When we were at the Hilton Salalah last month, we had the distinct pleasure of meeting up with the Sales Manager, Ali Malik, and the Operations Manager, Florian Gruhl. I told them to send me any promos they might have in the future and so Mr. Malik was kind enough to send me this flyer for any readers who might be in the Salalah area for Christmas or New Year’s.
Sometimes our family likes to check into local hotels for a “weekend getaway” or on National holidays to relax and unwind. Mommy deserves any pampering she can get as looking after 2 little ones at home is no easy task! 
Golden Tulip Seeb was one of our latest weekend getaways. The only other time we had been here was during a buffet dinner 2 years ago which was satisfactory, but nothing extraordinary.
Our deluxe room was quite comfortable. Overall, a very pleasant weekend was spent here!
Our simple but nice patio
Our room was right behind the “EMOCLEW” sign. Must mean something in Arabic. 
The patio served as a pleasant spot to enjoy room service. The Browns sure do appreciate good room service! 
Of course it’s always nice to have coffee and tea making facilities. You would expect this from any 4 or 5 star hotel, right? In all our hotel and resort stays, Duqm ”Floating Hotel” Veronica was the only hotel that didn’t have anything whatsoever (and yet the most expensive of them all!).
My wife was so looking forward to a Thai massage…but when she called for an appointment, they informed her that the only masseuse was on a 2-month vacation in Thailand. They didn’t feel it was necessary to get a replacement during her vacation?! Bizarre!
The whole family had a great time, especially at the pool…
Daddy was the only one who enjoyed the main pool. The rest of the family splashed around the kiddies pool:
All that swimming around sure can work up an appetite! Good thing they got poolside service! 
The dinner buffet at Le Jardin has changed very little in 2 years. Not bad, but nothing to write home to Mom about either. Some of the hotel packages they offer (occasionally) may include dinner which was included with our room rate. I’m pretty sure the room rate always includes breakfast buffet which we really enjoyed both mornings.
This dish, Um Ali, is something I distinctly remember from our dinner 2 years ago and also our recent visit. Um Ali is a Middle-Eastern Arabic dish (many websites say that it’s Egyptian) that is a delicious bread pudding. It may not look like much, but this is one fine dish, folks! Mm! Getting hungry just thinking about it!
The Muscat Airport (formerly known as Seeb International Airport) has a lot of construction going on. The new airport being constructed is supposed to be completed by April of 2014 but I’m not sure if that’s realistic with quite a few delays in the past year including striking workers. When completed, it’s supposed to be able to handle 12 million passengers a year!
I wonder if that is the tower that is set to be the tallest building in Oman once the airport is complete. An air-traffic tower is set to be almost 100 meters high which would make it the tallest occupied building in the Sultanate.
Sunset over Muscat International Airport from our room while at the Golden Tulip. Why all this talk about the airport? For anyone who might not be familiar with Muscat and Oman, it’s common knowledge for most living here that Golden Tulip Seeb is the closest hotel to the airport. I believe that is why they never have to worry too much about guests filling their rooms! Well after experiencing the Golden Tulip for ourselves, we’ve learned that it may not be the only reason. The staff were great (especially with our kids) and the service was quite good. For expats in Oman, you may want to keep your eye open for special promos at Golden Tulip Seeb every now and then…like the one currently on through the Bank Muscat Shopping Festival until Dec. 31st where rooms are only 55 OR/night including tax and buffet breakfast (+20% off food at Le Jardin restaurant). www.goldentulipseeb.com (Tel:+968-2451-4444)
We had a fabulous evening at Shangri-La’s upscale Italian restaurant, Capri Court, for our 4th anniversary yesterday. Because I called early and made a reservation explaining it was for our anniversary, they put us in the most remote corner outside right next to the al Husn hotel cliff which was quite a romantic setting.
Whether sitting inside or outdoors, the ambience of Capri Court is quite charming.
There is also this private room which is quite fancy and would serve well as a location for a business lunch/dinner:
Capri Court is located in Bandar Hotel, one of the 3 hotels located at Shangri-La’s Barr al Jissah Resort & Spa. As always, it’s great walking around the premises and taking in the sights of this gorgeous hotel.
Enough about the hotel…let’s move unto the food! 
Like most of the upscale Italian restaurants in Muscat, complimentary bread is served at the onset of your meal. Capri Court’s bread assortment was the most impressive of all the Italians restaurants we’ve tried which came withFoccacia Rosemary, Foccasia Sundried Tomato, Ciabata, Walnut and Grisini bread.
