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)