Muscat – Palaces, Parties & Parks

I recently had the opportunity to visit Muscat and what a treat it turned out to be. I’ve never seen so many colours of life exiting in the same place at the same time. In Muscat it seems like the present has come to a standstill and the future is creeping up on it, while the past refuses to leave. It is a place where the hot sun rises over the towering mountains and burns itself out each day to sink into the depths of the ocean.

The various pieces of ancient architecture in the city simply took our breath away, even as the happening nightlife kept us energised way into the late hours. From luxurious Middle Eastern lounges to great food, from silently guarding gates to amazing museums, from gardens and mosques to hills and beaches, Muscat had it all! We landed in Muscat with a plan to stay only for a couple of days, but the city literally has so much to offer that we ended up extending our stay by several days.

Although it is difficult to point out the best, my favourite sightseeing places were the Al Jalali and Al Mirani Forts, at least among the historical locations. The fort stands by the harbour on the mountain and looks like a brooding sentinel that still continues to keep a watch over the city. Both forts were built during the Portuguese rule and modified several times over the course of history. Tourists are not allowed inside the forts since they are used by the army. However, considering the view from outside and the mixed architecture, they are still worth a visit.

We also visited the Al Alam Royal Palace in Muscat. The palace is truly a magnificent work of art with its walls and columns built in such a way that they reflect the setting sun and the blue sea. Besides palaces and forts, Muscat also had some very attractive mosques. The Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque is the third largest in the world and arguably the finest piece of architecture in the whole of Oman. It was completed in 2001 after almost nine years in construction. Due to the prevalent tourism industry of Oman, the mosque is open to non-Muslims on specific days. Although we did not know this at that time but were lucky enough to chance upon it on such a day.

Among the fun things we did while in Muscat, the highlight was the dolphin Boat trip in the Gulf of Oman. One can spend hours on the boats, sipping beverages and watching the dolphins chase each other in the open seas. One entire day we spent on the beaches, surrounded by swaying palm trees and a soothing breeze. The Qurum Beach is a popular tourist spot a little way outside Muscat, while the Bandar Al-Jissah is quite isolated and surrounded by steep rocks.

Although our preconception about Muscat was of a desert city, beaches were not the only thing which stood starkly out of this image. The city has an astounding array of gorgeous parks and gardens. After doing a little research we decided to visit the three biggest parks in Muscat, Riyam Park, Al Naseem Public Park and Quram Natural Park. While the Riyam Park has a stunning view of the ocean, the Al Naseem Park surprised us with an extensive library. I personally also loved the fountains and Rose Gardens of the Quram Natural Park.

Since Muscat is pretty big, we were initially quite confused about travelling. However, a simple search online gave us pretty great deals on Muscat car rentals. The facility is best suited for those who really wish to see as much of Muscat as they possibly can without having to stick to train or bus schedules. 

Desert Safari Car Rentals in Muscat

If you are thinking about hiring a car for your desert safari, car rentals in Muscat may be the ideal way to go. First of all, hiring the vehicle directly from the source can end up saving you quite a lot of money. On the other hand if you are lazy about the whole thing and decide to leave this chore to your hotel or travel agency, you could be looking at the rental price of the vehicle plus their commission and maybe even extra service charges. Why pay more, especially when hiring a car in the country is one of the simplest procedures ever. All you have to do is log onto the World Wide Web, search for ‘car rentals in Muscat’, and choose a well-known name from the list that pops up. It may be better to opt for a car rental company you know from back home, which also operates in the country, as this ensures good service as opposed to local service providers that are unknown to you. Many official car rental company websites today also have provisions for you to book the car you desire, online by using your credit card and filling up a short form for details.

Muscat has quite a few car rental companies, so you can rest assured that the prices are competitive and you won’t find much variation between two companies of similar standard. This means that you can put price comparison as a secondary factor in the decision making process and concentrate primarily on the services provided by the various companies. Some of the things you should be looking for are whether the company has on-road service assistance, 24 hrs call center, insurance that covers UAE, the car you desire, well-maintained cars, good personalized service, and extras like chauffeur service or GSP navigation systems, safety features, etc. While zeroing in on the ideal company, you could also keep an eye out for some special deals some car rentals offer from time to time such as free insurance on a week long rental, special discounts on the rent, online discount, free add-on safety features, and so on.

If you want to rent a car especially for desert safaris and off-road travel, the best bet would be a four wheel drive SUV. There are many obvious advantages to renting an SUV for such undertakings. The SUV provide more width and height compared to any other car, which makes it spacious and gives passengers a feeling of safety. The height also allows the driver to have better field of vision, and the four wheel drive aspect allows for better traction and road handling. Most modern high-end SUVs in the market today are packed with safety features like air bags, making them the right choice even for adventurous cross-country travels. If you love driving off-road and yearn for a sense of adventure, this may be your ticket. You could consider renting the SUV for the whole term of your stay in the country, rather than just for the desert safari.

