18 Best Hotels in Oman

Name: Nomadic Desert Camp
Address: Ash Sharqiyah South, Oman
Telephone: 9933–6273
Price range: $$

Muscat has a variety of world-class luxury accommodations as well as mid-range local and international chains. Other popular tourist destinations, including the mountains of Jabal Akhdar and the southern city of Salalah, also have a few high-end options. Reasonably priced hotels that are low- or no-frills (but still clean and comfortable) are available throughout the country. In the deserts of Sharqiyah, guests can find a range of camping options as well, from the luxurious to the rustic. Camping with your own tent and gear is allowed anywhere in the country and is a popular option for ecotourists who venture away from the cities into the deserts, mountains, and remote beaches.

Nomadic Desert Camp

$$ | Oman Fodor's Choice

A simple camp of traditional palm leaf huts (with no a/c or electricity), this family-run property offers a more local experience than some of the other resorts, with the friendly, on-site Omani owners who are extremely helpful. This might explain why most repeat visitors to the area seem to prefer this no-frills property over some of the more luxurious options. The reasonable rates include Omani-style dinner and breakfast, a short camel ride, and a guide to lead you in from Bidiyah if you have a 4x4 (otherwise pickups are available for a small fee). A fire is built nightly, and guests and locals gather to relax over a cup of tea under the stars.

Be sure to bring cash, as you can only use a credit card for the room; any additional activities or extras (like sheesha), will need to be paid for in cash.

Other camps offer more excursion options, but few that offer the remote, authentic desert camping experience.

Pioneer Hotel Apartments

$$ | Nuzhah St., Muscat, 114, Oman Fodor's Choice

In a residential neighborhood, the hotel may seem a bit out of the way, but it is a mere 10 minutes from the beaches at Al Bustan and the main tourist attractions of the Mutrah Souk and Old Muscat, and it's an ideal home base for those traveling with family or planning a longer stay. Luxurious, apartment-style accommodations are well-designed, with brand-new furnishings, separates, and lovely views of the mountains. Service, from check-in to check-out is impeccable, which is no surprise as the Omani owners are on-site daily to keep an eye on things and to get to know their guests; they are happy to assist and are a wealth of information offering insights about the local area that no other hotel concierges offer. The rooftop pool is a beautiful, tranquil place to spend the afternoon, and the restaurant provides service there throughout the day. The room service and restaurant are quite good and extremely affordable. The hotel does not have an alcohol license, but there are bars nearby.

Resort Sur Beach Holiday

$$ | Way 411, Oman Fodor's Choice

On the far end of the New Corniche, this is the best lodging option in Sur, offering direct beach and corniche access, complimentary breakfast, and the most popular bar in town. There are a few great little restaurants and cafés across the street from the hotel, and the main attractions of Old Sur are mere minutes away by car. Don't expect much of the rooms themselves: they are clean and comfortable, despite being outdated and bland decor-wise.

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1000 Nights Camp

$$ | Wahiba Sands Al Mintrib, Oman

This camp, which has more resort-style amenities than most others, offers several different levels of accommodations, from basic tents without electricty or bathroom facilities, to more luxurious tents with private baths and a/c, to small villas. All of the rooms are a bit run-down but are clean and comfortable enough. Breakfast and dinner buffet, fruit, water, and soft drinks are all included. On-site the resort has its own pool, sand volleyball nets, darts and billiards, and in the high season, Bedouin singers and dancers are often invited to perform in the evenings. As with most of the camps, the property can arrange all kinds of activities, including camel and horseback riding, dune-bashing, and desert trekking—albeit for a rather high fee. This property is not very remote, which makes it easy to find, but also means that it does not offer the quiet experience you may be looking for (it's in a part of the desert that is a popular camping and dune-bashing destination for locals, so it can be a bit noisy some nights). Pickups can be arranged in Bidiyah if you don't have your own four-wheel-drive vehicle.

