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Easter Journey Through The Arabian Gulf
Holidays like Christmas and Easter are the perfect opportunity to travel and explore the world, and I wasn’t about to miss out.
Back in September last year, I figured it would be a good idea to have another GUFs from BA even in 2025, so I jumped on the opportunity and booked some popular flights with SriLankan Airlines. Then… I forgot about it. Fast forward to the end of December, we all know what happened - British Airways announced changes to their FFP. By January, I realised Easter was approaching fast, which meant it was time to start planning. That’s when I discovered in TripIt (a fantastic app for keeping track of everything) I had already booked some flights. The next step was using my BA voucher to book flights to Doha (DOH). From there, I expanded the trip to include Oman, Bahrain, and Kuwait. As I was adding more stops to my trip, I had to change my BA flights to allow for more time in the region. When trips get a bit more complex, I prefer to have a paper copy of the itinerary. Two days before departure, while writing everything down, I had a mini panic: I’d forgotten to book hotels in Oman. In my rush to book a place in Muscat, I didn’t notice there were two Crowne Plaza hotels. I booked the one near the airport instead of the one in the city center. Oh well, mistakes happen. And so began my Easter journey through the Arabian Gulf:
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Flight BA123: LHR-DOH
I ran into an issue with online check-in. No surprise there. As usual, the BA app failed right when I needed it. I switched to their website and managed to get what looked like a boarding pass… but wasn’t quite one. For some reason, the system flagged that I needed a visa to enter Qatar, which was odd. I’ve never needed a visa for Qatar before.
So my first stop at Heathrow was The First Wing. Surprisingly, it was a bit busier than usual, with all the agents occupied. Once it was my turn, I handed over my passport and explained the situation. After the usual questions about my destination, the staff asked to see my visa. I explained again that I don’t need one. They apologised and said they’re working with a new system and still getting used to the new procedures. I wasn’t in a rush, so I chatted with one staff member while the other battled the system. Apparently, BA has now been integrated into the same platform many other airlines use. Possibly part of their transition into the new BAC or huge IT investments 🤣. Once I finally had my boarding pass in hand, security was quick and painless, and soon I was relaxing in the lounge. I won’t even try to compete with JapesUK ’s detailed lounge reviews. Same goes for the BA flight itself, there are plenty of thorough reviews out there already. https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...ff15447f73.jpg Confusing signs https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...60170fec09.jpg Where should first class passengers go? 🤔 |
Looks like a fun itinerary, have a great trip!
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Glad you are having another go at a trip report, subscribed and looking forward to following your adventures.
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Originally Posted by WiSK
(Post 37037041)
Looks like a fun itinerary, have a great trip!
Originally Posted by JapesUK
(Post 37037202)
Glad you are having another go at a trip report, subscribed and looking forward to following your adventures.
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Flight QR1126: DOH-MCT
I booked this flight on ba.com using Avios. Since I had already checked in online and saved the boarding pass to my phone, I decided to stay airside rather than going landside.
Before heading through security, I stopped by the Qatar Airways desk to ask if they could print my boarding pass. In hindsight, that may not have been the best idea. I ended up with a confused agent struggling with an even more confused QR system. She looked at me, puzzled, and asked how I got there, clearly wondering how I got there. I pointed to the BA boarding pass in her hand and explained I had just landed. Then came the questions:
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...7ce29033f1.jpg Judging by her helpless expression, I could tell this wasn’t going to be quick. Eventually, she called over a few colleagues for help. After battling the system for another five minutes or so, the QR team finally won and handed me my boarding pass. I couldn’t help but wonder if going landside might have been faster. https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...94ec7e424c.jpg Platinum Lounge I made a quick stop at the Platinum Lounge, but it was completely packed. No empty seats anywhere. Later, I realised many people just left their belongings to hold seats while they went to the dining area. https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...a6aa792a81.jpg I saw this in Incheon and was sure I saw something similar in Doha. https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...de3ea98031.jpg Paradise City, Incheon And indeed, it was there https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...f31d95f16e.jpg Doha I didn’t stay long. Instead, I took a walk to the Garden. I knew we had a bus gate, so I wasn’t