The Chedi Muscat had sat on my bucket list for a long time, well before this little blog and we treated ourselves to a visit a few years back! Happily the whole experience was as good, if not better, than the reviews said! It is an iconic hotel – not least this view. It is instantly recognisable to so many, not just those that have visited. I first saw this picture in ‘The Big Short Trip’ by Original Travel and it had me at hello. The photo below is my picture – not the brochure’s – and it really is incredible!
It really is as good as the brochure
We arrived at night, fresh (dusty) from a day out on the sand dunes. Night is the time to arrive as the grounds have the wow factor:
A welcoming sight at the end of a long gravel track away from the city
Very subdued and relaxing, everything is ‘just so’ but in a casual way that works
The lighting around the grounds is quite spectacular. This is at the Long Pool, which is long – at 100metres!
The Serai pool after dark, looking over to one of the restaurants
We were staying in one of the Chedi club rooms and I would really recommend this choice. It was a junior suite with a massive bed, living area and two separate bathroom areas. The only thing missing was a bath. Our room photos aren’t wonderful (new camera) but you get a sense of simplicity, however everything was high quality and comfortable and the room was incredibly peaceful.
Refined and comfortable
We were impressed with what was included with the room. There was an inclusive laundry service, a plentiful mini-bar and the ‘happy-hour’ to end happy hours! It is hosted from the library in the Chedi wing (which is of course stunning) and lasts far longer than one hour. A choice of drinks, including sparkling wine, and delicious canapés that don’t run out. Club lounges we’ve been to since don’t live up to it. Outside of the library is a peaceful courtyard with chairs and tables for the guests and there is plenty of space, no need to make friends if you don’t want to. It is moodily lit with fire and has a number of water features!
Happy hour was a revelation
If you haven’t eaten enough in happy hour (it is a risk) then there are a couple of fantastic restaurants to choose from, or bar dining dotted around the site. The hotel boasts a fish restaurant on the water front which I think is Oman’s top restaurant. The main restaurant (where breakfast is served) is also wonderful. In both there is a choice of indoor and outdoor seating and a very varied and interesting wine list.
There are comfortable bar areas at each of the pools or food can be ordered to your lounger
The Chedi’s main selling point, I would say, are its swimming pools and its grounds. All 3 of the pools are ‘lap-pool’s and can give you a good swim without either touching the bottom or having to turn corners too often. The recent arrival of the 100metre pool is not only stunning but is also incredible – 100metres is a long swim! Only one of the pools is for use by families/children so the others are peaceful.
Stunning
It really is as good as the brochure
The fabulous 100metre pool. This is the most ‘hip’ of the pools with chill out music playing day-long and a lovely tapas style lunch menu
When we stayed, the hotel was certainly busy, but there was always a choice of places to relax and we didn’t need to stay in the same place all day due to lack of loungers. There is a choice of lounger type – the comfortable doubles with cushions or the more standard single, as well as a choice between sun and shade. Towels and water are brought to you and laid out within minutes of your arrival.
You will be unsurprised to learn that the rest of the grounds are stunning and not just at night! There is an incredible amount of space for a city hotel and someone had definitely feng shui’d the site with marvellous success!
Water gardens break up the space where perfectly manicured lawns are not found
Don’t fancy sitting by the pool, or on the beach. Well you can enjoy the palm tree gardens instead
There are even sand dunes!
In what is such a perfect location, it is inevitable that there are a few things that let the hotel down slightly. Unfortunately it is under the airport flight path, and the airport is being expanded. When we were there it wasn’t disruptive, but tourism is rapidly expanding in the country for good reason. The location is quite strange – when you arrive you are driven down a dusty track away from the city, it is only at the grand gates that the Chedi-treatment starts. It is surprising the approach road has not been smartened up. The beach isn’t marvellous, but being honest, it isn’t used much with 3 stunning pools! The Chedi pool’s are a benchmark for all other hotels and despite the location, the hotel felt completely safe and cosseted from outside.
The beach was in need of some love
The hotel’s proximity to the airport makes transfers easy. Muscat is also a great jumping off point to see more of the country. We had a few day trips which were superb. I would urge you to visit the country and respect the culture and you will see the country and its people at their best – the people we met were charming and courteous and the sights we saw were gorgeous.
