Friday, December 23, 2011

Leisure Travel in Oman

With strategic expansion of its network in Europe and Asia, the country’s international passenger carrier Oman Air is luring tourists to embark on a once in a lifetime holiday to this exotic land. Leisure travel in Oman has grown leaps and bounds in the last decade or so. Starting with being one of the most preferred travel destinations for Middle Eastern leisure travelers, it is now making its way to the list of best holiday destinations in the world. The country is huge in terms of area and diverse in landscape and beauty. From beaches, deserts, traditional architecture, cultural heritage and beautiful marine life, to busy souqs, modern five star hotels, and world class spas, the Sultanate boasts of the best of both worlds.

The country is an ideal destination for adventurers, leisure travelers, sightseeing enthusiasts as well as visitors interested in exploring Omani culture and heritage. In view of the fact that no matter what the purpose of your travel to this magnificent land, leisure is surely a part of the bargain, the country has something unique to offer to each traveler, and is committed to constantly improve their travel and tourism sector. You may get a first hand account of this when you get in touch with one of the many travel agencies of the country. These professionals are experts in designing private and group tours to most parts of the country. All you have to do is tell them your requirements for comfort, stay, budget, etc., the places you are keen on visiting and the number of days you wish to spend in Oman, and leave the rest to them.

You could also let them know of activities you would like to undertake while here. Some of the favourite activities for tourists are playing golf, embarking on an evening Dhow cruise on the serene waters, spending a day or two in taking advantage of the many spas located around the country that specialize in relaxing and distressing the body through an array of treatments, discovering the exotic marine life, going whale / turtle / dolphin watching, bird watching, visiting world famous caves and the one of a kind textured mountains, enjoying the many in-house restaurants at your hotel, swimming in secluded water haven, enjoying a stroll through the busy souqs, relishing the unique architectural marvels all around Oman, sailing on the blue waters, scuba diving and snorkeling, water-skiing, watching traditional horse racing or camel racing, visiting a traditional village and discovering Omani hospitality at its best, going on a desert safari or over night camp in the desert, bicycling, trekking, rock climbing, and so on.

If you are looking for a destination for leisure travel in Oman is the place for you. Put it down on your priority list today and start looking for the best deals and tours available.

Friday, December 16, 2011

Muscat Oman Hotels

Muscat is one of the very few destinations in the Middle East that is growing fast as a commercial center as well as a holiday destination. The country of Oman has been known throughout the world for its untouched beauty, raw beauty and hospitality of the locals. To bring these aspects of the Sultanate into notice and to take the tourism sector a step further, the government of the nation is taking up an active role in the development of infrastructure and tourism-centric amenities offered in the country such as hotels, spas, rental cars, travel packages, air flights, buses, city tours, travel agencies, etc. Since, accommodation is one of the major concerns for visitors and most travelers enter the country by air to the Muscat International Airport, Muscat Oman hotels are most preferred as the first halt.

There are quite a few reasonably priced hotels in the capital that can fit into an average traveler’s budget; but what is the point in being a saver when your whole idea of vacationing so far from your home is to relax and enjoy foreign comforts and hospitality. For tourists that come here to be pampered and well looked after, there are plenty of five star and four star properties as well. While, these may be expensive as compared to budget accommodation options available in Muscat, they are worth every penny. Strategically located a majority of these hotels have fantastic views from all the rooms, a range of services, multiple in-house restaurants and many other facilities to take advantage of.

Some of the most liked and recommended hotels in the city are the Al Husn (Shangri-la Barr Al Jissah Resort & Spa), the Al Bustan Palace Hotel, The Chedi Muscat hotel, the Al Bandar ( Shangri-la Barr Al Jissah Resort & Spa), Grand Hyatt Muscat, the Al Waha (Shangri-la Barr Al Jissah Resort & Spa), the Muscat Intercontinental Hotel, the Crowne Plaza Hotel, the Radisson Blu Hotel, Ramada Hotel, Hotel Muscat Holiday, Ramee Guestline Hotel, Golden Tulip Muscat hotel, Al Falaj Hotel, and so on. The above mentioned hotels range from five star to three star. While many tourists have now turned to booking hotel accommodation through online portals, it may be advisable to get in touch with a local travel agency for insights and better options. Travel agencies have up to date information about such details and are customer oriented.

It may also be wise to choose the best suited option for you from all the Muscat Oman hotels by keeping your travel itinerary in mind. For example, if you wish to enjoy the city thoroughly, it may be better to select a hotel which is located in the core of the city rather than the outskirts. So, get hold of a good travel agency today and ask for suggestions.

