Where to stay in Muscat. Best hotels and resorts

Crowne Plaza
Sunset from Crowne Plaza‘s infinity pool

There is a good variety of hotels in Muscat. Your choice should depend on the following:

  • Time to spend in the hotel: there are resorts with all kind of facilities, so if you plan to relax in the hotel and enjoy the weather, then a resort-type hotel is a better choice. On the other hand, if you are going to take tours most of the time, then a cheaper option could work better.
  • Location: you are going to need a car as there is no public transport (only taxis) and Muscat is not that big anyway, so the location is not essential.
  • Budget: the list below is divided into 5 STARS HOTELSBUDGET HOTELS and LUXURY RESORTS.

5 Stars Hotels

Intercontinental

Intercontinental Hotel Muscat
Intercontinental Hotel Muscat
Intercontinental Hotel Muscat
Intercontinental Hotel Muscat

Intercontinental is my favourite hotel, although is not a cheap option. It is located in Al Qurum, one of the best areas in Muscat. It is not central, but not far from the malls and the main commercial area.

Al Qurum beach, Al Qurum park and the Royal Opera are quite close. The latter is actually metres away.

There is a great choice of restaurants in the area. D’Arcy’s kitchen, Many’s, Ubhar, Slider Station and the steakhouse are the main ones. But you also have 3 excellent restaurants in the hotel: Tomato, Trader Vic’s and Takara. There are also two coffee shops (Treat and Majlis Al Shams) and an English pub (Al Gazhal) on the first floor.

Its facilities are also great. A huge swimming pool with sunbeds and umbrellas, a fully equipped gym and spa, a semi-Olympic (25-metre) outdoor pool, a tennis court, and a playground for children. Moreover, there is a door at the end that has direct access to the beach.

~ USD 183 pn

Booking.com

Crowne Plaza

Crowne Plaza
Crowne Plaza
Crowne Plaza's private beach
Crowne Plaza‘s private beach

Crowne Plaza has probably the best view in Muscat, as you can see in the picture above. It is also located in Al Qurum area, close to the famous Al Shatti street (where locals drive around on their free time).

It offers excellent leisure facilities including floodlit tennis courts, infinity and children pools, gymnasium, squash courts, sauna, steam rooms, massage and spa treatments. It also has a private bay with a beautiful beach.

Arabian (Shiraz), Italian (Come Prima) and international (The Restaurant, Duke’s bar) dishes are served at the hotel’s 4 restaurants. Duke’s bar offers a good variety of beers, spirits and food with an outstanding view.

It has been recently refurbished, extending its terrace and swimming pool. The former has doubled the capacity and the latter is now an impressive infinity pool.

~ USD 215 pn

Booking.com

Grand Hyatt

Grand Hyatt
Grand Hyatt (source: www.hyatt.com)

Grand Hyatt is another luxury option in the Al Qurum area. Located directly on a sandy beach, offers 5 stars facilities including beauty centre, spa, fitness centre and two swimming pools.

It has an Arabic decoration in most of the rooms and an impressive lobby.

The dining options are diverse, with 4 in-house restaurants plus bar and cafes. The most famous one is Tuscany, which is known to be the best Italian restaurant in Muscat. Other options include Marjan (Indonesian menu in the evening, as well as light lunches by the pool) and Safari Rooftop (Grill house).

Traditional Arabic coffees and teas can be tasted in the Sirj Tea Lounge or Mokha Cafe. Guests can enjoy piano music and drinks in the John Barry bar.

~ USD 289 pn

Booking.com

Budget Hotels

City Seasons

City Seasons
City Seasons (source: booking.com)

City Seasons is located in the more central area of Al Khuwair, close to the 2 main malls (Avenues and Grand Mall) and to other shops and restaurants.

Facilities include a rooftop pool, spa (including a sauna, a steam room, a hot tub) and a fitness centre. It is 17 minutes walk from the beach, although people do not normally walk too much in Muscat, as the city is not well prepared for it due to the extremely hot weather in the summer. The pool has a beautiful view of the city, including some of the main minister buildings.

All rooms are modern and have an iPod docking station, a minibar, and tea and coffee making facilities. The breakfast is quite good, and there are a few rooms for business. Overall, it looks like a business-oriented hotel.

~ USD 127 pn

Booking.com

Ramee Guestline

Ramee Guestline
Ramee Guestline (source: booking.com)

Ramee Guestline it is good value for money hotel. It is also located in Al Qurum area, 5 minutes away from Al Qurum beach and the Crowne Plaza hotel.