Wild Mojito for him (X2=7.6 OR), Love mocktail for her (2.7 OR). Of course they also have a wide selection of wines on the menu. We loved the drinks!
This smoked salmon was sent over, compliments of the chef, as they felt our dishes were taking too long. We actually enjoyed the whole non-rushed feel to our evening.
The Minestrone Soup (Zuppe-Minestrone di verdure) was delicous! (6.5 OR) “Capri Court Style” traditional vegetable soup with basil pesto. (contains nuts)
My wife loved her “Insalata dei Caesar” (Traditional Caesar salad) (7.5 OR) which is listed on the menu as ”Chef’s Recommendation” with good reason. You can choose this salad with prawns, Gorgonzola cheese or chicken and as you can see my wife went with the prawns. This dish would be good for anyone who likes quail eggs as they serve quite a number of them in this dish.
I chose Capri Court’s signature pasta dish for my my main course: Pappardelle al ragu’ d’anatra, “Pappardelle pasta with stewed duck ragout, juniper berries and rosemary oil“. (7.5 OR) A fine dish.
My wife went with the lamb chops, surprise, surprise! Costolette d’agnello al forno con timo al limone e millefoglie di verdure – “Baked lamb chops with thyme and lemon flavor and vegetable millefeuilles“. (16 OR) My wife thought this dish was delicious.
Instead of one of the desserts on the menu, I surprised my wife when I had previously ordered this which the manager brought in perfect timing:
1/2 KG Cake (4 OR). A big thanks to the staff at Capri Court for an unforgettable evening out on our anniversary!
For the full menu, click here. I think all restaurants should have their menus online like this. We basically knew what we’d order and what we could expect to pay before we showed up at the restaurant!
Here’s the view you can expect at Capri Court, taken from their website:
Have any of you been to Capri Court? If so, how was your experience? If you do go, make sure to make a reservation! (Tel: 968-2477-6666)
Some of the major hotels in Oman have great expat deals from time to time. We had the pleasure of booking into the Al Bustan during the summer (summer excitement package) and really had a blast there. This promo of 120 rials isn’t bad as it includes free use of their incredible infinity pool and breakfast buffet for up to 2. This deal is for Wednesday, Thursday, Friday or Saturday from Jan 16 to Feb 9, 2013 in case you can’t read the fine print there. Advanced reservations are required and subject to availability. Call 968-2476-4205 or email reservations .albustan@ritzcarlton.com
Here’s a great deal we took advantage of while my sister-in-law was in Oman for a visit this month. 85 OR for a room (we booked 2) at Al Waha Hotel at the Shangri-La which includes all taxes, wifi and buffet breakfast. The Shangri-La continues to be one of our favorite all time hotels here in the Sultanate. Here are a few pics from our latest stay:
And the view from our room(s)…
The ladies enjoying the lazy river.
part of Waha Hotel from a kayak (more on kayaking in a future post!)
Our 2 year old loves the Splashpad!
This giant checker board is new since our last visit!
A shot of the Marina where Extra Divers Dive Centre is located. They offer diving courses and excursions, boat trips, snorkelling and dolphin watching.
AHHH, the Shangri-La!
During our latest stay at Shangri-La’s Barr al Jissah Resort & Spa just outside of Muscat, we decided to check out their seaside seafood restaurant, Bait al Bahr. ”Bait” is Arabic for “house” (or “home”) and “Bahr” is “sea” so I guess this place would translate into English as “House by the Sea” or “Beachhouse“. (This time we were treating my sister-in-law who was visiting out of town so we ordered a lot more than we normally would.)
We chose this corner table right at the entrance of Bait al Bahr just next to the Lazy River. Great spot!
Plenty of seats outdoors. (I find it funny that people dining in Muscat often choose to sit close to other tables even when there are plenty of tables available!)
Plenty of tables indoors as well which is a necessity for the warmer months of March to September. (Smoking not permitted indoors but it is on the terrace)
Mai Thai (3.8 OR)
Gulf Splash Mocktail (Mango juice, fresh lychees, lime juice, blue curacao, and lemonade (All mocktails are 2.7 OR) “Yum yum“, says my hon.
Here come the drinks! Notice my Mai Tai (the red drink) which is always a great option. You can also see my sister-in-law’s Lychee Margarita (Tequila, Triple Sec, lychees and lemon juice) – 3.8 OR. A little strong for my sister-in-law but she managed to finish it off. (Other drinks included a bottle of Corona (2.5 OR) and 750 ml. of Evian Still water (3.5 OR))
We thought this tiny dish was one of our appetizers but learned that it is “Amuse-bouche“, compliments of the chef, while we waited for our appetizers/soup.
