So, you saw some photos online somewhere and decided to book a flight to this hidden gem? Maybe a friend of a friend told you about Oman? Maybe you saw an article on Oman on that really popular blog site…I can’t remember the na…oh yeah, Hidden Planet or something? Well yes, Oman is an absolutely beautiful country with beautiful scenery and yes, you heard correct, Omani’s are extremely hospitable people.
So, I’ve written this blog to help make sure you’ve packed properly and to have a better understanding of what to expect when you set foot on this beautiful country.
1) Between March-September it is HOT. I mean REALLY hot. You’re talking 40 degrees and higher during the day. It tends to cool off at night time but not by much. Now, it totally depends on where you’re wanting to stay if you do end up visiting Oman in the summer. A lot of people head to the Dhofar region (Salalah) when summer hits as the weather over there is fantastic. If you do end up deciding to stay in Muscat, get your sunblock, some proper sunglasses and lots of water because you’ll need it! You could also nip over to the mountains like Jabal Akhdar or Jabal Shams for a few nights for better weather.
2) All the malls are air-conditioned. The mall culture in the Middle East is strong, and our malls are amazing, and are always nice and cold. Head over in the afternoon, have some lunch, go to the cinema and then do some shopping. Need I say much more?
3) Rent a car. Public transport is quite limited. We have taxi’s which will take you almost anywhere and we have a bus service but you’re best renting a car, a 4x4 if you plan on doing some mountain trips or desert trips!
4) The language. Arabic is the native language in Oman, but don’t worry, literally everyone speaks English, although I recommend learning a few Arabic words like Salam Alaikum and other greetings cause, well, why not!
5) You can have a good time on a budget! Yes, Oman can be enjoyed on a budget. There are a multitude of cheap restaurants scattered around and yes, Mcdonald’s, KFC, Dominos, Subway, Pizza Hut, Papa johns, Burger King are all available here but venture out and try some good Arabic or Indian food. My recommendation would be to try mishkak. You can find people making Mishkak (a sort of meat kebab prepared on coal on a grill) by the beaches with one of the most beautiful sauces ever. Most tourist spots are free too like the sinkhole, wadi bani Khalid etc. I recommend reading my blog entries of all the adventures I’ve been on cause I love doing everything on a budget.
6) Petrol is cheap! You’ll be amazed at how cheap petrol is over here. Considering you have to drive everywhere, you’d think you’d be spending a fortune on petrol but nope, it’s extremely affordable so make sure to plan as much as possible!
7) Don’t say no to an invite. You will most likely be offered by a local to have lunch with them. This is very normal, like seriously. VERY normal. Nothing will happen if you say no, but you’ll be declining at invitation from someone who may honestly end up being very good friends with you for life, and locals have many stories to share with you
8) Have fun. Seriously, a lot of my friends are foreign. Some are from America, some are from the UK, some are from The Netherlands etc. One thing they all have in common is always coming back to Oman whether it’s for work or for pleasure. This country has an unexplainable charm to it, so book your stay for a little longer than 1 week, cause chances are, you’ll want to stay here for at least a month!