in a hurry. I’ve had some unpleasant experiences with QR’s bus boarding before, and unfortunately, this time was no better. They kept us waiting in the bus for ages (thankfully with aircon on), then took the longest possible route to the aircraft. https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...2f64b97e95.jpg According to Flightradar24, this route is operated by A320, B777, or A350. I had chosen my seat not knowing which aircraft we’d get, but as soon as I saw those sexy, curved wings, I knew it was the A350, 9 years old A7-ALG. https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...2c327d7482.jpg Business class cabin The business class cabin looked spacious, with a small open bar/lounge area in the middle. No QSuites this time, just the older seats in 1-2-1 configuration. When I boarded, the cabin was completely empty. https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...067c23c626.jpg Since it was only an hour-long flight, I opted for economy. The first row was 2-3-2, while the rest of the cabin had a 3-3-3 layout. I sat in 10K with plenty of leg room. Once boarding was complete, the captain welcomed us aboard our 1 hour and 6 minute flight. Shortly after takeoff, the crew came around with refreshments, water or orange juice, and a sandwich. I skipped the food as I wasn’t hungry. As we began our descent into Muscat, the views were beautiful. https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...65034e7d07.jpg https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...8215896d22.jpg After landing, it took us around 10 minutes to reach the gate. We hadn’t even stopped fully when people started jumping up and opening overhead bins. Why do people do that? https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...6763d031c2.jpg Somewhere at the MCT airport https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...7d4bf16220.jpg Baggage hall The visa-on-arrival process was smooth and quick. I handed over my passport and was asked how long I’d be staying. Since it was less than two weeks, the visa was free. They just scanned all my fingertips and took a photo. I got a stamp and a friendly “Enjoy your time here.” https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...bcca39b0da.jpg Next step: find my driver. As I entered the arrivals hall, I spotted a sign that said “Dr. Vorel” but no one standing next to it. I asked a few people nearby if it was theirs, but no. Looked like my driver had vanished. https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...262e374556.jpg One person offered to helped me and while he tried to contact him, I wandered around and took a few photos. Eventually, my driver showed up, apologising profusely. He hadn’t expected us to land so early. It was no problem. It was only noon, and I had three hours to kill before hotel check-in. |
Taxi apps in Oman
The taxi app situation in Oman really deserves a post of its own. Before I left for the trip, I did a bit of research online. I quickly found out that Careem doesn’t operate in Oman, but there were a few local options: Otaxi, Marhaba, and Mwasalat.
First, I tried Mwasalat, only to discover it’s for buses, not taxis. If you want a taxi, you have to call one. Very old-school, especially in a world where we have apps for everything. Next up was Otaxi. The signup process was straightforward at first - name, email, phone number. But then came the catch: it sends the OTP (one-time password) via WhatsApp. I stopped using WhatsApp after Meta acquired it and refused to reinstall it. So, that was a dead end. Then I tried Marhaba... same story. It required WhatsApp for OTP. Total fail. I asked the hotel staff if they recommended any other apps besides Otaxi. They suggested Taleem. Guess what? It also required WhatsApp. At that point, I gave in and installed WhatsApp on my backup phone. Time to register again. I tried Otaxi, no OTP ever arrived. Same with Marhaba. No matter how long I waited, the code never came through. Finally, I gave Taleem one more shot, and it actually worked. Victory… sort of. The next challenge? Adding a payment card. I tried several times, but every attempt failed. So, I was stuck with cash-only rides. Naturally, I had forgotten to withdraw cash at the airport. My last resort was using a regular, licensed taxi. You can sometimes hail them on the street if you’re lucky or call for one. For my first ride, I had to ask reception to call a taxi that accepted card payments. But had the opportunity to compare prices, and the regular taxi was twice as expensive as using the app. Lesson learned: Even if you do have WhatsApp, the OTP might still not arrive. And always, always, carry cash in Oman. |
The OTP to WhatsApp comes as a message from unknown sender and AFAIK could be sometimes blocked by your privacy settings :)
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Originally Posted by jaro
(Post 37042477)
The OTP to WhatsApp comes as a message from unknown sender and AFAIK could be sometimes blocked by your privacy settings :)
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Crowne Plaza Muscat OCEC
The ride from the airport to the Crowne Plaza Muscat OCEC took about 10 minutes. It wasn’t even 12:30 when I arrived to the hotel, and I was already wondering what I’d do until the 15:00 (3pm) check-in. But to my pleasant surprise, my room was already ready.