We are lucky to have friends in Oman that took us to the Daymaniat Islands which would have been almost impossible to visit without them. A gorgeous set of paradise islands with no residents. Marvellous for snorkelling to see the stunning coral.
A privilege to have been taken to the Daymaniat islands
Dune bashing – our driver is just picking the biggest dune to drive us off
The Grande Mosque in the early morning and a waterfront mosque at dusk
A blissful place, we loved our stay. Granted it is pricey, but it is relaxed and unpretentious which often isn’t something apparent in a hotel such as this. Thankfully it works really well. GHM is a brand I need to know more about! I typically prefer smaller or more rustic hotels, but with the choice of pools, the charming service and the lovely ambiance The Chedi is a marker that makes it really hard to find other hotels that can beat it for style and all-round luxe! I’m almost disappointed when another hotel doesn’t even have one 20metre pool!
Beautiful photos of a very interesting hotel. We nearly stayed at GMH in Legian in Bali and there seems to be a similarity in their signature pools and decor. I love the photo of the birds in the pool and the dune bashing photo puts it all into perspective.
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I suspect the whole group is similarly superior on the pool front – I was nervous it would be pretentious but not at all, so relaxed and perfect in a very un-precious way!
Would love to make it to the Chedi Muscat some day. Heard so much about it and it never seems to disappoint. It looks like one of those places you could almost be excused for not venturing too far from the hotel during your stay.
Now dune bashing… that sounds like fun! 🙂
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Yes – on the days we were staying overnight we didn’t venture further than the Grand Mosque before breakfast, our trips topped and tailed our stay! The grounds are so big, especially for a city hotel, that there is always somewhere new to rest!
It sounds and looks sublime. Your photos are particularly good Anna, I must say. What a great shot with the birds, but all of the photos are wonderful. What a fun shot of your driver trying to spot the biggest dune. 🙂 The downside to staying in such a thoroughly luxurious hotel, is that many other hotels will seem pale in comparison.
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I love the shot of a 4*4 driver, but he was a terrifying driver, he looks much calmer here! I think my husband took the bird shot – in fact I think he was stood in the deep end of the 100metre pool on tiptoes with an expensive lens to get it… thankfully it paid off and there was no water damage!
This place just keeps popping up. It looks gorgeous. But that shot on the dunes wow, that took my breath away.
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It does indeed – we kept stumbling upon it and going goey eyed at the idea of staying there! It is a real treat for a couple of days!
Wow, what a stunning property, I didn’t expect anything spectacular on the beach for Oman but this is really swank, I would love to stay put for more than a few days.
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Incredibly swanky indeed!
Muscat is only a short flight away from us here in Qatar and I was hoping to spend my 30th there later in the year to explore the city and surrounding area. I think you’ve convinced me that the Chedi is the place to it from!
Polly xx
Follow Your Sunshine
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Oh you must – it is a lovely treat and worth the $$$, there’s a new place that just opened in the mountains? Perhaps you could make it a double treat!!
This does sound lovely. I, like you, ususally prefer smaller more rustic hotels but out-and-out luxury, when it is done without too much pretension, is also wonderful indeed!
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I agree – big scale done in a boutique way but with the out and out trimmings is just something else!
WOW, those pictures are breathtaking! Definitely what I would call ultimate luxury. Not something that we would usually spend the money to stay in but after seeing those pictures, I could definitely see this as a worthwhile destination for a short break. The ambience and atmosphere created by the lighting at night is really romantic and fits perfectly with all of the architecture throughout the resort.
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We were chatting to a couple at the pool one day who had spent another 10 days touring the country for the same price as their few nights here – it’s a good mix, something like this at the end of an adventure would be marvellous! It is a gorgeous property – I love it when something is ‘just so’
I loved Oman’s beaches and hotels – we stayed at the Shangri La, which was a bit further out but just pure heaven!
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We had a couple of nights there too – it made for a great trip. What I love most about the Shangri La is the incredible service, I swear it is the best
Wow wow wow! I can see why you would recommend this hotel. I also didn’t realise it was so close to the airport. xx
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Go there!!! The new airport still isn’t open so should still be not too many planes!! It really is a stunner, although the new place in the mountains is next on my list!