Staying at one of Muscat's top hotels is never going to be cheap. With relatively few five-star hotels in Oman's capital, enjoying the calm of a luxury weekend on the beach with views of the rugged mountains comes at a premium.
And for those who really want to push the boat out, there are some options to splash serious cash.
The royal suite at the Shangri-La Al Husn hotel, a beach resort nestled in the mountains, is said to have been inspired by a 17th century Omani castle at Jabreen. The suite costs 3,000 Omani rials (Dh28,619) a day, with 17 per cent taxes and service charges on top of that.
Naturally, a butler will be on hand to unpack your luggage and help with any requests. You also get unlimited use of your own ele-vator. The 500 square metre suite includes a foyer, dressing area, and kitchen, and a sea-view bath with Jacuzzi. Limousine transfers, breakfast, afternoon tea and internet access are also thrown in.
For those looking for an extravagant break in Oman on a slightly tighter budget, the presidential suite at the grandiose Ritz-Carlton Al Bustan Palace hotel is 1,100 rials a night, plus 17 per cent tax and service charge. That's the cheaper option - it comes with a mountain view, but if you want to wake up to views of the sea of Oman, add on another 100 rials.
There will certainly be no danger of feeling cramped. The 300 square metre suite comes with two master bedrooms, a large sitting room and dining area, a library, an office, a fully-equipped kitchen and a private balcony.
And access to a private beach hut, butler service, and tailored city tour are also included.
"If you look at the price of rooms in Oman, I think it's the most expensive in the region," says Haitham Al Ghasani, the director of tourism promotion and awareness at Oman's ministry of tourism. "We have a high demand and we don't have that much supply."
