Muscat, Oman

Muscat, the capital of the Sultanate of Oman, is a very authentic Middle East city. It still has beautiful and untouched beaches. While sitting at the beach there is no view on high-rise buildings or any speedboats going around with “bananas” or anything of that kind. It is almost totally unspoiled.

Actually Oman, and Muscat, is a perfect destination with children. It is a very safe country and there are tons of things to do for families. From adventurous hikes and desert safaris, to just relaxing at the beach or going on a cultural excursion once in a while. You can rent a Dhow to go sailing and encounter wild dolphins, visit the turtle reserve or one of the many wadi’s Oman has to offer. Even if you don’t want to drive around the Sultanate there are plenty of day trips to make from the capital.

Muscat itself is also not over developed. Of course there are numerous hotels and resorts. But it’s not very touristy. And not many restaurants can be found outside the grounds of the international resorts. Oman is kid friendly because the Omani people pay real attention to children. They are welcome everywhere. But Oman is not a country with typical child attractions.

Oman is absolutely not a cheap destination. But you get value for your money as an Oman holiday with kids offers you luxury, adventure, relaxation and immense beauty.

Here are some awesome things to do in Muscat with kids. If you follow this list you will for sure see all the major highlights of this wonderful city. Use it as a check-list. It works really well.

• Go to the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque;
• Buy some souvenires at Mutrah Souq;
• Visit Al Alam Palace;
• Smell the most expensive perfume in the world at the Amouage Perfumery);
• Check out the Sultans Armed Forces Museum;
• Enjoy one of the many beaches Muscat has to offer.

Ritz Carlton Al Bustan Palace

Al Bustan Street, Quron Beach
Muscat 114, Oman 
+(968) 24 799666
www.ritzcarlton.com

Price range

$$$$$

Location

A bit outside the city of Muscat, next to the palace of the Sultan of Oman.

Accommodation

At the time we stayed there the guest rooms were a bit dated, but still provided all the necessary modern amenities. From what I understood all rooms are currently being enhanced and updated, as well as the indoor and outdoor facilities (until April 2018).
We had several rooms while staying there. First we stayed in Deluxe interconnecting rooms, sleeping 3 persons per room. We also slept in the tent on the beach, an AMAZING experience. The last 2 nights we stayed in an executive suite (disadvantage of the suite, it only sleeps 4 people and doesn’t have any connecting room).

Dining

The hotel has three restaurants and a pool bar where you can have some light lunch and snacks. We tried all but one restaurant (China Mood). The buffet restaurant was quite good and served a different buffet theme every night. Breakfast was fantastic. We enjoyed sitting outside on the terrace overlooking the pool more than inside the restaurant. 

Services and amenities for kids

The Ritz Carlton Al Bustan Palace in Muscat has the “Travel in Style with Kids” label.
For an overview of the services and amenities for kids at this hotel click here. Amenities provided by the hotel in green.

Extra info

We stayed here for 5 nights over New Years and loved the hotel. The atmosphere is very relaxing despite the fact that the hotel is really large, it actually doesn’t feel that way. The property is set up spaciously and has an expansive 1 km private beach. The Spa is an absolute must. The Six Senses Spa is next to the hotel in a replica of an ancient Arabian fort. Apart from the regular treatments the spa also features a steam room, saunas, a fitness area, yoga studio, a healthy juice bar and a relaxation area.

The most special nights of our stay were the nights we stayed in the tent on the beach. As we couldn’t all fit in, we split up the family and took turns sleeping there with 2 kids. At first the children were a bit scared and nervous using the outdoor bathroom at night. But waking up with the first morning light and opening your tent to view the calm Sea of Oman is an experience you will never forget. Breakfast is served right on the beach next to your tent. What else could you wish for?

New Years Eve

A second memorable experience at the Al Bustan Palace was the celebration of New Years Eve. We decided not to join the gala dinner with the children but have our diner on the beach. The staff had informed us that we were welcome to join the party after dinner to light up the wish lanterns on the beach. At first the children were a bit disappointed that there was no firework. But this was soon forgotten when they saw the hundreds of lanterns, including their own, fly up to the sky. It was one of the most beautiful NYE spectacles we have ever seen! After the lightning of the lanterns we partied the night away with the band dancing on the beach with the other hotel guests, making it a wonderful start of the New Year.

Muscat Hills Beach Club