Oman is one of the lesser-known countries on the Arabian Peninsula, which is why so many questions arise when considering a trip. It is one of the safest places in the Middle East and has an incredible biodiversity.
- Oman’s biodiversity
- Best time to travel. Climate
- Visas and documentation. Vaccines
- Official language
- Payments
- Getting around
- Safety in Oman
- Best hotels in Oman
Oman’s biodiversity
One of the country’s main attractions is its wadis, i.e. small oases formed along the course of dry rivers, in a country where the desert landscape dominates and where it only rains a few litres a year.
The coasts of Oman also witness one of nature’s great spectacles: the nesting and hatching of turtles (green, hawksbill and loggerhead turtles).
Best time to travel. Climate
Oman is a desert country, so temperatures are warm even in winter. In summer it can get up to 50º Celsius. The best months to travel are between October and March, when the heat is tolerable and even welcome.
Remember that the southern area, which faces the Arabian Sea, has a tropical climate with a strong monsoon season between June and August, which can produce torrential rains at certain times but with warm temperatures.
Visas and documentation. Vaccines
Citizens from 103 countries do not need a special visa to enter Oman since 2022 if the trip is for less than 14 days. If the stay is longer than 14 days, a special permit is required.
Nevertheless, you must have a valid passport and meet a number of requirements such as a hotel booking, medical insurance and a valid return ticket.
There is no mandatory requirement for specific vaccinations to enter Oman, although it is recommended to be up to date with typhoid fever as a precautionary measure.
Official language
The official language in Oman is Arabic, but most of the Sultanate’s subjects speak English since the country was part of the British Protectorate for many years, and in almost every city you will find someone who can communicate in English.
There are also parts of the country where other languages such as Urdu, Balochi and even Swahili can be heard.
Payments
The official currency in Oman is the Omani rial (OMR). One rial is divided into 1,000 baisas and there are 100 baisa and 500 baisa notes, which is half a rial.
You cannot pay in euros or dollars on the street, so you always have to change into local currency. There are bureaux de change in major cities and ATMs where you can withdraw money in rials.
The network is quite widespread for paying by credit and debit card, so this can be useful if you do not want to carry rials in your pocket.
Getting around
The best way to get around Oman is to hire a car as there are no trains, and buses are scarce and only run between major cities.
The best thing to do is hire a four-wheel-drive vehicle if you are travelling around the country because, although the roads are in good condition in both desert and mountainous areas, this is the safest way to get to some of the country’s main tourist attractions.
You can also fly from Muscat, the capital, to the south, Salalah, so that you do not have to drive 1,000 kilometres.
Safety in Oman
Oman claims to be one of the safest countries in the world and the figures back this up with one of the lowest crime rates. The police are present in the big cities. In the rest of the country, Omani hospitality reigns supreme and newcomers are treated as family members.
Best hotels in Oman
One of the best places to stay in Oman is the Barceló Mussanah Resort, Sultanate of Oman, a four-star hotel located on the beachfront in Al Batinah, in the heart of the Gulf of Oman.
This resort has 234 rooms and 74 luxury apartments, most of them with sea views, meeting the needs of all types of guests.
In addition to a private beach, surrounded by palm trees and with cabanas for sunbathing, the hotel has four swimming pools and a children’s pool so that kids can also have fun.
The food offering is completed by three great restaurants: Mydan Restaurant, with international dishes; Azure Restaurant, with Mediterranean flavours; and La Doce Vita, with a menu specialising in Italian food. You can also enjoy a drink overlooking the sea at the Compass Bar, the pool bar or The Deck Bar & Lounge, where cocktails are served.
Wellness is taken care of at the Zayna Spa and Health Fitness Club, which has 10 treatment rooms including spa, sauna, steam baths, jacuzzi and gym.
