subject2load

YuropFlyer

I don't know if it was scrapped and re-introduced recently, or actually never changed, but I had no problems on "ordering" (and paying) a 10days tourism visa for OMR5.

Got the PDF within 12hrs after applying, and at the airport at immigration all went smooth after showing the printout.

IAN-UK

the short stay OMR5 visa has indeed returned.

There was a measure of unhappiness among local tourism enterprises at the impact of the (relatively) high cost of short visits to the country.

BobFF68

Any recent experience with MCT long layover flying WY J class? Having a 19+ layover both ways with family:

Which hotel are they providing?
Is the transit visa complimentary or need to pay separately? Need to have local cash?
I guess checked baggage to be send only to final destination thus cannot take it in MCT, right?
Any issue if I put in the cabin luggage some fresh packed food (such as hard cheese, salami) avoiding remaining almost 24 hours in checked luggage exposed to probable torrid heat during Omani summer?
Thanks.

vedanta_visharad

You can apply for Evisa from ROP (Royal Oman Police) website for 5 OMR. Only citizens of certain countries or having Visa of US / UK / Schengen / Japan can apply. It take 2 days to process your application, so do this in advance of your travel date. You can also buy a transit visa at the airport transit area before immigration. The cost then is 6 OMR.

BobFF68

Thanks. By the way I found out some of the info in this thread of 2018:
Oman Air - CGK - MXP - £928

It seems that for STPC visa is already handled in the complimentary package thus nothing additional to do in advance, also WY twitter confirmed that preventive booking for STPC is not required, just need to show up at transfer desk in MCT. Anyway, any newer experience/updates on STPC would be appreciated, in any case I will report as well after my trip next June.

pweekes

BobFF68

thanks for the reply, hopefully we will get the good one, do you remember the hotels names?

pweekes

Grace B

Well, I now have a 20 hour (instead of 6 hour) transit in MCT (MXP-MCT-CGK), due to a schedule change. I assume that I will be able to get an STPC hotel just by showing my J boarding pass?

BobFF68

I was back few days ago from my family trip CGK-MXP return with long layover thus tested STPC both ways. Everything went as mentioned above by pweekes, just a little hassle to find the Oman Air accommodation desk (not to confuse with the transit desk) depending on which side/gates you're arriving, the number of people in line and agents available behind the desk. Our outward flight from Jakarta due to holidays season was full and at least more than hundred of passengers requiring, STPC thus it took more than two hours from our disembark to reach the hotel, much faster at return coming from Milan when we could reach the hotel in just one hour.

Both times they sent us at Sundus Rotana Hotel that is less than 10 minutes out from the airport, location is very anonymous near the highway and like in the middle of nowhere, while the hotel itself is a nice functional 4 star business style hotel, rooms are clean and airy, equipped fitness room and swimming pool that we enjoyed, restaurant quality was good as full board accommodation was complimentary. At first stay they gave us an Executive room much better than the standard room at return visit that in any case was still fine. We wanted to have a half day tour in Muscat during our second stay but we did not have enough courage to afford the 42 C of Omani summer, thus we just splashed by the pool.
Maybe in the next occasion would try the Ritz Carlton offer if still available.

Just some notes that could be useful also for others, as we were travelling always with big/heavy cases, during check in either in Jakarta and Milan I request one of the checked trolley to be collected in Muscat and the others directly at final destination, at the beginning the agents saying not possible, I just kindly asked them to check with their supervisor that always accommodated my request without issue. I was having some cheese and pork salami in the checked bag I collected in Muscat but not any problem was raised.
As mentioned above for this STPC, transit Visa is also provided complimentary at the same desk, thus no need to worry about cost and local cash for the payment.

At the end the layover was a quite enjoyable experience and a relaxing break of such a long trip, or at least it was as we were traveling during a family holiday, probably I would not consider the same in case of a business trip where you just want to arrive at destination as soon as possible.

kkt228

Hi all,

My friend will have a seven hour layover in MCT later this month so can anyone please confirm that he will not need a visa if just transiting through the airport without going landside?

Your help and time is hugely appreciated.

Thanks!

subject2load

kkt228

Thanks subject2load

Does it also apply when he goes through the immigration and then check in for his outbound flight?

Thanks again!

subject2load