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...198a6e7693.jpg Reception https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...034debd73f.jpg I sat here while waiting for my room key The receptionist invited me to take a seat while she processed my booking. While waiting, I took a quick walk around the ground floor. https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...0e03364995.jpg Cafe https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...491c9c7626.jpg Chocolate https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...840ad10661.jpg https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...d88fe30ba8.jpg Spa & gym To the right of the entrance, there’s a café. A massive chandelier hangs above a staircase that leads to the lower level, where you’ll find the pool area, spa, gym, and several restaurants. https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...6d29a0b456.jpg Arabic coffee for the guests https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...813b7e9f0f.jpg Lifts Since there were still guests checking out, the receptionist offered me some Arabic coffee and dates. I hadn’t even finished my coffee before she handed me the room keys. https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...f7b458de49.jpg Room https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...706d330288.jpg Room The room itself was spacious, with a king-sized bed in the center. https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...049e48bc73.jpg My office for a few days https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...d28fdfc795.jpg Tea There was a coffee machine, an unexpected but welcome surprise, as well as tea, a kettle, and bottled water, all ready to use. A plate of fresh fruit and some sweets were waiting for me on the table. https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...0008c6cb30.jpg There was plenty of space in the wardrobe to hang clothes, and of course, an iron and ironing board if needed. https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...0ae618a8fa.jpg The bathroom had both a shower and a bathtub. I quite like the Apotheke toiletries, which are commonly found in Crowne Plaza hotels. https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...eaa351c877.jpg Bathroom https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...5eb45dca16.jpg Bathroom I found a safe box and a copy of the Quran. https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...d496d2e8b9.jpg https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...65dd2e19d8.jpg The view from the room wasn’t particularly exciting. But I assume it’ll look better once the area is more developed. https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...f1bc93726b.jpg View from my room https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...1fc37c0537.jpg Sunrise The hotel also has an executive lounge (called the Club Room) located on the 6th floor. It’s open from 12:00 to 20:00 (8pm), with Afternoon tea from 15:00 (3pm) to 17:00 (5pm) and happy hour from 18:00 (6pm) to 20:00 (8pm). https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...577b6da3b5.jpg Details https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...dd600c0f58.jpg 6th floor I visited around four, but there was nothing set out for afternoon tea. The receptionist assured me snacks and sweets would arrive soon. But the next day, I checked again, and it was the same story: no afternoon tea in sight. https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...b44fbc2d04.jpg Lounge https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...ea32e031d2.jpg Dining part https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...a22225a557.jpg Terrace https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...3757958251.jpg Lounge (left side) https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...071d17e89f.jpg View from the lounge I returned later for happy hour. This time, there was a selection of finger food. To my surprise, alcohol was available, too. I happily ignored it and poured myself a nice glass of mango juice. https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...034a97ec1e.jpg https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...f4c74e9e49.jpg Lamb https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...0b7b5fa792.jpg Spring rolls https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...8c38e87b1f.jpg Mini burgers https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...56128f66b8.jpg Selection of spirits https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...fadda0be1a.jpg Juice and sof drinks https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...4c87b9ed15.jpg Beer and some wine As for dining options, the hotel has three restaurants. One is a Belgian bar located on the ground floor behind the reception, serving Belgian beer and pub-style food. The other two are on the lower level: one is a Thai restaurant, and the other is a buffet-style restaurant where I had breakfast each morning. https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...0f5c5c8374.jpg Belgian pub https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...8e53c12052.jpg Thai restaurant https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...30b05e8038.jpg Thai restaurant https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...af4cb8c04b.jpg Buffet-style restaurant/breakfast There are two pools outside, one for the kids with a knee high water, and a bigger one where one can swim. https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...593a475186.jpg https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...4fb6b96a9c.jpg Outdoor seating https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...f2b1712401.jpg I walked around the hotel just to see what's there. https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...60f9c00e45.jpg Garden https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...3bd187b6e0.jpg Hotel https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...42293be341.jpg Entrance https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...5996babb8a.jpg Garden |
Snorkelling in the Daymaniat Islands
While researching things to do in Muscat, I came across numerous snorkelling and diving tours. What instantly caught my attention was that nearly all of them guaranteed turtle sightings. That was it, I knew I had to book one. But there was a catch: most tours required a minimum of two people. Hmm. I was travelling solo. Fortunately, after a bit of searching, I found a company offering solo-friendly tours and booked it straight away.
