Please critique Oman itinerary
#16
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: San Diego, CA
Programs: AA EXP, SPG Plat, Hyatt Diamond, Misc. others
Posts: 209
Hmm, depends what you mean by public. There are no "free" beaches in AUH that I know of.
There is a small fee for the beach off the corniche, and there is a women and children beach over by the Palace (the actual one, not the hotel).
The corniche beaches are technically open to everyone who pays the fees, but if you're a single male there may be days/times you're not allowed.
There is a small fee for the beach off the corniche, and there is a women and children beach over by the Palace (the actual one, not the hotel).
The corniche beaches are technically open to everyone who pays the fees, but if you're a single male there may be days/times you're not allowed.
#17
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Abu Dhabi
Programs: EY Platinum
Posts: 1,607
The women & children's beach has closed. But I actually meant proper beaches off the island, with sand that wasn't shipped in and without security guards whistling at people and jet-skiers trying to murder swimmers.
#18
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: ORD
Programs: UA MM, Hilton, Marriott, Hyatt
Posts: 154
I have been to Fujairah twice in the last three years as a side trip from Dubai. The drive from Dubai to Fujairah was easy and well-marked; however, the first time we tried to go to the Mussandam peninsula (Oman) there was some kind of problem. On the 2nd trip, I did a little advance research and apparently the rental car needs to have the right papers and you have to enter the Oman border outside RAK, the road through the mountains was closed for construction of a Six Senses, and something about the border in Dibba is one for locals only. So, I paid extra and got the papers....however, the last time we drove from Dubai to Ras Al Khaimah (where we spent 2 nights) and our UAE map did not have the route to Oman marked. I asked several individuals, including the rental car agent at the hotel, and he had no clue what road went into Oman and/or how to drive around the peninsula to Fujairah Al-Aqah.
In Fujairah, we have always stayed at the Rotana Al-Aqah, which is next door to the Meridien, in a lovely area with great beach. Dibba is a short drive away where you can take snorkeling excursions, etc. If you are able to cross into Oman from Dibba (or vice versa), I would love to hear about it.
In Fujairah, we have always stayed at the Rotana Al-Aqah, which is next door to the Meridien, in a lovely area with great beach. Dibba is a short drive away where you can take snorkeling excursions, etc. If you are able to cross into Oman from Dibba (or vice versa), I would love to hear about it.
#19
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: San Diego, CA
Programs: AA EXP, SPG Plat, Hyatt Diamond, Misc. others
Posts: 209
#20
Community Director Emerita
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Anywhere warm
Posts: 33,661
"The Thibat crossing is the main and straightforward one but the Dibba one can be problematic as the position varies, so you should check before attempting it. At present non-Omanis can cross the border at Dibba itself and drive up along the coast to the Golden Tulip and Zighy Bay resorts with no problem. If however, you want to cross over the mountains on rough dirt roads to Khasab there is a further checkpoint inland at which non-Omanis are current turned back. This route requires 4x4 in any event."
Six Senses is the Zighy Bay resort of which it speaks. It looks spectacular.
I briefly flirted with the idea of going to Mussandam but have cut it.
#21
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Abu Dhabi
Programs: EY Platinum
Posts: 1,607
Just to confirm - you can drive from Dibba into Oman through the UAE checkpoint. You can then drive up Wadi Kham al Shamis (past Zighy Bay) as far as the Wadi Bih checkpoint, but you won't be able to get through there if you're not a GCC passport holder. The only way to Musandam from Dibba (for non-GCC folks) is back via Ras al Khaimah. The trip up Wadi Kham al Shamis is great though - really spectacular scenery. And good rock climbing/bouldering if you're into that.
#22
Community Director Emerita
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Anywhere warm
Posts: 33,661
Let me report back on some aspects of our trip.
Visa on Arrival for American Citizens
Americans must have a visa for Oman. It can be obtained on arrival. My guidebooks said it was 6 OMR so it was quite a shock to learn it jumped to 20OMR (roughly $60) a year ago. This is a single entry visa, so our cost to visit the UAE just jumped.
Signage is quite good at MCT. You go to a currency exchange counter where you can exchange money and pay for the visa. You then go to the visa counter where the border formalties are handled. Then comes baggage claim and customs. All suitcases have to be xrayed in customs.
Once thru, there is a prepaid taxi stand. Taxi to the Interconti is 7 OMR and is about a 20 minute trip.
Car Rental
I used www.autoslash.com to find the best rate for car rental in Oman. Most companies limit incuded mileage to 150 km/day. Europcar has a comparable rate with unlimited mileage. We picked up the car a day after arrival, which happened to be a Friday. Friday is their equivalent to our Sunday. Any other day of the week, we were told that the car could have been delivered to our hotel. Instead, we had to pick it up at the airport. Europcar provided the paperwork needed to cross into UAE. Insurance added 25 OMR to the rental cost. Gas in Oman is a bargain, about $1.20/gallon. We had brought a map which was fortunate, as Europcar had none to offer.
