Take the Family holiday rating 
| Capital City | Muscat |
|---|---|
| Flying Time | 8.00 hours  |
| Carbon Footprint | 6.73 tonnes CO2 |
| Timezone | GMT +4 |
| Local Currency | Omani Rial |
Because Oman has the lot – guaranteed good weather, natural wonder, beautiful beaches, friendly people, ancient forts, stunning palaces, deserts, souks, wadis, oasises (or is that oases) – enough for every oman, owoman and ochild to enjoy a wonderful family holiday. English is spoken widely (there is a large expat community) and the people are relatively tolerant. Plus there are some cracking resort hotels from good value luxury to out of this world extravagance. So you can simply chill by the pool or head for the great big sandpit that is the desert.
Summer is between April and September when the weather is hot and humid. Between October and April, temperatures average between 25-35c during the day and 17-19c at night.
Muscat is served from Heathrow airport by Gulf Air, which offers a compelling in-flight nanny service and with British Airways via Abu Dhabi. Direct flights take approx. 7 hours and Oman time is 3 hours ahead of the UK. Why not look on Expedia for flight comparisons?.
There is some fantastic accommodation in Oman. Five star options include the traditional Al Bustan Palace and modern Chedi. If your budget prefers three or four star you will also find a suitable property. Most major chains own or run properties here now.
Make sure you:
See the goat market in Nizwa
Visit the Muttrah Souk in Muskat
Taste delicious Omani dates.
Go on a dolphin spotting trip.
Visit the Grand Mosque.
Hire a car or a 4x4 – and discover Oman’s natural wonders – mountains, scenic dunes and desert-scapes, wadis, waterfalls and even lush orchards. You can explore miles of undisturbed coastline. Wadi bashing can be a rough ride but great fun.
Hire a snorkel – the shimmering blue ocean holds a wealth of marine life: exotic fish, dolphins, turtles, and some of the best coral formations in the world.
Buy a guide book – Oman’s rich heritage and folklore is preserved in the many museums around Muscat, as well as on site at various locations, as a proud reminder of the days gone by.
Sit on a sand dune and watch the sun set.
Go shopping
Oman and particularly Muscat is a shopper’s paradise with all its old souqs (traditional Arabic market place) and modern malls. From designer clothing to native dresses; perfumes to frankincense; watches to traditional jewellery; everything is available. One of the oldest preserved souqs in Oman is in Muscat (Muttrah district).
Most shops and malls open from 9.00am – 1.00pm and 4.00pm – 9.00pm. During Ramadan shops close later at night.
But remember:
– Drinking in public is not permitted but alcohol is served in hotel and club restaurants and bars.
– You are expected to observe the hosts’ traditions, following a dress code that bans revealing clothing except on the beach or by the pool.
– Tourist photography is allowed, but it is considered offensive to photograph Muslim women or near military installations. It is always courteous to ask permission before taking pictures.
– Whilst tap water is safe for drinking, a variety of bottled mineral water is widely available.
Your family will find cuisine to suit all taste buds. Chicken, fish and mutton are regularly used in local dishes, together with spices and marinades. The international hotels, between them, will help ensure you can find a meal of just about any kind.
Although you can pick up deals to Oman inexpensively, the lack of flight or hotel capacity means that Oman is not a low budget, mass market destination. Not yet, at least.
Overall Rating
we were very lucky to get glorious weather and hardly any queues in February h/t. We took dd age 12, ... Read more on Mumsnet
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