Tried and Tested: Al Husn, Shangri-La, Muscat

BACKGROUND: The Al Husn is one of three properties that comprise Shangri-La’s Barr Al Jissah Resort and Spa, Muscat. The resort, which opened in February 2006, is set in 124 acres on the coast against a backdrop of rugged mountains, overlooking the turquoise waters of the Gulf of Oman.

The Al Husn (‘the Castle’), which opened in September 2006, is pitched as Oman’s “most luxurious hotel” by Shangri-La and features 170 sea-facing guestrooms and suites, each with a balcony or terrace. The hotel is located on a headland above the rest of the resort, and designed with Moorish architecture in mind.

At resort-level are two more hotels — Al Bandar (‘the Town’) with 198 rooms and extensive meetings facilities and the family-orientated Al Waha (‘the Oasis’) with 262 rooms.

Al Husn guests have access to the facilities of the entire resort, but most of Al Husn, with the exception of its F&B outlets, is for the use of in-house guests only, ensuring the experience is private, intimate and exclusive.

THE ARRIVAL: The drive from Dubai to Muscat itself takes around three to four hours, depending on the traffic, the amount of time required to clear immigration at the Omani border and of course, the speed at which you choose to travel (note there are speed cameras all the way to Muscat!) Once you arrive at Seeb International Airport in Muscat, it takes another 30-40 minutes to drive through the city and out to the Shangri-La.

The new road leading to the resort winds through the mountains and wouldn’t look out of place as a test track for Top Gear with its peaks, troughs, twists and turns — with glimpses of the Gulf of Oman in between — making for a dramatic final approach.

We were greeted immediately on arrival and valet-parked the car before walking into the impressive lobby with tasteful water features.

As you enter through the doors the eye is directed straight through the lobby space, past the courtyard and out to the horizon and the glimmering waters of the Gulf — all framed by an elegant modern take on an Arabesque archway at the hotel entrance.

After taking in this breathtaking view, we were escorted to the Al Husn Lounge for check-in. We were offered much-appreciated cold towels and refreshments and luckily, our Thursday afternoon arrival coincided with pre-dinner drinks and canapés.

THE ACCOMMODATION: The deluxe guestroom in which we stayed was suitably Arabesque in style, with deep rich wood finishings and sumptuous gold, blue, red and green silk furnishings.

A standout feature was the bathroom with its large walk-in rain shower, separate toilet, dressing area and the pièce de résistance — a bath with sea views (sliding panels run alongside the bath so the bather can choose whether or not to look through the bedroom and out across the Gulf).

It’s also worth noting that the mini bar, with the exception of spirits, was free of charge, and stocked up with all the necessary goodies. The balcony was cosy with a built-in sofa, table and chairs, offering views over the resort and the ocean.

AL HUSN’S LEISURE FACILITIES: Because the Shangri-La Barr Al Jissah Resort and Spa is really three resorts in one, there is plenty to keep you occupied, but Al Husn guests are loathe to leave their haven of luxury and calm as there is enough on offer there to keep you tucked away from the outside world for days on end.

My personal favourite was the private beach, which was truly unique. You walk through the courtyard, past the infinity pool and around the back of the hotel where you are confronted with a rugged and unspoiled landscape. The beach is really a bay, surrounded by rock formations carved into interesting shapes over time.

One has formed a natural bridge or archway, and local fisherman often shuttle back and forth using this passage of water as their daily commute. There’s also a sunbathing deck area overlooking the adjacent bay and watersports are offered, including kayaking.

Whether hanging out at the beach or the pool, guests are provided with their own cool/ice box filled with cold water, soft drinks and also a lip balm. Little treats are brought to your sunbed throughout the day, including ice-creams and fruits.
Although the resort’s biggest gym/fitness centre is located at the CHI spa in between Al Bandar and Al Waha, Al Husn has its own private gym with cardio machines and weights. Adjacent is a business centre and library/lounge.

OTHER LEISURE FACILITIES: Guests who do venture outside Al Husn can try out the CHI Spa with 12 treatment rooms; the health club; sauna, steam and Jacuzzi; the 600-metre private beach, tennis courts and a medley of swimming pools that includes a 500-metre lazy river running between Al Bandar and Al Waha — just hop on one of the giant rubber rings and enjoy the ride.

Shangri-La also boasts a dive centre offering PADI dive instruction and certificates. Animal lovers might also want to quiz the resort’s full-time ‘turtle ranger’ who looks after the many giant turtles that frequently visit the hotel beaches to lay their eggs.

DOLPHIN-WATCHING: When visiting the Shangri-La a dolphin-watching excursion is a must. Hop on a speed boat at around 8am before it gets too hot and head out to sea where the dolphins gracefully duck and dive into the calm waters. If you’re lucky, you might see a whale too! The two-hour boat trip also includes a cruise along the coastline taking in the Sultan’s palace and several ancient Omani forts.

F&B: Choosing somewhere to eat can be tricky because there are so many options from which to choose. At Al Husn, a buffet breakfast and a choice of hot à la carte dishes are served in Sultanah on the ground floor, which at night is an a la carte international restaurant.

At this property, we tried Moroccan restaurant Shahrazad, which didn’t disappoint due to the many traditional and authentic dishes on offer including tasty tanginess and some of the best Moroccan mint tea I’ve ever tasted.

We sat in a cosy booth under a roof lit with tiny lights to create the image of a starlit night sky, while the Moroccan band played away. Next door at Al Bandar is a courtyard area with shops and restaurants that proves popular with local residents.

Cuisine on offer includes Middle Eastern, Italian and tapas. There are plenty of bars, a nightclub and an outdoor shisha café. We also tried the Bait Al Bahr (located in between Al Waha and Al Bandar), which primarily served freshly-caught fish, seafood and Omani specialities, and offered a relaxing beach-side dining experience.

The Al Husn without doubt is one of my personal favourites in terms of the resort hotels the GCC countries have to offer.

The service, the atmosphere and the facilities are top-notch and this really does provide the perfect weekend getaway for Gulf residents all year round.

We only stayed for two nights, yet felt as if we’d taken a week’s holiday, mainly because it was such a stark contrast to Dubai — more rugged, natural and with a sense of history, not to mention a more slow and considered pace of life.

The resort did not invade the landscape, but nestled in amongst the rocks and provided a back-to-nature experience, but with all the bells and whistles you’d expect from a five-star plus hotel.

The Al Husn is more suited to couples rather than families — the discerning traveller searching for peace, quiet and luxury in breathtaking surroundings.

But be warned, you, or your clients will be tempted to stay for more nights than you originally planned, not just because there’s plenty to do, but because the landscape and the environment are so soothing to the eye, you’ll wish this was the permanent view from your bedroom window at home — luckily Shangri-La is building residences to make the dream come true.