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...e98fbf0718.jpg Al Mouj marina https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...ffcfc379fa.jpg Meeting point The meeting point was at Al Mouj Marina, where all the tour operators have small booths lined up for check-in. Once my booking was confirmed, I was asked to sign a waiver stating they weren’t responsible for anything and that all liability lay with me. Classic. https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...08876f12e4.jpg Marina At exactly nine, our captain, also our guide, arrived and welcomed everyone. He called out our names, then led us through a gated area of the marina, where our boat was waiting among much larger yachts. https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...54acf16d71.jpg Our boat https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...43784d2f4d.jpg The trone (with a hidden toilet) It was a 45-minute bumpy ride to our first stop: Turtle Bay. Several boats were already there, and the water was dotted with tourists. Snorkelling gear was provided, though I had brought my own. We were given instructions: not to touch the turtles, not to swim directly above them, and when to be back on the boat. After that, we were free to explore. https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...d3b30bb115.jpg We need Internet everywhere even on a tiny island https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...5b8a5739c9.jpg Turtle Bay and tourists There was a particular spot where many turtles had gathered for what looked like a late breakfast. Naturally, that spot was swarming with people, some of whom completely ignored the rules and swam right above the turtles. I didn’t join the crowd, there was no need. The turtles would come up for air and pass right by me. https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...66901bc562.jpg Turtle needing some air https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...5be98295eb.jpg A group of turtles Aside from the turtles, the area was teeming with beautiful, colourful fish. https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...b05fabb32d.jpg Some fish Once it was time to regroup, our captain had prepared some light refreshments. There were sandwiches, bananas, and crisps. The sandwiches had some kind of cream in them, so I gave those a miss. I didn't stay hungry, I’d brought a few snacks of my own. The bananas and crisps were much appreciated, and we were also offered mango juice and water to stay hydrated. After our break, we headed to the second stop, a stunning beach with white sand. https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...bdca25e395.jpg Beach https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...4157b0236c.jpg Another beach I’m not much of a sunbather, so I grabbed my snorkelling kit again and went exploring. I spotted some tiny shrimps building sand houses, though they were far too small to photograph properly. There was also a very colourful fish (I think it was a parrotfish, though feel free to correct me) who seemed oddly fascinated by me and followed me around, as if posing for more photos. https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...7ab53c99ab.jpg Time flew by, and before I knew it, we were heading back to the marina. https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...0eada4a483.jpg View on the way back Here are a few photos from the Al Mouj area: https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...3bf7e1c697.jpg https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...554b8f2cb9.jpg https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...6b4f25acfd.jpg |
Crowne Plaza Muscat OCEC – Dinner and Breakfast
After the rather underwhelming experience at the executive lounge, I decided to explore the hotel's dining options. I wasn’t in the mood for Thai cuisine or Belgian pub food, so I headed to Mosaic Restaurant, which offered buffet and an à la carte menu.
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...762bdac30d.jpg Cold meze and shawarma I ordered the cold oriental mezze mix and the chicken shawarma. There really should have been a warning, the portions were enormous! Breakfast was also served at Mosaic. The selection was impressive, featuring dishes from all over the world. There was truly something for everyone, no matter where you’re from or what you fancy first thing in the morning. https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...68783a8d6f.jpg https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...db086e8dd1.jpg Soup https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...b68147e8dc.jpg https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...5114b8350b.jpg Meze https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...c22efa03b1.jpg Cold cuts https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...bf96dd21d4.jpg Fruit https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...8e997f72d5.jpg Paratha, chappati https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...d67dbba159.jpg Sambar https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...b5acdf945f.jpg Heathly part https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...6ef6afa9ec.jpg Water and juices https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...62eb4a3724.jpg Bread https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...e0061d41c9.jpg Pastry https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...05576c4034.jpg My breakfast |
It all looks so wonderful! Thank you for sharing!
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Originally Posted by VorelNaCestach
(Post 37043286)
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...43784d2f4d.jpg
The trone (with a hidden toilet) |
Originally Posted by offerendum
(Post 37045285)
Quite a public affair. Or is there a room inside?
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