Arabian Oryx Camp

$$ | Oman

This camp's spacious bungalows are good for traveling families, and the resort can arrange all kinds of desert experiences; the layout—rows of square, air-conditioned cabins—leaves something to be desired. All cabins have two queen beds, air-conditioning, and private baths. Aside from Bedouin singing and dancing in the gathering halls after dinner, which is only scheduled during the high season, there are few things to do in the camp itself. But the food here is some of the best of any of the camps in the area, with a huge selection during both breakfast and dinner (which is included in the rates), including great barbecue and local Omani specialties like sweet, saffron-flavored halwa.

Crowne Plaza Muscat

$$ | Al Qurum St., Muscat, Oman

Built to look like a cruise ship, the iconic Crowne Plaza sits high on a hill in the posh neighborhood of Qurum Heights, overlooking the sea and the twinkling lights of the city below. Though it is one of the older hotels in Muscat, the rooms were renovated in 2014 and are clean and modern with nice touches like universal outlets on the bedside tables and gorgeous walk-in rain showers in the bathrooms. Sea-view rooms are well worth the slightly higher price, as without the view the rooms might be a bit bland. The grounds feature tennis courts and swimming pools overlooking the sea, and a long staircase leads down to a very private beach. The casual pool and seaside restaurant-bar have consistently good sandwiches and salads, and the property's Persian restaurant, Shiraz, is excellent. The hotel is also home to the most popular English-stye pub in the city, which hosts Tuesday night quiz competitions that draw a lively group of expats and locals.

Crowne Plaza Resort

$$ | Al Khandaq St., Salalah, Oman

Though it's not exactly an architectural marvel, this serviceable hotel 10 minutes from the airport and city center, is more than just a convenient stopover. Pretty gardens, a golf range, and a large pool overlooking a wide expanse of beautiful beach and comforable, attractive common areas largely redeem what the building lacks in elegance. Rooms are pleasant, bright, and modern, some with terraces and direct garden access, and suites are large with rug-strewn marble floors, large sitting areas and traditonal interiors. There are dining options indoors and out, with a good range of international cuisine.

Golden Tulip Nizwa

$$ | Hai a Thurat 611, Oman

Though the rooms could use updating, the Golden Tulip Hotel is the best place to stay in Nizwa. It has a beautiful swimming pool, restaurant, café, sheesha lounge, and three bars with common spaces decorated beautifully with traditional Omani handicrafts. The front desk can arrange tours of the surrounding area, and staff are very knowledgeable about the local sights. It's also in a convenient location, about a five-minute drive from the main Nizwa square, where the souq and fort are located.

The bars in the Golden Tulip are the only places to drink alcohol in Nizwa.

Hormuz Grand

$$ | Al Matar St., Muscat, Oman

One of the newest properties to open in Muscat, the Hormuz Grand is the first luxury property in Seeb, just across the expressway from the airport. While the hotel's exterior may seem plain, the grounds are beautifully manicured and the rooms sleek and modern, including fun touches like a PlayStation and high-end toiletries. The hotel has a fine but extremely expensive Indian restaurant in addition to a pool lounge and all-day international restaurant. On-site are also an elegant spa and a pool surrounded by comfortable, pillow-covered lounge chairs. The property expects to get a liquor license by 2016.

InterContinental Muscat

$$ | 2817 Way, Muscat, Oman

Built in 1977, the InterContinental is one of the oldest properties in Muscat, and though the service still shines, the property is a bit dated. The grounds are lovely, with tennis courts, gardens, an Olympic-size swimming pool, and direct beach access, and some of the restaurants and bars are big draws for locals as well as visitors. The location is the hotel's best feature: it's within walking distance to the Opera House, the cafés and shops of Shatti Road and Bareeq al Shatti, and much of the local nightlife. Renovations in 2016 should give the property a much-needed face-lift, but despite the dated decor, the hotel continues to be a favorite among business travelers and tourists looking for a resort experience at a reasonable rate.

Jebel Shams Resort

$$ | Way 617, Oman

This three-star hotel in Jebal Shams, about 90 minutes from Nizwa, caters to the outdoorsy set who visit the mountain to hike and bike, offering fairly basic rooms that include breakfast and dinner. Great hiking and biking trails begin right on the property, and bikes are available to borrow. Accommodations options vary from tents to individual chalets with private fire pits to more traditional hotel rooms. You can opt out of the included meal packages, but there are no other dining options in the area unless you have packed in food yourself. A four-wheel-drive vehicle is required to access the property.

