eid break for a few days. Coming to relax, rest, have fun and do a bit of shopping.

Not a backpacker but not an exec either. Typical TEFLer. Want value for money. I'd like to have a few decent meals, a glass of red wine, shop for some books, laze by the pool, etc.

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

I would rent a car and do a bit of exploring... easy drive to Nizwa and Bahla... have afternoon tea at Al Bustan Hotel for a bit of luxury. It's an easy place to get around because there is really one main road.

There used to be a good used book store. Great place to stock up if it is still there.

VS

Duffy · Joined: 29 Oct 2005 Posts: 449 Location: Oman

We went to Muscat for the weekend, wanted to have lunch on the terrace at the Al Bustan. I was turned away because I was wearing (long) shorts! Then they offered to "lend" me a dishdasha! I declined and we went to Bandar Rowbha, had a fantastic meal, with wine and lemonade, used to be called "Spritzers" in the Yuppy days.

Duffy Laughing

ntropy · Joined: 11 Oct 2003 Posts: 671 Location: ghurba

Good advice. I always to tend to forget renting a car. Must come from years of living in gridlocked Asia.

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

Hey Duffy... I wonder if it would have been different if you were a hotel guest? Perhaps this is a rule that they have put in since the rise in tourist trade. I normally dressed the same to go out somewhere as I did for the classroom.

ntropy... maps are easily available and getting around is easy.

VS

Duffy · Joined: 29 Oct 2005 Posts: 449 Location: Oman

Hi VS,

I was trailing behind the wife and our very goodest friend who knows Muscat like I know Pendennis Castle (forgive the "in" bit there but Aliskander will know what I mean)

A couple of guests were just leaving and the husband was talking loudly, saying about how was it that they could stay in to the Savoy in London, have a meal ON the Terrace Restaurant IN shorts and be welcomed, yet in the best hotel in Oman be banned!!!

I have heard that both the Sheraton and the Al Bustan Hotels in Muscat are about to close down for one year for refurbishment. Hopefully, their attitudes will be also modernised when they re-open!!

Duffy Rolling Eyes

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

I suppose that they would say that they are keeping out the riff-raff... Laughing

I can't recall if that is an outside or inside restaurant, but it all seems rather excessive. I would think that a hotel of that size or caliber would have both informal and formal eating areas.

VS

Aliskander · Joined: 01 Feb 2005 Posts: 50

Trust me - the "riff raff" cannot afford to go to the Al Bustan - be it in shorts or long trousers.
The terrace restaurant is, as one would guess from its' name, on the terrace - outside.

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

I recall years ago on leave from the Middle East I checked into the Cadogan in London ( a favourite of Oscar Wilde's). They refused me admittance to breakfast in the dining room because I was wearing SANDALS. You see I had gone native in the Wild Sands of Arabia !

ntropy · Joined: 11 Oct 2003 Posts: 671 Location: ghurba

Years ago, I went on an extended camping trip in the Canadian Rockies with a girlfriend. By the end of it, we were grubby, smelled of wood smoke and ready for a good meal. We stopped in a small town with a 4-star restaurant. Looking at us, the maitre de informed us I would need a tie for admittance. I went back out to the car and chopped a bit of twine off a ball with the axe and tied it around my neck. He let us in and the meal was fantastic!

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

...sounds like a good Western string tie to me!!

helenl · Joined: 04 Jan 2006 Posts: 1202

for wearing long shorts - the Sheraton Creek Dubai would have done the same at its restaurants as well - they have a posted policy that men must wear long pants - no shorts, no sandals.

To me it appeared that they require this sartorial elegance in order to try and maintain the "tone" of the place - I wish they would add a spandex/lycra weight/body tone clause to their sign as well - for a conservative country, there's a lot of expats who feel they have the right to expose their every bulge and flabby bit to all and sundry Shocked

- why oh why can't we have spandex police everywhere? Wink