Teriyaki Salmon (grilled asparagus and enoki mushrooms with wasabi coconut juice) (6.5 OR) This was alright but mighty small for the offered price)
Tomato Shell Fish Soup (with garlic labneh) – 5.5 OR Delicious!
Lemongrass Infused Carrot Soup (& lobster ginger salad) – 6 OR (Chef’s Recommendation) We tried 2 of the 3 soups on the menu which were quite good. The third soup (we didn’t try) is Saffron Fennel Fish Soup (with thyme scones) for 5 rials. The ladies thought this was an excellent soup.
Smoked and Baked Atlantic Cod (13.5 OR) 1 of the 2 Signature Dishes on the Seafood Menu. (saffron cauliflower crush, green asparagus, with foie gras foam) This was my sister-in-law’s choice and she said it was good.
Mixed Seafood Grill (20.5 OR), the 2nd Bait al Bahr Signature Dish from the “Main Courses from the Sea and the Shore” page of the menu. (Grilled lobster tail, sherry fillet, koffer fillet, king fish, king prawns, mussels and green salad) (A great dish to share with 1 or 2 others. Good luck eating it on your own!)
Passion Fruit Parfait (with its own coults and fresh berries) (4.5 OR) I wasn’t very impressed with this dish at all when it first arrived. I thought, “Is that it?!” It looked so small…but in fact, it’s a delicious dessert that packs in a whole lot of taste. The parfait was fantastic!
White Chocolate Mousse with Strawberries (4 OR) No complaints on all with this one!
Here are the 2 other dessert options on the menu:
“A” on the menu indicates that alcohol is in the dish
Overall, we enjoyed our evening at Bait al Bahr. Service was a bit slow but that was to be expected as we chose an isolated table in the corner! The waiters and waitresses were very helpful and friendly, especially one waitress named “Wine” (Great name!) from Burma. We were also surprised to be served by the Assistant Restaurant Manager, Naeem Al Balushi, at one point when he noticed us waiting to order. We even saw him mixing drinks behind the bar as well and thought it’s nice to see such a humble, hands-on, teamwork mentality from a restaurant manager. The prices are quite high (and don’t forget to add 17% for tax/service charge!) but you get what you pay for. This is not a “hey-lets-grab-a-quick-bite-type-of-place“. This is another fine restaurant option to enjoy the company of someone special over a few drinks as you enjoy the sounds of the waves crashing in on the beach.
Have any of you been to Bait al Bahr? Would love to hear your experiences if you have! Tel:(+968)2477-6666 – Ext. 6559, Business Hours: 7-11:30pm, (I strongly suggest making a reservation if you plan to come here) email:bautakbahrservice.slmu@shangri-la.com Website: www.shangri-la.com/muscat The specific webpage for Bait al Bahr is here. (Reservation recommended) You can check out the entire Bait al Bahr menu here!
Last night (Wednesday, Jan. 30th) was the first night of a monthy specialty at Mokha Cafe’s buffet called “Exquisite Omani Specialties“. In celebration of Muscat Festival (which also started yesterday!), from January 30th to February 28th, the buffet, in addition to its regular buffet, will feature Omani items prepared by their local and talented Omani chefs. Here’s the ad:
If you can’t read the writing well, the buffet is 18 OR +17%.
Plenty of space in Mokha Cafe, both indoors and out.
Chef Majid and Head Chef Jayson with Nicole Bassitt (Marketing & Communications Manager) at the Grand Hyatt, showing us Omani dishes that are part of the Mokha Cafe buffet this month. Thanks so much for the invitation, Nicole! We had a fabulous time. My wife can’t get enough of the Mokha Cafe buffet and is always “looking for an excuse” to go there. 
Chef Jayson, Chef Majid, General Manager, Garry Friend, Chef Ali, and the Grand Hyatt’s Director of Food and Beverage, Dirk Holscher. It was an honor to meet the Grand Hyatt’s new General Manager, Garry Friend, who has been in Oman about two weeks now. He comes with over 25 years of experience working with Hyatt. Click here to read more about him in this article that just came out in The Week. While I was speaking briefly with Mr. Friend he remarked, “Isn’t it interesting how bloggers are considered more and more important today?” Interesting indeed! 
Those who are interested in trying out some great Omani dishes (as well as other amazing dishes from around the world!) are encouraged to come down during this month’s specialty buffet. People sometimes send me emails or comments asking where they can get some authentic Omani cuisine in Muscat. Well, here’s your chance! 
