National Geographic Traveller UK - 04.2020

4

�uscat

WHERE TO STAY

Sea views and golden sands take a starring

role in the Omani capital’s plush hotel scene

1 W MUSCAT

When it comes to hotels, this swathe of the

Middle East tends to be associated with

sprawling luxury resorts, and Muscat is no

exception. But Oman prefers its hotels a little

more natural, which is why you’ll see plenty

of traditionally styled digs in this corner of

the Arabian Peninsula.

Enter the W Muscat, which opened

in September 2019 amid the bars and

restaurants on the chic Shatti al-Qurum

beachfront. The W brand is known as outré

and outrageous, but here it toes a subtler line,

with classic, Omani-inspired decor. Perhaps

it’s all toned down to keep the focus on the

ever-blue Gulf of Oman, just beyond the

balcony of each of the 279 rooms.

Not that the W underplays everything.

The pool is accompanied by a mirrored bar,

underwater loungers and lorid cabanas,

while the rootop is home to the Siddharta

Lounge by Buddha-Bar, which serves pan-

Mediterranean food and drinks overlooking

another pool and the sea beyond. This may

not be as full-on as other Ws, but it still

packs a punch: marble-lashed corridors,

sassy luorescent-coloured lighting and

modern art everywhere, including a vast

steel frankincense tree outside the entrance,

and gold stools in the shape of camels in the

bathroom. From £210. marriott.co.uk

2 MUSCAT HILLS RESORT

Life’s a beach at these gorgeous mod con-

equipped huts on the sands of the hotel’s

private bay. With a private outdoor terrace

and al fresco bathroom, this is a rare

chance to get back to nature in Oman — but

you’ll have air con, an Ibiza-style outdoor

restaurant and sofas on the beach to keep

it plush. There’s also a diving school and a

beach club with monthly international DJs.

From £120, B&B. muscathillsresort.com

3 WYNDHAM GARDEN MUSCAT AL KHUWAIR

This December 2019 opening is a business

district bargain. Two pools, steam rooms and

saunas, and a Brazilian steakhouse liven up

the public areas, while the rooms stay just the

right side of business chic, with bright feature

walls of foliage photos and funky tiled-brick

bathrooms. From £63. wyndhamhotels.com

4 KEMPINSKI HOTEL MUSCAT
With a four-mile strip of beach, this hotel
doesn’t need much else going for it; but
actually, it’s got plenty, from three pools to
no fewer than seven bars, plus a bowling
alley. Rooms are standard luxury rather than
Oman-inspired, but families love the kids’
club and the spa incorporates frankincense
and rose into its treatments. From £170.
RATES QUOTED ARE FOR STANDARD DOUBLES, ROOM ONLY, UNLESS SPECIFIED kempinski.com JULIA BUCKLEY

SMART TRAVELLER

April 2020 31