Al Bustan Palace, A Ritz-Carlton Hotel

Such a mixed bag, but overall left with the impression that it would be our last visit here. We’d stayed here twenty years ago and then recently favoured the Shangri-La and Kempinski, but decided to give this another try. Perhaps it’s having come pretty much straight from the Four Seasons and One and Only in Mauritius that this fell so short, but it really is so obvious when compared to other 5* hotels that this just isn’t it. Booking the updated rooms in the side wings is an absolute must- we had 3 Mountain View rooms booked and they smelt dreadful- like damp and must. We were staying here to celebrate a birthday, graduation and marriage and had been assured we’d receive a good room- so to walk into one that smelt so awful was v disappointing. Whilst two of our family members had fully unpacked and just used room air freshener, our room was so bad that we moved, and were faced with a room with a view of some traffic cones and a roof- a way worse view than previously. It seems odd that to make up for having to move, we get an even worse room. This was flagged and we were FINALLY moved into a garden view room which had been renovated, and it was like night and day. Service around the pool was incredibly inconsistent, with some staff just handing us towels in the morning, and some actually helping us. Drinks orders were often wrong, and it did seem like the language barrier often got in the way of comprehending orders. My main gripe, is that on one our last day, we headed down to the pool around 7:30 to make the most of the last day, and managed to snag one of the last remaining cabanas, as we had a couple of times this week (they go VERY quickly and people seem to be down from 6am to reserve). We spent two hours here before somebody came along and told us that the guests in a better suite than ours wanted this specific one, so we’d need to move. The way this was handled was appalling, and though we politely explained that this hasn’t been flagged when somebody assisted us with our towels earlier that morning, we were told under no uncertain terms that they wanted THIS one so we’d need to go. Though we managed to stay here, it left my husband incredibly on edge and uncomfortable all morning, with 0 apology for how this has been Food and drinks was v expensive- eg £50 for a bottle of Barefoot wine.. (£3 in supermarkets), but that is Oman generally, and food was good. On the plus side- food was overall good, gorgeous pool and spa, and great ladies beach. We were also met with a lovely cake in our room and able to checkin an hour early and three hours late. Overall, think next time we’re in Oman will be trying out the nearby Jumeirah instead.

We arrived to Al Bustan and immediately we felt at home. We upgraded to a sea facing room for a minimal fee and loved waking up to a beautiful sunrise every morning. We were shown to our rooms and welcomed with a fruit platter. We really appreciated the warm welcome and 5 star reception. I have seen mention of the room being outdated but it kind of fits in with the ‘Palace’ theme. I admit that the bathrooms are a bit small and I don’t usually enjoy using a shower in a tub but I do appreciate that high quality materials have been used in the bathrooms that are not easy to just change. The amenities in the bathroom are all good quality. The Hotel is beautiful with immaculate gardens and you could imagine being in some Island destination. The Beach is better than most In Muscat and we enjoyed a swim daily. There are ample pool loungers and I love that they provide a small cooler box to keep your drinks and sunblock cold. The Breakfast Buffet is one of the best I have had and compliments to all the chefs that prepare the most exquisite pastries, omani pancakes and different delights. Talking to Alie was the highlight of our mornings and every day he would bring something special to our table for us to try. The care taken into the fruit display and presentation has to be commended. The breakfast area and setting also lends to a very tropical atmosphere. My only suggestion here would be a better cappuccino machine and also hotter water for the tea because most days the tea was served cold. It was lovely to meet Dominic from South Africa at the Egg station where they whip up great omelettes. We booked a city hotel for the last days of our holiday because of it being close to the airport but we regretted it so much. Although it was close to the Marina & Al Mouj area- it was actually much easier for us to get around from Al Bustan. The roads there aren’t so busy and the Hotel is close to Mutrah souk, they even offer a shuttle there every evening. It’s also easy to get to the Wadis & Malls from Al Bustan. If I can suggest you do the dolphin trip with snorkeling from the Marina closer to Al Bustan. It was only 15 OR per person and really worth it. For the Damaniyat island trip, you should go the Al Mouj Marina because it’s much closer to turtle bay. I noticed that many guests who visited Al Bustan have been coming there for years. They seem to know the staff on a personal level, hugging them and chatting with them like old friends. I can appreciate why they would love Al Bustan because it is a home away from home where you can experience true Omani Hospitality. I will always stay at Al Bustan in the future.

Beautiful hotel with exceptional services, special mention for Dinda Agustina, Nadya Uli and Andi Febriani who's giving the service excellence during my stay. Their hospitality and kind assistance left a memorable during my stay in Al Bustan Palace.

Amazing place. Fabulous location. Staff are very warm friendly and welcoming. Food is delicious with options to suit everyone. We received excellent service from everyone and especially from Majid and Blaise in the restaurant. Would highly recommend

We had a wonderful week at Al Bustan. There is luxury and comfort at every turn. On arrival we were upgraded to a lagoon room, which meant that we had direct access from our terrace to one of the swimming pools. The room itself was gorgeous and beautifully decorated and furnished. It was spotlessly clean. I am a light sleeper and found that the room was quiet and insulated from noise in neighbouring rooms, also the Drapes were heavy and blocked out the light well. The bathroom was marble tiled, with luxurious amenities and fluffy towels. It was not the best laid out bathroom and was a bit pokey to work around. Also, there was a lack of rails and hooks for towels and bath robes, meaning that most often they ended up in a heap on the floor. This would be my one suggestion for improvement. The hotel grounds are immaculately designed and maintained. There are beautiful paths and walkways throughout the gardens and along the beach. The pool itself is spectacular and the palm trees made it a cool and shady retreat from the heat of the day. But the most impressive aspect of this hotel is the personal service from staff. Despite there being over 500 rooms, we felt as if we were in a boutique hotel. We became on first name terms with many of the staff in the restaurants, at the pool, and the housekeeping. This elevated or stay beyond all expectations. We felt treated as family and look forward to a return stay.