Of course, besides the Omani dishes there are the standard delicious Arabic dishes that are also a regular part of Mokha Cafe’s buffet. (Hummus, Mutabel and Fattoush just to name a few)
Presenting a delicious traditional Omani dessert called “lokaimat“!
Chef Sammer always has time for a big smile as he prepares more ”lokaimat” for guests. (As a side note, you really should try the Peach/Nectarine Frangipane Puff pictured directly in front of him! MMM!)
In addition to prawns (as you see here), other Omani grilled seafood at the buffet include: lobster, king fish and tuna. There are so many choices at this buffet!
Chef Hood “in the hood”! Ready to grill up whatever you desire! (But there’s usually no need to wait as there’s often plenty cooked up, ready for your plate.)
L to R: Nickyta Ray (Assistant Features Editor for Muscat Daily), Cem (prounced ”Jem”!!!) Dogan (Sales Manager at the Hyatt for Groups and Corporate), wifey and me – It was a great evening on Mokha Cafe outdoor terrace with great food and great company. Just wish I had a complete group pic taken…
Buffet starts at 7pm daily, so what are you waiting for?
I love the desserts available at Mokha Cafe. (These aren’t all the desserts; I just couldn’t get them all in one pic.)
The talented Mokha Cafe chefs (L to R): Chefs Ali, Majid Chef Jayson (head chef), Harry, Zahir and Sameer
If you plan on enjoying this special monthly buffet, make sure to call ahead and make a reservation. Tel: +968-2464-1234. You can also keep up to date with the latest pics and events from the Grand Hyatt on their facebook page: www.facebook.com/GrandHyattMuscat or their main website: www.muscat.grand.hyatt.com
Not a bad deal from Al Nahda Resort & Spa. 40 rials for single or double occupancy including bed and breakfasta night, taxes included! 50 rials for single or double occupancy on a half-board basis which is hotel lingo for “bed and breakfast + dinner”. Reservations must be made in advance. Valid for stays throughout March. I thought I’d share this with you all as we’ve enjoyed our stays at Al Nahda and this is actually a pretty decent deal.
If you’ve never been out to Mussanah, this is the perfect opportunity. 69 Omani rials for overnight accomodation for 2 which comes with breakfast, buffet lunch and late check out - including taxes…not a bad deal at all! Tel: (968)26871555
The famed Tike returns to Mokha Café for the third year with three guest Chefs Nadir, Bulent and Sema. From 27 March to 4 April, guests will have the opportunity to sample authentic Turkish cuisine straight from the Tike kitchens as the guest chefs prepare delicious specialties throughout this culinary promotion. This culinary promotion sees support from Etihad Airways as the exclusive airline sponsor.
The buffet at Mokha Café is priced at RO 17.000++ per person. De Bortoli beverages are available for an additional RO 10.000 net per person and a double shot of Turkish Rake can be added to the meal package and is priced at RO 2.000 net.
Joining from Tike are Chef’s Bulent (pictured here), Nadir and Sema. Executive Chef Bulent has been with Tike since 1998 with over 35 years of experience in the culinary industry. He was one of the first chef’s to work in Tike that was opened in Greece and then moved onto Tike in Ukraine, Cyprus and Saudi Arabia. Bulent specializes in grilled BBQ fare as well as signature dishes such as Ozel Adana (mine lamb skewered kebab), Veli Nazik (chicken with yogurt and aubergine sauce) and Ali Nazik (lamb with yogurt and aubergine sauce).
Chef Nader comes from an extensive culinary background of over 30 years of experience and has previously worked in Tike Bodrum, Istanbul and currently working at Tike Jeddah.
This year Chef Sema joins the Tike team to showcase some of her culinary talent. With over 20 years of experience, Chef Sema has worked in Tike Istanbul and Bursa. She specializes in Turkish Osmani (Ottoman Saraya) as well as preparing some of the most authentic appetizers, mezze’s and salads.
“We are very excited to welcome Tike back to Grand Hyatt Muscat for the third year. We heard lots of great feedback from our guests previously and decided to bring Tike back this year again” said General Manager Garry Friend.
For reservations or more information, visit muscat.grand@hyatt.com, call +968 2464 1234 or email muscat.dining@hyatt.com. Check the hotels Facebook page for more updates at www.facebook.com/GrandHyattMuscat.
