InterContinental Hotels Group Stay Forum - IC - Muscat, Oman

has anyone ever stayed at the IC in Oman? thinking of booking for end of February, but can't get any prices at the moment

Which one - there are two. One in Muscat and the Al Bustan Palace which is a little out of Muscat although the latter is closed at the moment for a major makeover which could account for why you cannot get prices.
Muscat IC is on the beach yet convenient for the city. It's not especially big but has a reasonable lounge and some good F+B outlets.
The Al Bustan is bigger and has very attractive grounds - last time I stayed there it was a nice property but since they have just spent two years remodelling it would be foolish of me to say too much as I am sure it will be a different hotel when it reopens.

I think Al Bustan Palace because it is having an uplift, however, it may depend on the price, does anyone have any idea when it will be opening to book?

thanks

The IC is a great hotel in a good position, on the beach on the way into Rui/Muscat with a number of restaurants around.

Al Bustan is spectacular but isolated, out beyond the city. Towards the end of its earlier incarnation it was something a magnet for tour groups, particularly German-speaking ones.

Stayed last year at the IC near the airport. It was a great stay, nice hotel, nice upgrade for an RA and the concierge has booked a lot of nice tours for us. ^

Stayed a few weeks ago at the IC Muscat and had a lovely time. Very nice room with sea view and very helpful staff etc..

Al Bustan still not open and looking like the middle of 2008

I enjoyed the IC Muscat - good position on the beach and convenient for getting places. Nice pool area and grounds (but in Jan it was too cool to swim). Very nice Club lounge (booked) and got an upgrade to a sea view as Ambassador. Initially got a back room for 1 night (last minute booking) and would not recommend it - loads of building going on and very unattractive views of noisy construction sites. Some good restaurant choices (excellent Sunday buffet brunch, for example, and a good Italian place) and some options in the small, nearby shopping centre.

Bottom line: would go back anytime provide I got sea view and club access. Otherwise I'd rather go to the Shangri La - or maybe the Al Bustan, but I only saw that from the outside so can't comment.

One of the nicest facilities of the IC group.

Rather old building and the most modern achitecture and design, but with a beautiful garden and huge pool area directly situated at the beach.
If you have the time on a business trip to relax, this is the place to be.
Very clean, never too crowded, friendly and helpful staff.

Gym is big and has modern equipment. Kind of crowded sometimes, as it is also a private health club for locals with membership card.

The rooms are okay, not to big though. But if you get a room with sea view it is awesome.

Club Lounge is rather small, but offers a nice breakfast. Never made the Happy Hour though.

Restaurants and Bar are nice if you don't want to go out.

Thanks for the head up, I'll be in Muscat later this year. I'm so fed up with the Golden Tulip in Seeb, this will be a welcome change!

I also enjoyed last year my stay at the IC Muscat. The have a large swimming pool outside.

We are planing our Easter vacation in Muscat and I am wondering if any one has a recent (RA) experience in the Muscat IC?

I stayed there last December, good Ambassador recognition, nice sea-view room upgrade - I'd guess RA's fare even better.

The hotel itself is very nice and is a "wet" establishment, ie. you can have beer and wine (not sure about liqueurs)

I just stayed there two weeks ago. It was ok; a bit run-down, similar to the Grand Hyatt down the block though not as grandiose. As RA I was given club access (and a "sea view" room on club floor) and free breakfast, though I didn't use either. Check-in at the club was slow. Check-out was OK, though when I asked them to remove the mini-bar charges because I was RA, they first hesitated and then asked to see my membership card -- even though I made the reservation on the internet and they acknowledged my status, and upgraded me as a result, upon check-in. :rolleyes: I didn't have my card and solved it quickly enough; a minor issue, of course, but one of those frustrating examples of disengaged service.

The rooms are typical of the older-style ICs in the region (e.g., Amman, Bahrain, Riyadh, Dubai before it converted to the Radisson SAS, Doha to a lesser extent) -- kind of worn carpet, old furniture, and a basic bathroom, in this case with a tub/shower combination. The terrace was a plus.

The pool area is large and nice. There are two pools, one covered with a canopy for shade. They also have a huge grassy area on which to sit. The hotel, also like the Hyatt, is along the coast, but the beach is public, so you exit the hotel property through a gate, a break in the tall hedge that bounds the property, to get to the beach.

The hotel features Trader Vics, which is always kind of fun, among a handful of restaurants. Like most upscale places in Muscat, all manner of alcohol is easily available and fairly expensive.

Haven't stayed for a year or so, so not sure if this qualifies as recent. Took my future in-laws there for a weekend and both rooms were upgraded to sea-view club rooms, which are considerably nicer than the standard rooms. Welcome gift was a box of local perfumed soaps and a bottle of red wine. No problems with the free mini-bar.