It has also a modest outdoor swimming pool, sauna or jacuzzi, Turkish bath and a small fitness centre. The breakfast is all right, but not even close to the previous three hotels in this list.

Rock Bottom Cafe is the hotel’s American-themed restaurant and bar with live entertainment. It is quite famous in Muscat and visited regularly by locals, expats and tourists. They offer good stakes, fish and other American food, and they have a license for alcohol.

There is also a seafood market, two Indian restaurants (Mirchi on the 6th floor and another one on the 2nd floor, where breakfast is served). But the main surprise/curiosity is on the second floor, where you can find an Arabic club/music space and also an Indian pub called Bollywood. The former was probably the best local experience you could have.

TOP TIP! If your budget is not enough for Intercontinental or Crowne Plaza, a great alternative is to stay at the Ramee, and then go and spend a day in one of those. A day pass normally cost between 10 and 20 OMR and includes all the facilities.

~ USD 91 pn

Booking.com

Safeer International

Safeer International
Safeer International (source: http://www.safeerhotels.com)

Safeer International is the cheapest option on the list. It is located in the central area of Al Khuwair, not far from the City Seasons.

There is only one restaurant called Al Ghazal. It is on the ground floor (where breakfast is served) and offers buffet and a  menu with a combination of Arabic, Continental and Asian cuisines.

The facilities are more restricted, with a modest fitness centre but no spa nor swimming pool.

~ USD 67 pn

Booking.com

Luxury Resorts

The Chedi

The Chedi
The Chedi (source: www.lhw.com)

The Chedi is considered the best hotel in Muscat. As such, it is unaffordable for most people, as it is the most expensive one as well.

It is a luxury 5 stars resort, with modern and luminous rooms, first-class facilities and 158 elegantly landscaped guestrooms and villas.

It offers six distinct restaurants, a thirteen-suite Balinese spa, three swimming pools, including the 103-metre Long Pool, 700-square-metre health club plus two executive meeting rooms. The restaurants have indoor and outdoor dining areas, where you can enjoy fantastic wines and cuisine from around the world, including Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, Asian and Indian.

The most famous restaurant is called The Beach, where you can dine along their 370-metre private beach. It offers a creative seafood menu, with a varied choice of culinary delights whilst we can pair your meal with an equally impressive wine selection

The Chedi Muscat’s spa, considered the largest spa in Muscat, specializes in Balinese therapies but also features therapies based on aromatherapy, Ayurveda and herbalism.

~ USD 615 pn

Booking.com

Al Bustan

Al Bustan Palace
Al Bustan Palace

Al Bustan is a 5-star luxury resort and spa. It is only 25 minutes from central Muscat and located in Al Hajar Mountains area. It comprises 5 outdoors swimming pools surrounded by palm-filled gardens, a private beach, 3 restaurants, 4 tennis courts, a spa with 17 spacious treatment rooms and more. You won’t be able to visit the ninth floor, as it is reserved exclusively for the Sultan.

The lobby is simply breathtaking and it worth a visit. Fortunately, you can buy a day pass for 15-30 OMR, and enjoy the pool and other facilities for a day.

~ USD 668 pn

Booking.com

Shangri La

Shangri-La Barr Al Jissah
Shangri-La Barr Al Jissah (source: http://www.kuoni.co.uk/oman/muscat/hotels/al-waha-at-shangri-la-barr-al-jissah-resort-and-spa)

Shangri-La is another luxury resort and spa. It is located in the Jissah area, only 30 minutes away from Muscat centre. It comprises a private beach, a full-service spa (hydro pool, herbal steam room, tropical showers, an ice fountain and a relaxation area), 8 restaurants, a huge swimming pool and more.

You can also buy a day pass for 30 OMR, and enjoy the pool and other facilities for a day.

~ USD 273 pn

Booking.com

Muscat Hills

Oman Dive Center Beach
Oman Dive Center Beach at Muscat Hills Resort

Muscat Hills Beach Resort is oriented to young people, with a modern beach club and techno music and events.

They have the best beach in Muscat, as part of the Oman Dive Center. It is not actually inside the city, but it is only 20 minutes (32 km) from the centre. You need to pay 10-15 OMR to spend the day. The ticket includes a towel, parasol, umbrella and a small table. You can order food to your table and there is also a beach bar where you can even get alcohol.

~ USD 323 pn

Booking.com

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