The InterContinental Muscat is set in 35 acres of palm gardens, and yet is in the diplomatic quarter and only a short distance from the old city. The hotel has 265 rooms all with the facilities you would expect in a first class hotel. There is a choice of restaurants, shaded lap pool, main swimming pool, children’s pool, six tennis courts, two air conditioned squash courts, health club and direct access on to the beach. The small Jawaharat al Shatti Mall is adjacent to the hotel and has a coffee shop snack bar and post office (0800 to 1400 Saturday to Wednesday, but mall open 0900 to 2200 daily)

The Sur Plaza Hotel is located in the city of Sur, originally famous for its dhow building, and 60 kilometres from the turtle beach at Ras-al-Hadd, a major tourist attraction in Oman. The hotel has 108 basic centrally air-conditioned rooms and facilities include a swimming pool, shop, restaurant and a bar.

Close to the famous fort and bustling souq in Nizwa, the Falaj Daris Hotel has 55 rooms with satellite television and mini-bar. There are two courtyards, each set around a swimming pools, a small gymnasium, restaurant and bar.

he Shangri-La’s Barr Al Jissah Resort & Spa opened early in 2006 and is located at the Bay of the same name. Comprising three hotels, with 680 rooms, it is set within 124 acres of landscaped gardens. All rooms have balconies and are sea facing, although some have better views of this than others because of the palm trees and lush gardens. The resort has a total of nineteen restaurants and bars, a Chi Spa, five tennis courts, a lazy river, three swimming pools, children’s pool, sauna, steam room, Jacuzzi, fitness centre and three private beaches (the longest being 450 metres in length). The three properties are Al Waha (first class), Al Bandar (deluxe) and the exclusive Al Husn (superior deluxe). All rooms have mini bar, electronic safe, tea and coffee making facilities, iron and ironing board, separate bath and shower, satellite television, but the size of room and quality of fixtures and fittings differ between the three properties. All facilities are available to all hotel guest