1) Wig Party 2013 on Thursday, April 18th
From the press release: “Oman’s first annual big hair party parades into Muscat on Thursday evening 18 April in the city’s Grandest hotel. Rock-up wearing a wig and you’ll be rewarded with free entry and a complimentary beverage. But don’t worry if you are without a wig – you can buy one when you arrive at the party for OMR 6. Since wigs are a little thin on the ground in Muscat, the hotel has flown-in a selection especially for party goers to choose from! No wig, no entry! The uplifting vocal house music soundtrack, to shake your beehive to will be provided by international DJ CARL ROBERTS flying in especially for the occasion, accompanied by Tamas playing live saxophone and Ferdinand on drums and percussion. The best wig of the party will win a free one-night weekend stay for two people at Grand Hyatt Muscat complete with buffet breakfast and late checkout. And thanks to our lovely friends at Oman United Agencies you can drink as much as you like from 7pm ‘til your wig falls off at the end of the night for just OMR 25 per person. The main event will run from 7pm ‘til 10pm poolside on the terrace of Marjan. The after party and fun continues from 10pm in JohnBarryBar where DJ Carl Roberts will spin funky music until midnight. To reserve a table for Wig Party please call +968 2464 1234 or email muscat.dining@hyatt.com. Check the hotels Facebook page for more updates https://www.facebook.com/events/125588124300184/.
2) An Evening with Matthew vanKan for all jazz lovers on Friday, April 19th
“Quintessentially British crooner Matthew vanKan’s last appearance in the Middle East was in Doha exactly two years ago. Those who attended that extravagant event will remember Matthew well – his suave good looks, velvet voice and charismatic personality charmed every person in the room that night. Matthew is resident singer at The Savoy in London and The Grand in Brighton, two of Great Britain’s most prestigious hotels, and he has performed for a host of celebrities in the UK and overseas including Elton John and Ian McKellan. Matthew returns to the Middle East to perform at Grand Hyatt Muscat on Friday, 19 April 2013 for an exclusive concert of upbeat jazz and swing classics, including Fly Me To The Moon, Under My Skin, The Girl From Ipanema, All Of Me and more, accompanied by his British pianist Gabriel Mantell. Tickets are OMR 10 each including a welcome Peach Bellini drink on arrival, VIP seating OMR 20 inclusive a glass of Moet & Chandon. To ensure that everyone has a great view of Matthew on the night only 200 tickets will be sold. This event will be held at Muscat Jazz Club, also known as Copacabana. The venue will be completely transformed, from top to toe, especially for this exclusive event. To reserve your seat for An Evening with Matthew vanKan please call +968 2464 1234 or email muscat.dining@hyatt.com, call +968 2464 1234.”
This sounds like a lot of fun. If you want a small sample of this gentleman’s voice, here’s a video from his youtube channel singing, “My Funny Valentine“:
3) Friday, April 19th is the launch of “Beverly Hills Brunch“:
“Indulge with unlimited Möet & Chandon champagne while listening to live music courtesy of international DJ accompanied by musicians for Muscat’s most lavish Friday brunch. Enjoy a buffet of delicious appetisers, continental charcuterie, smoked salmon and fresh salads, complemented by a huge selection of main dishes prepared at live cooking stations, ranging from roasted rib eye of beef to grilled seafood and lobster. A sumptuous choice of decadent desserts completes this feast. Attentive staff will attend to your every whim. And your children will be entertained and looked-after while you kick back and relax. Beverly Hills Brunch with soft drinks OMR 22, Brunch with unlimited De Bortoli wines and beer for OMR 35 and brunch plus unlimited Möet & Chandon champagne OMR 49. Children under 12 eat for free. All prices in Omani Riyal inclusive of 17.4% service charge & tax. You will not find a brunch like this anywhere else in Muscat. Book early to avoid disappointment. Beverly Hills Brunch 12:30 – 15:30 every Friday at Mohka Café. For reservations please call +968 2464 1234 or email muscat.dining@hyatt.com or visit muscat.grand.hyatt.com. Check the hotels Facebook page for more updates facebook.com/GrandHyattMuscat.”
I normally wouldn’t post the entire press release of each event, but it’s nice to know all the details, right?! Always something exciting happening in Muscat! Thanks for sending this, Nicole!
If you missed, it, Matthew vanKan‘s performance at Muscat Jazz Club (aka Copacabana), Grand Hyatt Muscat was stellar! Can this man ever sing! This was his first performance in Muscat and it was a sold out event to an exclusive crowd of 200 (to ensure everyone had an unhindered view of the stage). 