Thursday, December 8, 2011

Muscat Oman Tours

A majority of reputable travel agencies of the country offer Muscat Oman tours, and for good reason. Muscat is the Capital of the Sultanate and proves to be the ideal starting point for any exploration of Oman. The city truly showcases the best this huge country has to offer for any travel aficionado. Being the commercial centre, it has quite a good inflow of business visitors throughout the year; but now that the country is promoting tourism and has taken special steps to welcome the world to its doors, it also receives a large population of tourists on holiday and leisure vacations from all around the world. Home to the first super-mall in Oman, the Muscat City Centre, a number of excellent five star hotels and specialty spas, major multi-cuisine restaurants, traditional souqs and retail shopping options, the beaches, forts, mosques, intriguing architectural marvels, the Sultan’s palace, museums and loads of other sightseeing alternatives, Muscat is considered a must-see for any visitor.

The typical city tour conducted by many travel agencies of the country includes visiting the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, Bait Al Zubair Museum, Muttrah Souq, the fish market at the Corniche, Mirani & Jalali forts, and His Majesty Sultan Qaboos’ Al Alam Palace. And while going on such a city tour is recommended, the true beauty of the city can only be soaked in by taking your own time to explore its many treasures. Some of the other places to see while in the city are the Ruwi Mosque, the Zawawi Mosque, and some museums such as Museum of Omani Heritage, National Museum of Oman, Oman Oil and Gas Exhibition Centre and Sultan’s Armed Forces Museum.

You could take a long walk in the Corniche area of Muscat. The vicinity houses a number of popular eating joints that can give you the taste of genuine Omani cuisine. It may be worth your while to even visit Qurum National Park, which guarantees fun for the family with its manmade waterfalls and amusement park. Muscat also offers plenty of activities for adventure enthusiasts. For those of you interested in activities such as rock climbing, trekking, golfing, night safari, camping, horseback riding, dolphin watching, turtle watching, bird watching, camel racing, horse racing, cycling, dhow cruising, etc., the city will live up to your expectations. On the other hand, it is also a favoured destination for tourists that merely want to relax in the lap of luxury and a scenic view. With strategically located spa hotels and picturesque views at every corner, Muscat is a dream come true.

Muscat Oman tours are a great way to start your introduction with the Capital, but it is advisable to do a little traveling around by yourself to get acquainted with Omani hospitality and people. This is what will give your holiday the success and wholeness it deserves.

Monday, December 5, 2011

Traveling in Oman

Oman is a wide spread Sultanate. Until the past few years this country was a favourite holiday destination only for travelers from the Middle Eastern countries, but today this scenario has changed completely. These days Oman has opened its doors to the whole world and welcomes thousands of tourists every month. This Middle East’s best kept secret can no more boast of being so, as it has been marked as a priority destination on every world traveler’s map of places to see. The country has also taken special steps to develop infrastructure and the growing travel and tourism industry here. All this has made visiting and traveling in Oman easy and fun for all who want to relish its beauty and soak in its majesty.

No matter what country you belong to, you can always find a direct or conveniently connecting flight to Oman. The international airport of the country is located in its Capital city, Muscat and most tourists enter the Sultanate through here. There are many cruise lines that halt at the Oman shores too, in case you are considering that option. A quick way to see your choices is to do a little research online or get hold of a reliable travel agency in Oman. A majority of reputable travel agencies of the country hold expertise in designing tailor-made packages and suggesting tours that can fit your desires as well as budget perfectly. You can also book your accommodation, rental car, air tickets and the like through such an agency to be assured that there are no grim surprises, which might spoil the excitement of your trip.

Most visitors prefer hiring a chauffeur driven car while on holiday in Oman. This is ideal for many reasons. It gives the travelers a sense of security while in a foreign country, as the driver knows the routes and driving rules and regulations. It saves the traveler from hassles of reading maps or asking for directions, especially if no common languages are spoken. There is no doubt that rental cars are the most comfortable way of getting around, in view of the fact that one can choose the car they want and even get extra features like airbags and GPS for safety. Another plus is the flexibility it provides to design an itinerary of the traveler’s choice.

With plenty of travel agencies to serve you well, all you need to do is find one and let them know of your requirements. Ask for a chauffeur driven rental car to take care of traveling in Oman, ask for spa hotels for a luxurious accommodation and pick the best tours to see all that the country has to offer. Remember that you will need more than a week to truly see the treasures of Oman, so plan accordingly.