Once you have your desert safari car rentals in Muscat, you can be on your way to witness the mesmerizing beauty of golden sands. The best time to witness the magic of the desert is at sunset. With the SUV, you could drive from Muscat to the Hajar Mountains and take the dirt track from there to Wadi Abyad, see the water pools and proceed to the desert to watch the sun set over the horizon. The whole drive and back would be about six to seven hours depending on how long you spend at each place. So, do plan accordingly.

Find Car Rental Locations - Muscat

Muscat is the Capital of Oman. A modern city with good roads and some amazing sightseeing locations, Muscat attracts hordes of tourists every year. While driving is pretty much hassle free if you stick to the traffic regulations and speed limits, car rental locations in Muscat may be baffling due to the sheer size of the city.

It is interesting to note that what is now collectively known as the city of Muscat is actually three different towns which grew, merged and over-lapped each other with time. The central city was the original ‘Muscat’, the city of kings and their royal palaces. The town is sometimes referred to as the ‘walled city’. The next one was Mutrah or Matrah, depending on where you read about it, was originally a small fishing village. It houses the famous labyrinth of Matrah Souq. The last city is Ruwi, which is the commercial capital and home to diplomats, government officials and ambassadors. This division of the modern day Muscat is sometimes confusing for travellers and tourists. The primary reason for most of their inconvenience is the long distance between historical sites and other famous monuments, which are scattered through the 3 areas.

As you may now understand, it would be prudent to do a little research in advance and determine the best car rental locations in Muscat. The location should be central to the city and provide good options to make travelling easy for you. Since most of the premier car rental agencies now have their own websites, it has become quite simple to do one’s homework. Search for good car rental locations in Muscat on the internet and you will get a good comparative view of your options. Additionally, you can also find the contact details of these agencies on their websites. Give them a call or write to them inquiring about their location, services and their proximity to prominent places in Muscat.

The ‘proper’ Muscat city is not very big, and travelling by road here is made easy by the flashy six-lane highway. Car rental locations in Muscat close to this highway pose a great benefit. However, if you were to go to Qurum, the road divides into many pieces, overlaps itself and criss-crosses between the country side and the mountains. Here, you will need to have a vehicle which is in top-notch condition and a map or guide to navigate you to your destination. Taking the airport roundabout as your focal point is always a good idea. After that you will come across Azaiba, Ghubra, Al Khuwair, Qurum, Wuttayah, Wadi Adai, Ruwi and Al Burj on your way to Bait Al Falaj. Keeping in mind these roundabouts helps you form a mental map of the city and reduces the chances of getting lost or taking a wrong turn.

Due to improper translations of Arabic, the map which you may possess may or may not be that great. Make sure your car rental agency provides you with a good map of the city. An easy way to memorise car rental locations in Muscat is through the drawings that appear on the map. Drawings of boats, books, fish, coffee, etc on the map indicate the nature of that area. If the local names are too difficult for you to remember or pronounce, you can recognise locations through these model sculptures. For instance a book roundabout indicates that there is a school or university nearby while a fish roundabout indicates its closeness to the coast.

Car rental locations in Muscat are not difficult to find. The World Wide Web makes it even easier for modern day travellers. However the most easily available location may not be the best for your needs. Make sure you find out everything about the area before zeroing in on the best and call in advance to make your bookings.

Car Rental Locations in Muscat

Traveling in foreign countries can be tricky. Knowing how much to pay, finding the most convenient and comfortable modes of transportation, checking and re-checking schedules of buses, etc, can be quite tiresome for most. In such scenarios renting a car seems to be the best option available. If you are planning to visit the amazing Sultanate of Oman in the coming future, be glad to know that there are plenty of car rentals locations in Muscat itself, which is most likely to be your point of entry. Muscat is the Capital city of the country and prides itself on receiving the most number of visitors and tourists flying in at the Muscat International Airport, by road and sea.

While there are numerous local as well as international car rental service providing companies in the country, it may be wise to keep a few reliable names in mind before coming down. You can simply research the subject online and even book your preferred car beforehand through the company’s official websites. Many car rental companies offer special prices and discounts for early bird bookings or even online reservations. Going online for this service may also give you the opportunity to take your time in selection of the company that fits your requirements and needs, while also making sure you get a bargain by comparing rates and services provided by the selected few. Booking rental cars online is simple and quick. All you have to do is find a good company, select a car, fill in the required details and dates of travel, and do the booking using your credit card through a secure transaction system.

One of the most opportune car rental locations in Muscat is right at the airport. Many reputable car rentals have their presence inside the airport, so that you can simply get off the plane, pick up your luggage, go through customs, and book your car before leaving the premises. The car is delivered to your hotel or other place of residence in just a couple of hours. At times you may have to wait a little in line, in case the kiosk is crowded, but most of the time you will be attended within minutes, as the process is fast and hassle-free. Another way to getting a rental car is through your hotel or travel agency. You can simply ask the help desk for numbers and recommendations and place the call.

You can rest assured that there are plenty of car rental locations in Muscat and you will find a good company that can equip you with the car of your choice at a price that you are comfortable with. After all, you cannot compare public transport to the luxuries of a private vehicle.