B Y S A M A N T H A V A N D E P O L L

A weekend of Middle Eastern luxury in Muscat.

O M A N

Oman the jewel in the Crown of the Middle East, is a tantalising land of Abrabian magic, from Muscat to Salalah, prepare to be blow away by a land of outstanding beauty. It has everything from pink lakes to turtle beaches to whitewashed fortress citied and emerald green desert oasis. Intro

I N T R O

If you’re looking for timeless, laid back luxury. Elegance with bohemian minimalism. The Chedi is your answer. I was lucky enough to be working with The Chedi a couple of years ago pre-pandemic, to this day I still often think about my stay with them and the wonderful feeling of peace I felt during my time there. From the moment you arrive you’re met with the highest level of service. Nothing is too much. The interiors are bohemian and elegant yet still remain a sense of Omani charm. Not only is it stunningly beautiful, but its location on a private beach make it exclusive and quiet. Luxury oozes from its veins.

The pools

The pools at the Chedi are quite honestly the jewel and highlight of the stay. Boasting some of the best designed and most aesthetically pleasing in the middle east alone, it is also home to one of the longest pools in all of Asia. I promise you’ll find yourself snapping insane amounts of the same picture just to try and capture a fraction of their beauty.

The infinity pool beside the beach bar had a special piece of my heart in particular. Every morning I’d take a quick dip before breakfast. I’d stop in the centre of the pool, where the infinity of the pool water touched the ocean so you could see nothing else but the infinite and just breathe as I felt completely at peace, just looking out across the ocean into the abyss.

The rooms

Every room at the Chedi is a suite. Made up of several rooms including a fully furnished lounge, with drinks on tap and decked out balcony with sea views. The suite also houses quite possibly the most decadent bathroom going with a fully submerged bathtub big enough to fit your entire family. With this you also have access to the premium lounge, open daily serving drinks and afternoon tea as well as late breakfast snacks for no extra charge.

The food

As the hotel is set away from the main area of Muscat we chose to eat in their main restaurant over our stay. Part of this was because we didn’t want to leave the tranquility of the hotel for the hustle and bustle of the city, and other was because the restaurant was a completely different set up to any we’d experienced before. The Chedi has only one main restaurant yet this restaurant is made up of 6 smaller restaurants and cooking stations serving different menus led by different chefs.

Expertly put together and beautifully presented, between them they serve a fusion of Asian, Omani and European cuisine. Breakfast is everything. I mean everything. There was nothing amiss, serving every culture snd cuisine going. You will want for nothing as i have not see a more wonderful spread before. not only does the buffet tick every box but there is also an Al a carte menu to choose from as well.

When to visit

Like any Middle Eastern destination the best time to visit is in the Winter months when it’s much cooler. The temperatures are still a toasty 25 degrees but that nothing compared to the Summer months where you’ll mid hitting mid 40’s. Additionally because of this November to February is also the busiest and most expensive months. The Autumn may be the best compromise for temperature and price as its still not too busy but a tad cheaper.

Cost

The Chedi is one of the best hotels in Muscat and Oman. For the standard suite with breakfast and lounge access during its peak season you will be looking at £ at night whereas during low season £ a night.

Muscat

Muscat the grand capital of Oman, with its historic old town and thriving new town is split up into several areas. The old town is where you'll find the hustle and bustle, charming architecture and souks. The new, although not as pretty, is full of the modern restaurants and shops. A lot of this isn’t walkable unless you’re staying in the centre, so if you're staying in one of the luxury resorts on the outside like the Chedi then you’ll need transportation to get around. The Old Town is worth spending a good half a day to explore. Make sure to check out the Souks but be prepared to barter for a good deal. Additionally you will also get stopped a lot and possibly hassled so go in with a strong headset and your game face.

F I N A L W O R D

If you’re looking for a luxurious, romantic getaway to switch off from the world then the Chedi offers just that in an abundance. The bohemian charm ingrained within the hotel shows within every fine detail that has been woven into its fabric. Nothing is missed to create the perfect stay, the staff are absolutely wonderful and the experience is unforgettable. I cannot wait to return in the future.