Thursday, June 28, 2012

Leisure Travel in Oman

We live in a busy world. Rarely get time to relax. In such a scenario the whole point of going abroad for a vacation is leisure. A drastic change in scenery, people and ecology is just what the doctor ordered, and what place fits the bill to the T other than the Sultanate. Leisure travel to Oman is becoming increasingly popular with avid travelers from the West. Getting here is easy, thanks to multiple flights from almost all major cities of the world, traveling within the country is hassle-free by internal flights or rental cars, accommodation is top class no matter what the destination, the country offers all modern-day amenities and the people are well-known for their rich culture and hospitality.

If leisure is a priority, Oman is the place to be. It offers spectacular landscapes coupled with world-class luxury, in addition to cultural heritage sites, amazing architecture, fun activities for the whole family to partake in, scenic architecture, and much more. The main component of a leisure holiday is luxurious accommodation. Thus, the first step right after your have booked your first class air travel seats should be to consider your 5 star and spa options. Most 5 star hotels in the country have their private spas within the vicinity, but if spa treatments are a must for you to enjoy your holiday experience, check online for hotels that have reputable spas or offer treatments that interest you. Official hotel websites are ideal for this kind of research, as they provide comprehensive details about their in-house spas including treatment menus and charges. If 5 star hotels seem out of your budget, try 4 star resorts or hotels in the city. There are plenty to choose from.

To truly relax in a foreign country, one cannot hope to rely on public transport. Keeping up with bus schedules or waiting around for taxis can be stressful and put a dent in your enjoyment. Hence, it may be advisable to rent a car. You can ask your hotel travel desk or travel agency to make the arrangements for you or simply get in touch with an international car rental company and make the booking. A majority of companies offer chauffeur driven vehicles as well, obviously for an extra charge. But the deal is well worth it. After all, wouldn’t you rather enjoy the scenery than worry about directions, traffic and maps?

Leisure travel in Oman is all about activities and places. A good hotel situated in a scenic location, spa treatments and a luxurious sedan or SUV to take you wherever you wish to go is a major chunk of it, but there is more. No holiday to this country is complete without a trip to the traditional market called Souk and a boat ride aboard a traditional Dhow.

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

4 Star Hotels in Oman


The whole idea behind taking off on a vacation is to visit a place that is unlike your resident country. For Westerners this translates into exploring countries in Asia, Africa and the Middle East. Just a flight away from any major city on the globe, Oman is steadily making its mark on the tourism scene of the world. This best kept secret of Arabia was revealed to the world as an excellent travel destination, and has been in the limelight ever since. The country’s government is actively involved in developing the country into a tourism paradise for all to enjoy. Thus, in the last decade or so the Sultanate has seen a significant transformation in tourism sector and related industries such as infrastructure, 5 star and 4 star hotels in Oman, car rentals, etc.

Today the Sultanate of Oman is considered a thriving tourist destination with endless variety of sites and activities on offer. The country is home to a number of World Heritage Sites, ancient forts, palaces, mosques, and fascinating architectural marvels for those interested in history and architecture. It facilitates fun activities like water sports, camel racing, camel back riding, horse riding, horse racing, kite flying, bicycling, rock climbing, trekking, mountain climbing, sailing, dune bashing, sand surfing, boating scuba diving, snorkeling, and many more for adventure and sports enthusiasts. For the nature lovers it has in store treasures such as turtle watching, dolphin watching, whale watching, cave exploring, textured mountains, fresh water springs, bird watching, and wildlife watching. In addition to all this there are many interesting museums, cultural heritage, scenic beaches and shopping options available throughout the country to keep any traveler wanting more.

While airlines such as Oman Air have made traveling to the country by flight a fairly easy affair, you will have to book your accommodation in advance, especially if you plan to travel in winter. Summers in Oman can be quite hot and thus the large inflow of tourists visits in winters. Booking your hotels in advance may guarantee you get the hotel you desire and also find a better deal in terms of rates. There are quite a few choices available. With inflation and disposable income on the lower side, most visitors prefer 4 star hotels accommodation nowadays. Keeping somewhat the same standards as 5 star hotels, these are comparatively cheaper.

Taking into consideration you point of entry, which is most likely Muscat the best 4 star hotels in Oman are the Crowne Plaza Hotel, the Radisson SAS Hotel, the Ramada, and the Hotel Muscat Holiday. If you plan to visit Barkha check out the Al Nahda Resort & Spa, and Al Sawadi Beach Resort. In Nizwa the best option is the Golden Tulip Nizwa Hotel, while Sur has the Sur Plaza Hotel and Sohar has a Crowne Plaza.