Yes Muscat is something of an antidote to Dubai and having been there many times I would certainly recommend it. There is a good range of hotels there, which cater for different markets quite well, so it's particularly important there to choose your hotel carefully. But there are plenty of things to see and do outside hotels. One can also perhaps look at Salalah for an even more relaxed vibe, and it's usually very good value. The downside is the slightly annoying entry procedures into Oman, normally it only takes 10 minutes or so, but on occasions it can take longer; and the lounge in Muscat is fairly basic. Not much wrong with it, there is plenty of space, but it's some distance behind the top lounges in the region.