Review: Al Bustan Palace, A Ritz-Carlton Hotel
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The Al Bustan Palace, A Ritz-Carlton Hotel is an iconic hotel in Oman, built for the GCC Summit in 1985. It is also part of the Marriott Bonvoy loyalty scheme. If you are looking to earn or redeem points during your stay in Oman, this is our top hotel choice.

Book a room at the Al Bustan Palace, A Ritz-Carlton Hotel (or any other luxury hotel in the world) via our luxury travel concierge, and you get brilliant extra benefits such as free breakfast for two, resort credit and a room upgrade, as well as your usual Marriott Bonvoy points.

The best time to visit Oman and Al Bustan Palace is between November and March, when the cooler air enables you to see the mountain scenery and daytime temperatures average at 25°C. For the rest of the year, Oman is hot and hazy, particularly between May and August. Conversely, May to August is the time to visit if you want to pick up a bargain and don’t mind the heat.

Location

Perfectly located between the Sea of Oman and the Al Hajar Mountains, this stunning Muscat hotel offers a fascinating and contrasting blend of old and new, local and global. At around 40 minutes drive from Muscat International Airport (MCT), this Ritz-Carlton is easy to get to.

While the hotel feels remote, it is set on its own patch of beach and surrounded by dramatic mountains and there are complimentary shuttle buses to the main sights, such as Mutrah Souk and Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque.

Style & Character

This beautiful hotel feels enormously grand, with a huge golden dome hanging over the entrance. The vast marble lobby feels more like a place of worship than a hotel foyer because the dimensions are so gigantic. Expansive windows and private terraces overlook the Al-Hajar Mountains, the Sea of Oman, or the stunning manicured gardens.

Service & Facilities

The resort also features a 33,000 ft² Al Bustan Palace Spa by The Ritz-Carlton, with the sultanate’s first private ladies-only beach; five dining venues featuring international cuisines and sea views; a private beach and five swimming pools, plus one for kids; more than 44,000 ft² of meeting space and one of the largest ballrooms in Muscat! Further hotel amenities include a beauty salon, concierge, gift shop, florist, and ATM/cash machine.

This hotel caters wonderfully to families who can enjoy all the pools. It also offers scheduled activities for families every day throughout the peak period.

Rooms

The hotel’s 250 newly renovated suites and guest rooms captivate the imagination with contemporary design, organic materials, and traditional Omani accents. Blue, white, and silver tones form the backdrop to the view, which can be observed from balconies that overlook lush gardens, mountains, or the sea.

An absolute highlight are the lower-ground lagoon access rooms, as they have private terraces that open up to the two lagoon pools, so you can simply hop out of bed and into the pool.

Food & Drink

Guests can enjoy romantic dinners on the beach, afternoon tea beneath a soaring, 125-foot dome, authentic Chinese cuisine, and an exclusive Jazz Lounge that transports you back to the 1920s, all of which celebrate the flavors of Oman and beyond.

Note: Benefits & upgrades subject to availability. Benefits offered correct at the time of writing. Terms & conditions apply. Enquire for more information. Benefits offered correct at the time of writing but may be amended at discretion of the vendor. Posts may be sponsored by the proprietor or brand being appraised. All opinions remain our own & are in no way influenced.