A big thanks to Nicole Bassit who reserved us some of the best VIP seats in the house just in front of the stage to the right. Here’s a small sample of what the evening was like. This is Matthew vanKan singing “I’ve Got You Under My Skin“: More on this incredible evening later…thought you might enjoy that video in the meantime.
If you ever get a chance to see Matthew vanKan live, don’t hesitate to buy a ticket. He’s got a fantastic voice and is quite the entertainer.
I posted this image more than a week ago (along with 2 other events advertised) after it was sent to me from Grand Hyatt Muscat. They wisely send out such promotions to those in media, including simple bloggers like myself. I hit the reply button and asked them to book us some seats for the launch of the buffet on Friday, April 19th and I’m glad we went as it was one of the best Friday brunches we’ve ever experienced in Muscat! I’ll let the pics do the talking!
The General Manager of Grand Hyatt Muscat, Garry Friend with guest of honor, Matthew vanKan, who performed at a sold-out concert the same evening at the Muscat Jazz Club (aka Copacabana).
If you do go for the brunch + alcohol deal, you should realize that alcohol is not served until 2pm on Fridays. We were more than satisfied with the brunch + unlimited soft drinks for 22 rials (all inclusive).
Carl the friendly DJ! Musicians are also part of the live music offered during this special brunch.
Probably my favorite pic from the brunch! The incredible Grand Hyatt chefs take a short pause for a group pic.
Just one of several plates I enjoyed… Eat today and diet tomorrow! 
Plenty of desserts!
Anyone familar with Mocha Cafe might realize from this pic that tables have been cleared away to make way for all the extra food provided in their Friday brunch!
We were very impressed with this new Friday “Beverly Hills Brunch” at Grand Hyatt Muscat! The best part was when we asked for the bill and the waitress came back to tell us that “the bill has been completely taken care of”! WOW! What a pleasant surprise! That had to be Nicole! We were more than ready to pay 22 rials (tax and unlimited soft drinks included) each for the buffet as the food was so delicious. I was especially impressed with the sushi, lobster and steak. The waitress informed me that the Beverly Hills Brunch will run until May 11th and then close due to the summer heat. I really hope that this brunch becomes a norm at the Hyatt as it really is a fantastic option for family dining on Fridays! You’ve got 3 weeks to try this buffet out before they close shop for the summer…I’d definitely make a reservation if you’re planning on attending as they were quite busy even on the first week of this promotion. (Tel: +968-2464-1234)
The family and I were recently invited to Wadi Shab Resort (between Quriyat and Sur in Tiwi) by the manager, Suman. Just the week before, one of my friends’s mentioned that she stayed there with her friend and enjoyed it so we didn’t hesitate to accept the gracious offer to check out the place in exchange for an honest review.
The manager wants to get the word out that the resort is now open for business, or a “soft opening” as they like to call it here in the Sultanate. He thought it would be nice to advertise the resort and what it has to offer here on this blog.
There are 34 guest rooms available at the resort: 17 standard rooms, 14 deluxe rooms and 3 luxury suite rooms. All the rooms have a direct view of the sea; one of the best beach locations on the whole Eastern coast.
We really enjoyed the small pool at the resort. With such a great beach location, we were surprised that they even had a pool. Definitely a bonus!
With fantastic views of the Sea of Oman and the majestic Hajar Mountains in the back, you couldn’t ask for a better location. We have been saying for years whenever we visit the East Coast that they need a hotel between Quriyat and Sur and we’re glad that there is finally such a place!
It’s just a short walk down to the beach.
The gorgeous beach at Wadi Shab Resort.
As much as I loved the beach at Wadi Shab Resort, I wish I had brought my reef boots as it was hard on the feet at some points.
The beach along Wadi Shab Resort must be about 5 kilometers long. Give yourself an hour or more to go exploring the coast towards Tiwi as there are some fabulous cliffs and rock formations. (I will be posting about this in a separate post when I get the chance.)
This is the view from our room in the early afternoon.
And this is the view from our room just after sunrise.
We were very satisfied with the room. The bed we slept in was unbelievably comfortable and the rooms had all the amenities one would expect from a 4 or 5 star resort in Muscat. Room amenities include: Flat Screen LED tv with many satellite channels (the other room had another flat screened tv as well), fridge (2 in luxury), telephone, hair dryer, safe box, electric kettle and complimentary tea/coffee, alarm clock, iron on request, baby cot on request and free wifi access in rooms and public areas.