Visa on Arrival for American Citizens
Americans must have a visa for Oman. It can be obtained on arrival. My guidebooks said it was 6 OMR so it was quite a shock to learn it jumped to 20OMR (roughly $60) a year ago. This is a single entry visa, so our cost to visit the UAE just jumped.
Signage is quite good at MCT. You go to a currency exchange counter where you can exchange money and pay for the visa. You then go to the visa counter where the border formalties are handled. Then comes baggage claim and customs. All suitcases have to be xrayed in customs.
Once thru, there is a prepaid taxi stand. Taxi to the Interconti is 7 OMR and is about a 20 minute trip.
Car Rental
I used www.autoslash.com to find the best rate for car rental in Oman. Most companies limit incuded mileage to 150 km/day. Europcar has a comparable rate with unlimited mileage. We picked up the car a day after arrival, which happened to be a Friday. Friday is their equivalent to our Sunday. Any other day of the week, we were told that the car could have been delivered to our hotel. Instead, we had to pick it up at the airport. Europcar provided the paperwork needed to cross into UAE. Insurance added 25 OMR to the rental cost. Gas in Oman is a bargain, about $1.20/gallon. We had brought a map which was fortunate, as Europcar had none to offer.
#23
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: DFW/SEA
Programs: *A Silver, AA Gold + Miles Scattered Everywhere.
Posts: 2,045
Visa on Arrival for American Citizens
Americans must have a visa for Oman. It can be obtained on arrival. My guidebooks said it was 6 OMR so it was quite a shock to learn it jumped to 20OMR (roughly $60) a year ago. This is a single entry visa, so our cost to visit the UAE just jumped.
.
Americans must have a visa for Oman. It can be obtained on arrival. My guidebooks said it was 6 OMR so it was quite a shock to learn it jumped to 20OMR (roughly $60) a year ago. This is a single entry visa, so our cost to visit the UAE just jumped.
.
"The validity period of the applicant's passport should not be less than six months. Adequate funds and proof of an onward/return ticket, though not required, are strongly recommended. The fee is Rials Omani 6.00 (approximately USD 20.00). "
According to this website it is 20OMR for a bunch of countries. BUT if you go to Dubai or Qatar first you are exempt from the fee. That's stupid. IMO. If I happen to be planning a vacation to the area, i would go to UAE first then hop over to Oman.
http://www.omanairports.com/visaonarivals.asp
#24
Join Date: Sep 2009
Programs: Aadvantage
Posts: 77
Name of a local Oman touring company?
Let me report back on some aspects of our trip.
Visa on Arrival for American Citizens
Americans must have a visa for Oman. It can be obtained on arrival. My guidebooks said it was 6 OMR so it was quite a shock to learn it jumped to 20OMR (roughly $60) a year ago. This is a single entry visa, so our cost to visit the UAE just jumped.
Signage is quite good at MCT. You go to a currency exchange counter where you can exchange money and pay for the visa. You then go to the visa counter where the border formalties are handled. Then comes baggage claim and customs. All suitcases have to be xrayed in customs.
Once thru, there is a prepaid taxi stand. Taxi to the Interconti is 7 OMR and is about a 20 minute trip.
Car Rental
I used www.autoslash.com to find the best rate for car rental in Oman. Most companies limit incuded mileage to 150 km/day. Europcar has a comparable rate with unlimited mileage. We picked up the car a day after arrival, which happened to be a Friday. Friday is their equivalent to our Sunday. Any other day of the week, we were told that the car could have been delivered to our hotel. Instead, we had to pick it up at the airport. Europcar provided the paperwork needed to cross into UAE. Insurance added 25 OMR to the rental cost. Gas in Oman is a bargain, about $1.20/gallon. We had brought a map which was fortunate, as Europcar had none to offer.
Visa on Arrival for American Citizens
Americans must have a visa for Oman. It can be obtained on arrival. My guidebooks said it was 6 OMR so it was quite a shock to learn it jumped to 20OMR (roughly $60) a year ago. This is a single entry visa, so our cost to visit the UAE just jumped.
Signage is quite good at MCT. You go to a currency exchange counter where you can exchange money and pay for the visa. You then go to the visa counter where the border formalties are handled. Then comes baggage claim and customs. All suitcases have to be xrayed in customs.
Once thru, there is a prepaid taxi stand. Taxi to the Interconti is 7 OMR and is about a 20 minute trip.
Car Rental
I used www.autoslash.com to find the best rate for car rental in Oman. Most companies limit incuded mileage to 150 km/day. Europcar has a comparable rate with unlimited mileage. We picked up the car a day after arrival, which happened to be a Friday. Friday is their equivalent to our Sunday. Any other day of the week, we were told that the car could have been delivered to our hotel. Instead, we had to pick it up at the airport. Europcar provided the paperwork needed to cross into UAE. Insurance added 25 OMR to the rental cost. Gas in Oman is a bargain, about $1.20/gallon. We had brought a map which was fortunate, as Europcar had none to offer.