Adventures in Oman

If you want culture in spades as well as shopping and glorious beaches, then Oman is the place to visit. I only had a short stay here but what I saw was fantastic. I stayed at the Chedi Hotel first which is aimed primarily at couples as there are no twin rooms, and although they do accept families with children, the rooms aren't set up for them and there are no facilities for them either. However, an absolutely stunning hotel for the discerning traveller, the gastronomic delights in the restaurant will delight anyone - there is a station for different cuisines where you can watch the chefs cooking. The rooms here are huge and the lounge areas superb with lots of cushions! I visited the Mosque which was very interesting, we had a guide take us through who told us all about the local traditions. I also visited the town and the fish market which was an eye opener.

I went on a desert safari which is definitely not for the faint hearted but a great experience. I got to stop at a bedouin tent and visit a family there, they made us tea and told us tales of how they live. They were very charming and even offered us a ride on their pet camel! The area is steeped in history and if you are a fan of Dubai then this is a great alternative. Our guide described Oman as what Dubai was 30 years ago.

I then moved on to stay at the Al Bustan Hotel. Here I was bowled over with the mix of tradition and modern. The restaurants here were fantastic - from Chinese to Italian to traditional fare - you name it they had it. Compared to the minimalist rooms at the Chedi this was strange to then get carpet and sweeping curtains simply oozing charm and tradition. I could not fault how friendly everyone was in Oman, and although still very traditional this was not a downside at all. I just had to remember to cover up when out to respect their religion. However whilst round the poolside or on the beach normal beachwear was allowed. You simply had to have a kaftan for when going back through the hotel to your room.

I flew with British Airways which although stopped very briefly to allow passengers to disembark and more passengers to board at Abu Dhabi this wasn't a problem and the flight was very good. I was lucky enough to fly home in First Class which is truly a wonderful experience, if you can afford it - do it.

A humbling visit to a hidden gem in the United Arab Emirates which offers a truly traditional experience for the holidaymaker who doesn't just want to lie on the beach.