In recent years, Oman is becoming an increasingly popular tourist destination. It had previously been a hidden gem on the edge of the Arabian Peninsula, but with over 3 million tourists in 2017, it is enjoying a lot of well-deserved attention! With increased tourism in recent years, Oman has developed wonderful hotels and a flourishing tourism industry, but it is still not as well known as many other top tourist hotspots. Sometimes not knowing where to stay can put someone off booking a holiday, so we’d like to give you a little help figuring out where you should stay in Oman!
Hotels in Muscat, capital city of Oman
Muscat is right at the top of the list as it’s the capital city of Oman and it is the seat of most of the country’s considerable wealth. This means that the hotels in Muscat are some of the most opulent in the World. If you want to see parts of the city you probably wouldn’t find on your own, you can take our Muscat full-day private tour, our private half-day tour, or our full-day 4×4 tour of Jebel Akhdar.
As far as choosing a hotel, you really are spoilt for choice, as Muscat has several hotel districts that will not disappoint. However, as Muscat is on the Persian Gulf, it is definitely a missed opportunity if you don’t choose a hotel by the harbour. For this reason, Muttrah’s Corniche is one of the most popular hotel districts. It allows visitors to enjoy the harbour, the boats, the sunsets, and the incredible range of restaurants in the harbour district. It’s also worth noting that, although decadent, the hotels in Muttrah’s Corniche are widely regarded as good value for money.
The Chedi Muscat, Sheraton Oman, and Al Bustan Palace are all exceptional 5-star hotels. If you are looking for the most decadent stay imaginable in Oman, then any one of these three will do. However, if your budget is a little smaller, La Rosa Hotel and Golden Tulip Seeb are very reasonable 4-star alternatives. There are plenty of 3-star hotels available too, if you just want somewhere to rest your head.
Salalah’s Hotel Resorts
For a change from Muscat’s cityscape, you may like to stay in Salalah’s beach resorts. Salalah is a much more peaceful city than Muscat, so it’s ideal if you’re looking for the perfect beach holiday and you’d like to choose somewhere outside of mainland Europe’s overcrowded beaches. Salalah has some of the most beautiful white-sand beaches in all of Oman and its hotel resorts are very luxurious. It’s also worth keeping in mind that Salalah’s resorts are particularly revered for their catering prowess. Crowne Plaza, Salalah Beach Resort Hotel, and Salalah Rotana Resort are all incredibly decadent resorts. There are also several villas and B&Bs with very reasonable rates if you’re on a lower budget and reckon you’ll probably spend all of your time at the beach anyway!
Other than soaking in some rays and enjoying the peaceful white-sand beaches, Salalah also offers lots of fun activities for visitors. Check out Gray Line’s incredible excursions in Salalah, such as our private Dalkut and Flzayah beach 4X4 tour and our private camel ride and farm visit tour.
Wahiba Sands Bedouin Camps
Also known as the Sharqiya Sands, this desert is to the southeast of Muscat. Even though it’s a desert, it’s famous for its diverse terrain, plant life, and animal life. Put simply, Wahiba Sands is one of the most fascinating deserts in the World and it’s well worth taking a day or two away from Oman’s more luxurious hotels to explore it. Obviously, there aren’t any hotels or resorts out on the desert, so guests usually stay in Bedouin camps. If a big part of travelling for you involves meeting the locals and having new experiences, then this is a must, but as it’s nowhere near as comfortable as many of Oman’s countless luxury hotels, we recommend you do it for a night or two max, then head back to Muscat, Salalah, or one of Oman’s other tourism hotspots.
That’s all we have time for in today’s Oman hotel guide. We hope we’ve intrigued a few readers and encouraged anyone sitting on the fence to begin planning their next big adventure. If you have any questions about our Oman tours, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. Plan you trip to Oman today!
