Must go to Muscat

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Most GCC holidaymakers bound for Oman this summer will be headed straight for Salalah, but locals and expatriates looking to take advantage of discounted rates might consider a city break in Muscat, either as a stop over en-route to a second destination or as part of a twin centre with Salalah.

Luxury seekers who want to spend a long weekend lounging in a five-star hotel have plenty to choose from, including Shangri-La's Barr al Jissah Resort and Spa, the newest hot property in the city.

Those in search of more than a city and beach holiday might want to use Muscat as a base for excursions to the surrounding areas or a starting point for a driving holiday around the Sultanate.

Although it does not get soaked by the cooling rains that turn the south of the country into a lush green oasis, Muscat is comparatively cooler than the rest of the Middle East during the summer, and as Oman Tourism's Mark Senior points out, most of the tourist attractions in the city are air conditioned.

"Even the old palaces that aren't air-conditioned are built in the traditional way that will keep people cool when they visit," he says.

Senior is director of Bahrain-based Afkar Marketing Company, which represents Oman Tourism in the GCC.

He acknowledges that Muscat has its limitations as a standalone destination, but encourages agents to sell the city as an add-on or stopover.

"At this time of year many people are planning their holidays outside the region, plus there are clients who travel to Dubai for short breaks during the summer too," he explains.

"What we propose is that you urge your clients to consider Oman as a twin-centre break with Dubai, but also as a stand alone destination that is fabulous for families and also offers quite unique soft adventure opportunities."

Oman's Ministry of Tourism director general Salim Bin Adey Al-Mamari says Oman is "different to other GCC countries" because of its history, uniqueness, culture, and environment, and because of the safety, quietness and the cleanness of the country.

"We always target the high end and we are looking for responsible tourism. Oman is a year-round destination because the climate differs from one place to another," he explains.

Within the Muscat city limits, the Bait Al Zubair Museum, the Muttrah Souk and The Grande Mosque are some of the key tourist attractions, all of which welcome visitors of all nationalities to come inside and explore - The Grande Mosque even has a daily morning tour for non-Muslims, he adds.

Regular travellers put the driving time from Dubai to Muscat at somewhere between four and six hours, depending on the number of sightseeing stops customers take on the scenic drive or the speed at which they drive.

For holidaymakers travelling from anywhere else in the GCC, Oman's national carrier, Oman Air, operates an extensive flight network to regional destinations, while regional national carriers Gulf Air, Qatar Airways, Kuwait Airways, Etihad Airways and Saudia all operate regular flights to the Omani capital.

UAE-based low cost carrier Air Arabia flies daily from Sharjah to Muscat and Kuwait-based Jazeera Airways flies four times weekly from Kuwait via its second hub in Dubai.

The rate race

The demand for rooms in Salalah during the summer means that Muscat hotels drop their prices or offer customers extra nights, two-for-one deals on tours, or spa treatments as incentives to compete for business.

Probably the city's most prestigious property, InterContinental's Al Bustan Palace is currently closed for renovation, and is not scheduled to reopen until December, but the chain's sister property, The InterContinental Muscat, is still going strong.

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