Hotel Review: Hotel Muscat Holiday, Muscat, Oman

I stayed at this hotel during my 19-hour transit in Muscat, courtesy of Oman Air, on my way from Abu Dhabi to Jakarta (click here for the flight review).

The Hotel

Unlike most other major cities in the Gulf, Muscat is not known as an extravagant, over-the-top luxury tourist destination (and I was told it intentionally so). While it is true that travel connoisseurs will find themselves at home at the likes of the Al Bustan Palace, the Chedi, or Shangri-La, almost every other hotel in town is either locally managed or belong to midscale brands of international chains. This was also the case of Hotel Muscat Holiday.

The hotel building looked dated, and so was the overall ambience of the hotel, but a number of areas and hotel facilities had benefitted from a facelift, some of which were actually well done (e.g.: the elevator doors on the lobby level).

The Location

It was my first time visiting Oman and I had absolutely no sense of direction in Muscat. Based on my limited observation, though, the hotel is located approximately 15 minutes away and quite close to the magnificent Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque. The surrounding area seems to be pretty decent with a few shopping centres around (easily reachable by taxis) and a McDonalds just a few buildings away. The hotel does not seem to be quite popular among taxi drivers, but if it may help to tell them it is next to the Ibis Hotel or the Oman Club.

For a day tourist with less than 24 hours to spend, the hotel location served me well. In the few hours that I was out, I could easily cover the city’s main spots (the Grand Mosque, Muttrah district, and the old town). Note that public transportation is not as advanced, nor as reliable, here as compared to Dubai or Abu Dhabi and the best way to get around town is taxi (private or shared). There are always taxis available right outside of the hotel (fees are fixed based on the destination), but you could easily save money by hailing one on the street yourself (note that street taxis do not use meter – bargain your way down!)

The Room

I stayed in a one-bedroom suite which was very spacious and comprised of a decent-sized bedroom, a large living/dining room, two full bathrooms, and a small pantry – all in all it could comfortably fit a small family. The room was fine although, especially for a suite, very plainly furnished, making it feel empty and cold. If anything, the entire ambience made you feel as if you were living in a different decade (fortunately, they did remember to install some of the present day necessities like free WiFi and a flat-screen TV). The overall maintenance and cleanliness of the room was satisfactory, and the only issue I encountered was a leakage in the master bathroom which I did not bother reporting as I only spent a total of 6 or so hours in the room. The room overlooked the swimming pool, although unfortunately the windows were kept locked.

The Facilities

During my short stay, I had two meals (breakfast and dinner) in their all-day dining restaurant, Al Maha, which was located on the Mezzanine Floor. Although both meals were nothing to write home about, I must say they were a few levels above that of the average midscale hotel offerings back home. The buffet spread was wide in both occasions and the quality was not bad either. The service was also better and friendlier than a few other hotels I had stayed in although still left a number of rooms for improvement.

I also did a few laps in the pool, which was very suitable for lap swimming and empty during most of the day (they apparently do swimming classes in the evening, though). The pool is quite deep on both ends, but there is also a kids pool right next to it. The hotel also has a tennis court and a well-equipped gym (albeit, again, dated but under renovation) so I am sure would satisfy the sport enthusiasts amongst us.

The Service

I did not use any hotel service during the stay, but both the check-in and check-out were smooth and swift, although not particularly forthcoming or encouraging. I did ask a few questions about some tourism spots in town and received satisfactory responses.

Verdict

Functional hotel in a central location for stopover passengers. Not one of my most memorable stays, but nonetheless served its purpose well enough.

LIKE: The size and overall upkeep of the room, the leisure facilities, the location.

DISLIKE: The old facilities and décor in a number of areas, the cold and empty feeling in the suite.

PRICE: My stay - including all meals - was complimentary, courtesy of Oman Air as a transitting passenger.

DETAILS: http://www.holidayhotelsoman.com/holiday_muscat/index.html

DATE OF VISIT: December 2015

#review #hotel