There are actually 2 rooms that come with the luxury suite including a large sitting room with pull-out sofa-bed. The minifridge items are not overly priced like other hotels/resorts in the Sultanate. Example prices include chocolate bars for 300 baizas, softdrinks for 300 and mineral water is complimentary. We were also surprised at how low the room services were. (I had a burger and fries for 1.5 OR as a quick example.)
No complaints about the bathrooms. I like the large walk-in showers. It was nice to see that the luxury suite came with 2 bathrooms.
Yes, they do have a restaurant at Wadi Shab Resort. It’s quite simple but it does the trick! That’s the restaurant in the pic above with the backdrop of the Hajar Mountains. The indoor seating is the box-like orange section while the boat looking section is outdoor seating. It’s pretty clever to have their restaurant shaped like a boat and it looks quite charming lit up at night:
They have a nightly buffet if/when there are enough guests staying at the resort. We don’t know what it would cost for the dinner buffet as we only learned when trying to pay the bill that the manager arranged for our bill to be taken care of. Sweet! There is also the option of Beach Barbecue (BBQ) if you ask the resort in advance.
This is the restaurant inside during the breakfast buffet. Reserving the room is easy on their website and meal options are quite cheap (just learned)and can also be selected online (or later at the hotel) including breakfast buffet (4 OR/person), lunch (5 OR), dinner (6 OR), half board (10 OR), or full board (150 OR). The breakfast was great and we enjoyed a lovely scene of fishermen at work with their nets early in the morning:
Another beautiful morning view from the restaurant
This is the sight you’ll see as you approach Tiwi and the turn-off for Wadi Shab Resort. We were concerned that we might have problems locating the resort but there are clear green signs in several locations letting you know you’re going in the right direction and also informing you as to how many kilometers to the resort.
This is what the resort looks like along the Quriyat-Sur coastal highway. It took us 2 hours to reach the hotel from our home in Muscat – 30 minutes till we reached the Bouscher-Amerat mountain road and another hour and a half along the Muscat-Sur highway (no need to drive through Quriyat!!!). Once you make the turnoff and drive back in the direction of Muscat, you should be able to see the resort in the distance like in this pic:
You might want to read another review from another blogger who was there around the same time as us. The blog is “Omanly” (“ideas to improve the tourism of Oman”) and they shared their thoughts on Wadi Shab Resort here.
A big thanks to Suman (pictured here with Ahmed who works the frontdesk) and the entire staff at Wadi Shab Resort for giving us the royal treatment during our unforgettable stay!
Be sure to check out Wadi Shab Resort’s website at www.wadishabresort.com . Tel: +968-2475-7667, Fax: +968-2475-7668, email: wadishab@travelcity-oman.com
“ITALIAN MASTER CHEF SERIES AT GRAND HYATT MUSCAT - Tuscany is set to welcome the first out of three Italian Master Chef series in May. Grand Hyatt’s award winning signature restaurant, Tuscany is set to host a five-day Italian Master Chef series from 8 to 12 May with Exclusive Sponsorship from Qatar Airways, a world class international airline offering 5-star travel experience of exceptional quality & comfort. 
Argentinean Chef de Cuisine, Francisco Canzano has extensive experience within the Hyatt brand. He started his career in Paris where he worked for the acclaimed Park Hyatt Paris Place Vendôme. On weekends he also worked in local brassieres adding accumulative experience in French and international cuisine. His next move was to Italy at the Park Hyatt Milan, where he learned all the secrets of the Italian kitchens and continued to pursue his career with a speciality in Italian cuisine. Chef Franco then moved to the Grand Hyatt Regency in Spain and learned more about Mediterranean cuisine. After spending years in Europe, Chef Franco made his way back to his home town Buenos Aires, where he worked at the Park Hyatt for six years as Chef de Cuisine at the main all-day dining restaurant. Chef Franco recently moved to Doha in January, where he quickly gained popularity preparing a fantastic variety of high quality food at Rocca, Grand Hyatt Doha.
Grand Hyatt Muscat’s General Manager, Garry Friend with Chef Francisco Canzano from Grand Hyatt Muscat’s facebook page.
On the last day of the Master Chef Series, Chef Franco will host a cooking class for interested and up & coming chefs on Sunday, 12 May. The cooking class will feature unique Italian ingredients and professional cooking techniques priced at RO 18 per person. Everyone is welcome to join, cook and indulge in delicious food.
For reservations or more information, visit muscat.grand@hyatt.com, call +968 2464 1234 or email muscat.dining@hyatt.com. Check the hotels Facebook page for more updates facebook.com/GrandHyattMuscat .