We are planing our Easter vacation in Muscat and I am wondering if any one has a recent (RA) experience in the Muscat IC?

It's one of my favourites. It has some great staff and it's in a terrific position next to the beach with an extensive pool/garden complex. Oman is not a budget destination, but if costs are a consideration, there are good cafes and restaurants in the shopping centre in front of the hotel.

One downside is that the hotel seems to have over-sold membership to the leisure/fitness complex, so the pool and gym can get crowded at the weekend and at key times during the week.

Does anyone know if the IC Muscat honours RA privileges on award stays? Key elements are, of course, free minibar, room upgrade etc. Thanks

I stayed there last week for a couple of nights.

A dated looking building - 33 years old - but in good condition. We had a Club junior suite or something along those lines, which was basically two normal sized bedrooms, one of which was used as a living room. Two full bathrooms as a result.

Sea and pool view, which was nice. Nicely lanscaped garden with access to beach.

Staff mostly friendly and efficient.

Small Club lounge but reasonable snacks and breakfast. We ate breakfast once in the main restaurant as we were given the choice.

I would return.

It appears that we are down to the IC Oman. What are current thoughts about the property?

It appears that we are down to the IC Oman. What are current thoughts about the property?

Stayed there last January - as an Amb got Exec Seaview room, very nice. I like this hotel, good pool area, practically own beach (public beach but just have to step out the pool area to reach it). The hotel is rather expensive, but that's Oman for you...

Also got use of all facilities after the 1600 checkout (flight after midnight)

(if you are thinking about the HI Muscat, just forget it very quickly, horrible place. The CP Muscat has some nice reviews, but never stayed there myself)

(if you are thinking about the HI Muscat, just forget it very quickly, horrible place. The CP Muscat has some nice reviews, but never stayed there myself)

The HI in is long gone. It was in the oddest of locations, but won my affection by giving me a bottle of whiskey as (I guess) my PC gift :)

The CP is certainly OK, but the rate differential usually makes the IC a no-brainer (at least for RAs).

IC near in Shati Al Qurum has a nice bar / restaurant attached with some live music (and nice singers) on some nights.

I stayed at the IC in Muscat in February.

Although a little dated (80s), it was in a nice beach side location, great pool and garden and comfortable Club Lounge.

Does anyone know if the IC Muscat honours RA privileges on award stays? Key elements are, of course, free minibar, room upgrade etc. Thanks

I am also curious about this.

Also, is there a car rental company in the hotel? If so, which company?

I am also curious about this.

Also, is there a car rental company in the hotel? If so, which company?

There's certainly an Avis office on the (lower) ground floor. I'm sure the travel agency on the same level can also handle car rentals.

As for upgrades you are likely to be offered an ocean-view room or suite. The club is not too large, perhaps one reason they don't fall over themselves to give away access.

I have stayed twice on points (one of which was on a PointsBreak long ago) and had full RA benefits on both occasions, including the usual RA gift of a truly ghastly bottle of red wine and some local soaps. Booked three rooms on last stay as had in-laws in tow and all of us were offered club access, which was a pleasant surprise.

Agree that it is somewhat dated but I always enjoy staying there. Completely irrationally, and much to my wife's chagrin, I actual prefer it to the Shangri-La (which is a far superior property) which is the only other property I routinely have points to burn at in Muscat.

The Interconti in Muscat was built in the 70s with the atrium design so popular at the time. We were given a suite facing the water. It was two standard rooms with the connecting doors unlocked. One side was set up as the living room and the other as the bedroom. They had identical bathrooms and both had minibars. I am a Royal Ambassador and was on an award stay. I was appreciative of them honoring all RA benefits on an award stay. We got the staff to trade out the wine for a bowl of dates.

I was offered lounge access for 35 OMR++/day (roughly $120 incl tax and service) for two. I took it for a 24 window, as I arrived too late on day one and left too early on day 3 to benefit. I felt this was good value as we were allowed the buffet breakfast which otherwise would have been 22 OMR for the two of us. The lounge is small but adequate. There were small food offerings any time we were there. After breakfast, there was a nice range of Arab sweets including Omani halwah (which I didn't like, but was told was a must to try). There were small tea sandwiches over lunch. We didn't stop in during the afternoon, but returned for their evening offerings, given between 7 to 9pm. There was a good mushroom soup, spring rolls, delicious lamb patties, sushi, raw vegetables, bread, and some small pastries.

The London Royal Philharmonic was there, as they gave the inaugural concert at the beautiful new Royal Opera House. It is steps away from the hotel.

A taxi to the hotel was 7OMR.

Unlike the UAE where most hotel workers are international, staff all appeared to be local. The concierge was particularly hardworking on some car rental issues that we had.

i posted this is the cp thread as well....still deciding whether to stay here or at the cp for an upcoming stay later this month....price is not an issue, i'm just looking for a better property....any suggestions would help....