Rent Car In Muscat – A Traveller’s Lifeline

The capital of Oman is a clean and modern city, with well-kept paved roads. You will find that as long as you stick to the speed limit and follow all regulations, driving through the city is easy and trouble-free. Hence before you start wandering the streets with your rent a car in Muscat, you should be aware of the basic laws, maps and directions.

Muscat is a moderately sized city and the main six-lane highway is very easy to navigate. The easiest way to find specific locations is to use the airport as a starting point. After it, all the roundabouts go in the following order: Azaiba, Ghubra (or Bowshar), Al Khuwair, Qurum, Wuttayah, Wadi Adai, Hamriya, Ruwi, Al Burj and Bait Al Falaj. Note this order and you won't have any trouble finding your way around the city.

You may, however, find some trouble understanding the maps due to three main reasons. The first one is that Arabic, when written in Latin alphabet uses phonetic spelling, so you may find different variations in the spelling of street names. Also, the city is full of roundabouts, which can create confusion in the map reading. Finally, you´ll see a lot of drawings around these roundabouts. Don’t let these symbols drive you crazy, they are quite easy to understand. They stand for the huge model sculptures, water fountains or monuments located in the roundabouts, which refer to the place where the roundabout is placed or to the name of the roundabout.  Residents who travel the roads regularly are known to have a favourite roundabout.

You should also be careful with the fines. Road rules in Oman can be really different from driving regulations in your home country. You will find a speed camera every 2km; don’t go by the inactive look they have, they all work properly and their tolerance is 19km per hour. Some time ago, speeding was a huge problem in Muscat, causing the government to build foot-over bridges and subways.

There is no tolerance for driving under the influence of alcohol and breaking the law will occur in severe penalties. Wearing seatbelts has been implemented as a rule due to different government campaigns to promote road safety. Remember to always carry your documentation, as you will have to produce it in the event of an accident.

Muscat is generally very hot, with temperatures reaching as high as 40°C (104°F) in the summer. The best choice for a car rental in Muscat would be a decent vehicle with AC. If you are staying inside the city limits, a saloon will do, and you’ll get it for a lower price. Outside Muscat, your best option is a 4x4 SUV.

For parking, lookout for the meters located in certain areas of Muscat, especially Qurum and Muttrah. Normally parking is free on Fridays. Driving a rent car in Muscat is pretty hassle-free and convenient and is a great way to see this beautiful city.

Rent Car in Muscat

Nothing can be more tiring than waiting around for a bus to arrive in the scorching Oman heat, or trying to wave down a taxi in the winding streets. Well, a majority of visitors and business travelers who travel to the Sultanate these days avoid such situations by opting to rent a car in Muscat. The world we live in today is literally shrinking, thanks to resources like the Internet. Travel and tourism has become easy and hassle-free and so are processes and things like getting in touch with car rentals, booking accommodation at hotels, making appointments at spas, etc., that make such widespread travel enjoyable.

If you are looking to book a rental car for your next trip to the beauty that is Oman, all you have to do is search out the best deal on car hire on the Internet. While there are more than plenty of car rental companies in the country, you can count on the exceptional services provided by most international companies present in the Capital of Muscat. Moreover, a self driven or chauffeur driven car provides a great deal of comfort as compared to any public mode of transport. Plus, contrary to popular belief such cars are not all that expensive. You can stick to your budget if you go about it intelligently. First of all it is vital to remember that Oman is situated in the Middle East, and just as most Middle Eastern countries, Oman too has extremely cheap fuel.

Another way to save money and still drive around the country in luxury is by making sure that you have picked the perfect car for your decided itinerary. For example, there is no point in renting a Mitsubishi Lancer or Nissan Altima if you want to drive off-road or indulge in desert safaris. Booking such sedans or 4x4 SUVs for just a lone traveler is also somewhat of a waste. If you want your travel to be comfortable but not cost too much and you are going to be alone or just two or three people, consider hiring a hatchback such as a Skoda Fabia or a Peugeot 206. Compact and mid-size vehicles are ideal for one to three travelers, while bigger groups or families prefer SUVs and MPVs. On the other hand the inflow of businessmen and professionals that come to Muscat for work or business meetings are known to hire executive cars that exude luxury.

So when you rent a car in Muscat, make sure you choose the vehicle that suits your purpose of travel and your itinerary perfectly. This may enhance your joy of visiting different parts of Oman to a great extent. Plus, most car rental companies offer awesome services and prices for weekly or monthly rentals that you can take advantage of.