Misfah Old House

$$ | Oman

Owner Ahmed Al Abri has turned 11 rooms of his restored historic home in the ancient village of Misfat Al Abryeen into basic, no-frills guest rooms. Rates vary by season but always include local Omani meals prepared by the village women who live next door. It's a rustic, unique experience about an hour from Nizwa.

Qurum Beach Hotel

$$ | Al Qurm St., Muscat, Oman

The no-frills Qurum Beach Hotel looks like a kitschy California motel from the 1960s, and though it's a bit run-down, the large apartments are clean and acceptable for those on a budget who want to be close to the nightlife in the surrounding hotels, the cafés of Shatti Street, and the public beach. The location in the heart of the hotel district in Qurum, just steps away from the beachfront Corniche at Shatti Road, is indeed ideal. Don't expect much service beyond a basic complimentary breakfast of toast and Nescafé and room service that is good for little more than ice or beer. But the hotel's five sprawling, three-bedroom apartments are a fantastic option for larger families or groups. Each has two master bedrooms and one twin room, all with their own bathrooms, as well as a spacious living area, separate dining area, and either kitchen or kitchenette (depending on the room).

Safari Desert Camp

$$ | Oman

This traditional, electricity-free camp is one of the most remote, with tents scattered around the site, each nicely furnished with carpets and two beds as well as an open-topped tent for the toilet and shower. If the camp is still not remote enough for your liking, there is the option for "wild camping" in a tent a few miles away from the main site; other than your meals being delivered, you will be left in peaceful solitude. Local Omani breakfast and dinner are included in the rate, and additional experiences, from Bedouin musical performances and henna tattooing to camel safaris and professional drivers to take you deeper into the desert, can be booked. Transfers from Bidiyah are available for a hefty additional fee. Though the camp is open year-round, we do not recommend booking at this camp from mid-May through mid-August due to the lack of air-conditioning.

Sahab Hotel

$$ | Rte. 21, Oman

Perched on the cliffs of Jabal Akhdar—and accessible only by four-wheel-drive vehicle—Sahab offers stunning views of the surrounding mountains from many of the attractive, modern rooms and from the lovely pool. The food is average, but as there are no dining options in the vicinity, you should take advantage of the meal service. The property can arrange guided hikes, cave exploration, and other local activities. It's about an hour from Nizwa.

Sur Plaza Hotel

$$ | Rte. 23, Oman

The centrally located hotel has clean, simple rooms with all the basic amenities, including free Wi-Fi and a lovely pool, beside which you can take your breakfast or lunch. There are also both alfresco and indoor bars. The food in the restaurant is passable, and the drink selection limited, but sufficient. The location, reasonable price, and reliability of the property make it an acceptable choice for a home base while you're exploring Sur and the surrounding region.

Turtle Beach Resort

$$ | Oman

Forty minutes south of Sur, the Turtle Beach Resort is a remote retreat with a private beach, on-site water sports, a lively bar, and easy access to the turtle reserve in Ras Al Jinz. The rooms can be booked with just breakfast, half-board, or a full meal plan, which would be your best bet considering there are no other restaurants in the surrounding area. Some rooms are more traditional, with palm-frond roofs and no air-conditioning or attached toilets, while other rooms are fully modern, with en-suite bathrooms and air-conditioning. The resort is popular with families looking to totally disconnect, so most guests are not bothered by the lack of Wi-Fi in the rooms or the total dearth of activities and dining in the surrounding areas.

Wadi Shab Resort

$$ | Rte. 17, Oman

Halfway between Muscat and Sur (about 40 minutes from downtown Sur), the Wadi Shab Resort is set on the cliffs overlooking Tiwi beach and is popular with those who want to stay the night before or after exploring nearby Wadi Shab. There is a nice outdoor pool and a good restaurant that serves both local Omani delicacies and a basic, international menu. The rooms are quite basic for the price, but as the only hotel in the area, they can command these inflated prices. The stunning views make up for the lack of flair in the rooms themselves; every room has a sea view from the ideal mountaintop location.

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