If you’ve never been to Tuscanny, this is a great opportunity to check it out. Read our review of this fine dining restaraurant from about a year and half ago.
Just saw this on Al Nahda Resort & Spa’s facebook page and thought I’d share it with you all:
RO 39 for single or double occupancy on a bed and breakfast basis.
RO 49 for single or double occupancy on a half board basis.
… Taxes included. All rates are based on a maximum of two adults sharing. Reservations must be made in advance.Valid for stays throughout May 2013.
”As we celebrate the National Day of Oman, Grand Hyatt introduces a special package for guests planning to stay with us between 27 and 30 November.”
“In celebration of the 43rd Oman National Day, Grand Hyatt Muscat introduces an exclusive national day package that can be availed by Omani residents as well as GCC. The Oman National Day Weekender package includes exciting room rates and food and beverage discounts that will be available and can be booked during the National Day holiday, 27 to 30 November. Grand room rates starting from RO 90 for single occupancy and RO 100 for double occupancy. Guests can also avail of a 20% discount on food and beverages while dining at the award winning Mokha Cafe and Marjan restaurant. This package is subject to 17.4% taxes and service charge and can be booked by calling (+968) 2464 1234 or email muscat.grand@hyatt.com.”
The divesite called “Mousetrap” was our 2nd dive out of the Millennium Hotel’s Marina in Musanah. (My 26th dive in total) The first was Sira Island.
This is the Musanah Oman Sail Divemaster, Thani Mohammed Al Hamdani. Quote of the day by Thani during the diving orientation: “Maximum deep last in the corner – 20 meter. If you want more deep, take one shovel and go down.” 
Other divers waiting for the rest of us to get in the water. Mousetrap was right next to Sira Island. This was the first time diving in the Damaniyats where the 1 hour break between dives was not spent at “Police Island” near the gorgeous whitesand beach of Kharabah Island.
The visibility was quite poor on this dive so most pics came out looking “greenish”. It was still a great dive though! I saw several schools of yellow fish, as well as clown fish, parrot fish, cuttlefish and a turtle. Check out the video below. I almost missed the turtle as it was swimming over my head!
I can’t quite remember what they call these fish. Any divers out there want to help me out so I can properly label this fish?
There was so much debris during parts of the dive that it was almost as if it was snowing under the water. Check out the video below to see what I mean. Some European divers on the boat said that it’s always like that when diving in Oman but that is simply not the case. Visibility has rarely been an issue when diving for me.
I think we caught 2 cuttlefish making out on this dive.
Just look at that beach in the distance! There are so many wonderful places to snorkel, sunbathe and dive at the Damaniyats!
If you look close enough, you’ll notice that some cannisters are just slightly larger than the others. The smaller ones are 13 litres and the larger ones hold 15 litres. For this dive, I used the larger cannister and it made a huge difference for how long I was able to leave the water. When I got out after a 55 minute dive, I still had 70 bar of oxygen left! BTW, the tank with the green sticker is for Nitrox. If you take one of PADI’s most popular specialty courses, “Enriched Air Diver Course“, it “gives you more no decompression dive time. This means more time underwater, especially on repetitive scuba dives.”
Heading back to the Marina at Millennium Hotel in Musanah with the Damaniyats off in the distance
Here is a 10 minute video taken from many short clips of our dive at Mousetrap. Notice the poor visibility in some spots and be sure to check out the huge turtle swimming over my head (starting at 7:05)!
Be were fortunate to be diving during the Laser World Championships 2013 – which is taking place out of the Marina at the Millennium! The boatride back was made much more interesting with dozens of sailboats out on the water!
I got this list of watersport activities from the Marina and thought readers might be interested in knowing current prices for such activities at the Musanah Marina. 30 minutes of Stand Up Paddle Boarding for only 3 rials?! Or Kayaking for the same price!? To learn more about Stand Up Paddle Boarding in Oman, check out this awesome blogpost by Heather Duncan from the “Duncan Adventures Blog”!
Any of you ever dive out of Musanah with Oman Sail? If so, how was your experience? We really enjoyed it and love that the diving options of Oman are slowly growing! To book with Oman Sail in Musanah, just visit the Oman Sail office to the right of the Marina. Tel: +968-2671771 Email: info@seaoman.com Website: www.seaoman.com
Now this is quite a deal! 55 OMR for single or 60 OMR for double room including all taxes and breakfast. Great opportunity to check out Sifah if you’re never stayed at the lovely Sifawy Boutique Hotel! Check out the review from our stay there a little over 2 years ago. I’m sure the place is even better by now.
