The credentials
Perched on a cliff top overlooking the Gulf of Oman, Shangri-La Al Husn Resort & Spa is one of Muscat’s most elegant five-star hotels catering to the growing number of visitors to the Sultanate. Inspired by the historic architecture of Omani forts, the building is impressive in both its scale and aesthetic, and inside the decor is a stylish mix of contemporary luxury and Arabian touches. A private beach, recently launched spa and the fact that it’s an adults-only resort make this an ideal choice for a relaxing break.
Sleep
The resort’s 180 deluxe guest rooms are generously proportioned – a minimum of 56 square metres each – with sea and infinity pool views from the balcony. Tea, fruit, pastries and sweet treats were thoughtfully served on the coffee table when I arrived, and the minibar is complimentary. Each room is also equipped with a Nespresso machine.
The bathrooms are designed with sliding wooden panels so that you can gaze out of the window while soaking in the bath, perhaps to a relaxing soundtrack playing on the Bose speaker system.
Dine
As a pescatarian I was well catered for in Muscat and not least at the hotel’s two restaurants. Sultanah offers contemporary Spanish-inspired cuisine with plenty of freshly caught Omani seafood including lobster, crab, kingfish and red mullet. I tried the sustainably sourced “Rooted in Nature” dining menu – beautifully prepared dishes such as an amuse bouche of smoked eel with sweet chilli sauce served on pear, followed by lime-marinated tuna with puréed peas and pistachio crumble, and a delicious dessert that perfectly combined date mousse, chocolate hazelnuts and Omani coffee sauce.
Shahrazad is the more intimate, romantic venue that literally sparkles with Arabian glitz – very One Thousand and One Nights – serving Moroccan, Lebanese and local specialties such as hot and cold mezze, slow-cooked lamb showa, and shish taouk bil zaatar – marinated chicken skewers with Lebanese spices. The extensive wine list includes Lebanese as well as international labels.
Guests are also treated to daily complimentary afternoon tea in the Sultanah restaurant and pre-dinner cocktails in the courtyard.
Who goes there?
The European yacht crowd, well-heeled ex-pats from the Gulf, and honeymooners.
Out & about
Besides enjoying the miles and miles of sandy beaches, which are impeccably clean, there is lots to see and do in Muscat as the Omani capital has a wealth of history and culture. A full-day group tour of the capital (up to five people, so perfect for families) with Wabar Tours ticks off all the main sights – the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque and equally beautiful Royal Opera House, Muttrah souk and fish market, the Bait Al Zubair museum with its impressive collection of traditional weaponry and costumes, and the 16th-century Al Mirani and Jalali forts (£100 per person includes lunch and pick-up and drop-off at the hotel; www.wabartours.com)
Should you want to end a busy day of sightseeing with dinner out, the super cosy Kargeen restaurant has an enchanting courtyard perfect for sheesha smoking and serves tasty Middle Eastern dishes such as grilled meat with spiced rice and the most amazing Arabic breads with cheese and vegetables baked into it (www.kargeen.com). Another venue with lovely ambience is Bait Al Luban, where the cuisine is traditionally Omani (try manshab – fish and rice cooked in a cinnamon and cardamom-flavoured coconut milk broth) and the water is infused with frankincense (www.baitalluban.com).
The best thing
The signature Omani Honey Heaven treatment at the hotel’s bijou Hareer by L’Occitane Spa is a fusion of French and Arabian goodness starting with an Omani sea salt, sugar and French flower pollen scrub followed by an hour’s relaxing massage blending various techniques – light Swedish strokes, Chinese acupressure and Balinese stretching – with locally sourced warm honey oil. Pure bliss.
The worst thing
While the tranquil location is one of Shangri-La Al Husn’s main draws, on the flip side venturing into the city takes around half an hour by car and will set you back £60 one way (alternatively, there is a free shuttle bus service between the sister properties Al Waha and Al Bandar to the Avenue Mall and Muttrah souk).
The Oman Air business class experience
I had the pleasure of flying business class with Oman Air, which operates twice-daily direct flights to Muscat from Heathrow, and having experienced the difference in comfort I don’t think I can go back to flying economy again. Having your own spacious seat cubicle certainly makes for a much more restful flight, and the roomy seat which extends to a fully flat bed with pillows, bedsheets and a fluffy duvet meant I slept soundly through the night. I also must highlight the food served, from an à la carte menu, which was beautifully presented and absolutely delicious. I feasted on Arabic mezze, seared crusted tuna with gravlax and scallops, and green tea ice cream for dessert. If I drank wine I might have paired my food with a glass of Chablis or Sancerre, and the Champagne served was Laurent-Perrier Brut.
Another reason I was pleased to be flying with Oman Air is its green credentials. In these ever-more eco-conscious times, it’s good to see airlines making an effort to reduce their carbon footprint, and Oman Air was recently recognised as the cleanest and quietest carrier by Heathrow Airport’s ‘Fly Quiet and Green’ league table which lists the noise and emission metrics of the top 50 airlines. The top ranking for Oman Air comes as a result of the airline investing in modernising its fleet, replacing older aircraft with more eco-friendly Boeing 787 Dreamliners on the London Heathrow service.
The details
Rooms at Shangri-La Al Husn start at £234 in low season (from mid-May), and £455 in high season (from mid-October); Shangri-La Al Husn, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman; +968 24 77 63 88; www.shangri-la.com/muscat/alhusnresortandspa
Oman Air has twice-daily direct flights to Muscat from Heathrow from £499 return, business class from £1,899 return; www.omanair.com
