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Oman
Getting Started & Practical Information
When to Visit
There are very few tourists in Oman at any time of the year
so there is no busy season, however there are also no true tourist sites outside
the geography and the culture itself so the best time to visit is during the cooler
winter months.
Oman is hot year round (80-110˚ F (25-45˚ C)), but the cooler
winter months of November to early March are slightly more tolerable. The south,
around Dhofar also gets a fair amount of rain from June to late August.
Another thing to consider before planning your trip is that travel plans can be
disrupted if you haven't booked ahead during local holidays, especially during
Ramadan (ninth month of the Islamic calendar, which rotates every year compared
to the Gregorian calendar). This month also tends to close shops, restaurants, and
coffee shops.
Weather
Although weather can be generalized based upon years past, for more up to date weather
patterns and predicted future weather patterns, visit weather websites like weather.com; many local news sources also have information
for international weather forecasts.
Tours & Cruises
If you're looking for a pre-arranged trip, that involves little effort on your
part, then you should consider going on an organized tour or cruise. Organized tours
and cruises vary from all expenses included to only daily tours and perhaps hotels
included in the price, but all the options below will help you arrange all the details
so you don't have to worry about finding the best deal or right hotel.
Celebrity Cruises: High end cruise line catered to adults
who enjoy the luxury treatment celebrities enjoy.
Costa Cruises: Costa makes an effort to cater to all styles of cruisers,
so you should be able to find a cruise that fits your interests.
Intrepid Travel: Boasts
more "off the beaten track" destinations; do your research though since
some tours are very adventurous and involves camping and local hotels.
Oceania
Cruises: Oceania boasts "intimate and luxurious ships" with an
emphasis on service and luxury.
Royal Caribbean: Cruises for all ages and families.
Oman Tourism: As a slowly
developing tourist destination, Oman's official Ministry of Tourism is a good
place to find new tour options.
Guidebooks
If you are just traveling on business and have little free time or are already familiar
with Oman, you may not need anything more than SafariTheGlobe.com's
Free Mini Guide to Oman!
However, if you need more detailed and up to date information, there are a number
of great country-wide, region-wide, and city-wide guidebooks available for travel
in Oman.
Lonely Planet: Great maps and updated often with comprehensive housing information,
restaurants, & transportation options. Backpackers and adventurers love these
guidebooks.
Rough Guides: Cover various aspects of travel from culture
to getting by on the cheap.
Visas
Many foreign nationals need a visa to enter Oman, however
the requirements for citizens of different nationalities varies. To learn more about
who need visas, what type of visa is needed, what requirements are needed to obtain
a visa, and visa costs, please Find Your Nearest Omani Embassy.
Health & Insurance
Every part of the world has different health concerns and diseases, including Oman. Before traveling, consult with a physician to learn
more about your destination and what steps you can take to prevent illness. At the
time of writing, Oman didn't have any health immunizations that are required
prior to arrival, although a number of immunizations are strongly recommended.
Many health insurance providers don't cover health care that is provided outside
your home country. Before going abroad check with your health insurance to see if
they cover international care. If not, consider purchasing an international medical
insurance option, preferably from a company that specializes in international medical
insurance.
Transportation
Unless you're on an organized tour or working with a travel agent, you will
have to arrange some transportation. The below links can greatly help you start
your planning, first by finding a flight to Oman, then with
domestic airlines and car rental agencies. If you don't know where to begin,
try the "Flight & Rental Car Search Sites" to learn competitor's
prices during your trip.
Largest International Airlines: Air France, American
Airlines; British Airways;
Cathay Pacific; China Southern Airlines;
Delta; Emirates;
KLM; LAN; Lufthansa;
Qantas; Singapore Airlines;
United Airlines.
Largest Omani Airline:
Oman Air.
Largest Rental Car Agencies in Oman: Avis; Budget;
Europcar; Hertz; Thrifty.
Flight & Rental Car Search Sites: Expedia.com;
Farecast.com; Kayak.com;
Orbitz.com; & Travelocity.com.
Housing
Housing options are numerous in most tourist destinations, but every individual
seeks out something different when it comes to housing. The below links should help
you get started, with low- to high-end hotels, hostels, and camping options.
Popular International Hotel Conglomerates: Accor Group (various price ranges); Choice Hotels (low- to mid-price range); Hilton (various price ranges); Hyatt (high-end to resorts); InterContinental Group (mid- to high-price
range); Marriott Family (various
price ranges); Starwood Hotels
(high-end); Wyndham Hotels
(low- to mid-price range).
Hotel Search Sites:
Expedia.com; Kayak.com;
Orbitz.com; & Travelocity.com.
Hostels: Although there are many hostel websites, some of the most
popular and reputable include hostels.com,
hostelworld.com, &
hostelbookers.com.
Camping: Camp sites in Oman are sparse at best and non-existent
at the worst. Camping is best avoided in most parts of the country, although many
organized tours offer desert camping.
Opening Hours, Expenses, & Tipping
Oman is on a curious time schedule, perhaps to beat the
mid-day heat. Most locations, both local and tourist open at about 8:00-9:00 am
then close at about noon for 2-3 hours, at which point they reopen from about 4:00-5:00
pm until 7:00-9:00 pm. As a Muslim country, Oman's weekend falls on Thursday
and Friday, which alters opening hours on these days, while Saturdays and Sundays
are regular working days.
The one time of the year that shops and restaurants are closed more often than not
is during Ramadan (ninth month of the Islamic calendar, which rotates every year
compared to the Gregorian calendar), when fasting is required from sunrise to sunset.
Due to this Islamic requirement, most shops close down and it can be difficult to
find an open restaurant anywhere outside major hotels catering to tourists.
Oman is not used to tourists and prices have not yet jumped
to take advantage of the tourist industry, which is slowly growing in Oman. However,
Oman also has few options for the traveler so prices can be very high. If you arrive
at the airport, you'll notice the high taxi costs and once you get into town
hotel costs are equally high. Even cheap hostels will begin (in the cities) at about
10 rials ($25-30) a night, but there are few low to mid-range hotel options in Oman.
Most high end hotels average about 120 rials ($310) a night. Food is fairly reasonable
priced though; most restaurants only cost 1-5 rials ($2.50-$12) and the nicest restaurants
rarely cost more than 15 rials ($40) a person.
Tipping is not common in Oman. Nicer restaurants and hotels
will expect a little extra money for dinner or bag handling services, however elsewhere
it is not commonly seen. Leaving your excess change after a meal is a polite, but
an unnecessary and at times confusing gesture.
Crime & Safety
Oman is a very safe destination. The country has managed
to escape some of the dangers its neighbor Yemen faces and Oman has been a very
politically, economically, and socially stable country for well over three decades.
The biggest threat to any visitor is on the roads. Despite the country's incredible
infrastructure and perhaps the best road system in the world, driving is still a
concern. With mountainous terrain, deserts, occasional fog in the south, tailgaters,
and the occasional animal wondering into the road, driving is your biggest threat.
This page was last updated: August, 2011