Barceló Mussanah Resort – Beach vacation with snorkeling tour
The coast of Oman offers some beautiful stretches of beach, ideal for a beach vacation. The Barceló Mussanah Resort hotel is located on one of these wonderful stretches of beach and even has a private beach area.
It takes about 45 minutes by car from Muscat and the airport to the Barceló Mussanah Resort hotel. A large beach hotel with over 230 rooms and 74 apartments spread over two building complexes awaited us.
The resort offers its guests 3 restaurants. The main restaurant, which serves a wonderful breakfast buffet in the morning, is located on the first floor right next to reception. During our stay, we were also able to enjoy a very varied buffet for lunch and dinner here as part of our booked full board. On our last afternoon, we ate in the Azure Restaurant right by the pool. It mainly serves Mediterranean cuisine. If you prefer Italian food, you can eat at La Dolce Vita in the evening.
After a very friendly welcome in the large and very elegant entrance hall, we quickly took the elevator to the 4th floor. I was tempted by the sea and the hotel exploration had to wait.
How do you stay at the Hotel Barceló Mussanah Resort?
The hotel offers its guests different room categories. These differ, for example, in terms of view (mountain or sea) and size. All rooms have a balcony.
We stayed in the superior room for 3 nights. I found it very large at 31m2 and was very pleased to be able to store our clothes in the large wardrobes. Patrick was pleased with the very fast Wi-Fi, which worked without any problems in our room, and the desk with a decent desk chair (we had accumulated quite a few emails).
The king-size bed was wonderfully comfortable and nothing stood in the way of a good night’s sleep.
The view of the Gulf of Oman and the hotel marina from the balcony spurred me on to get to the beach as quickly as possible. The sea glistened so seductively…
Unfortunately, it was not possible to look into the other rooms. However, I found out that there are even rooms with a small kitchenette. So if you prefer to prepare your own food, this beach hotel offers you the option. There are also apartments with two bedrooms, which are certainly ideal for a family vacation.
Beach and pool
If you walk along the sea, you will come to the hotel’s pool and beach area after a few meters. Here you can get a large beach towel in exchange for a small card.
I was first drawn directly to the sea. We were in Oman in March during Ramadan. Many hotels only had a few guests and it was noticeable here too. The beach area was empty and many sun loungers were free. I had a free choice and was even able to choose a lounger in the “front row” right by the sea.
I was immediately drawn into the water. It was low tide, there were hardly any waves and with a water temperature of over 20 degrees, you really can’t complain. The water only gets deeper and deeper very slowly and it takes a moment before you can swim. During the three days we had wonderful crystal-clear water that almost tempted us to spend the whole day in it.
The pool area is right by the sea. There are several pools with plenty of sun loungers. One of the pools is situated so that you can look out to sea while swimming. It’s wonderful to splash around here and watch the waves crashing onto the sea.
For children, there is a large water park with slides and a kids’ zone with water jets and buckets that regularly empty into the pool with a loud splash.
Are there any other leisure activities?
There is a large mini-golf course right next to the pool area. You can spend some great hours on the imaginatively designed courses.
There is a gym in the adjacent building where you can work out 24 hours a day and just one floor up is the Zayna Spa with spa, sauna, steam baths and whirlpool.
Looking for some action? A zipline starts from one of the buildings down into the hotel garden. Jet skis and kayaks can be hired in the marina
Our tip – snorkeling
The SEAOMAN Diving Centre, the largest diving center in Oman, is located in the Barceló Mussanah Resort hotel and is open 7 days a week. You can book diving and snorkeling excursions here. We booked a snorkeling tour here. Normally, a minimum number of 3 people is required. About 10 minutes before the start of our tour, the second couple canceled their participation and so we had the pleasure of doing the half-day tour alone.
We were able to borrow the snorkeling equipment and even had some tea and fruit at our disposal during the trip.
We took a motorboat, not exactly slowly, for an hour to the Daymaniyat Islands. The islands are located about 14 to 17 kilometers north of the al-Batina coast near the city of Barka and east of the city of Sib, which already belongs to the governorate of Muscat. The chain of islands stretches for 22 kilometers along the coast. The nine uninhabited islands have a total area of 100 hectares.
Submerged in the Gulf of Oman
We visited 3 small islands. The first stop was at a rock on which numerous seagulls were perched. We climbed into the water via a ladder equipped with a diving mask, snorkel and fins.
The guide’s tip – swim around the rock and get as close as possible. Patrick was absolutely thrilled right from the start and saw countless fish. I didn’t see anything at first, just water and rocks. Once I cleaned my glasses, I spotted numerous fish. Not brightly colored but with colorful fins. Once I found the “right” view, a dreamlike landscape opened up before my eyes. After about 40 minutes, we climbed back onto the boat, exhausted.
We slowly made our way to the next island. There was a beautiful white beach here, where turtles sometimes lay in the sun. We were allowed to go ashore, but didn’t see any turtles. But we did see crabs and shrimps. These crawled out of small holes right next to small mounds of sand.
Looking out to sea, we saw it after all – a turtle. It was swimming towards the island and peering out of the water. Unfortunately, it noticed our movement and disappeared back into the sea in a flash.
We also saw some rays that jumped out of the water just a few meters from the island and disappeared back into the sea with a loud splash.
Back on the boat, we made our last stop at a small rocky island. Here we snorkeled close to the rock among small schools of fish and colorful fish. I particularly liked the corals, which provided a safe hiding place for some of the fish.
After about 2.5 hours, we headed back to the hotel.
For me, the snorkeling trip is one of the truly unforgettable experiences in Oman. What a fantastically beautiful nature!
What are the arrival and departure times at Barceló Mussanah Resort?
Check-in is possible from 14:00 and check-out until 12:00.
What parking options does the Barceló Mussanah Resort offer?
The hotel offers free parking for hotel guests. These are located directly in front of the hotel.
Is the Barceló Mussanah Resort suitable for people with disabilities?
Yes, the Barceló Mussanah Resort is suitable for people with disabilities. Please ask at reception for the appropriate services and facilities.
Can pets be brought along to the Barceló Mussanah Resort?
No, pets are not allowed.
Does the Barceló Mussanah Resort have a pool?
Yes, the Barceló Mussanah Resort has 4 pools and a children’s pool. There is a splash park with slides.
Is there a charge for the Internet connection at Barceló Mussanah Resort?
No, the internet connection is free of charge for guests. The reception is good in the house and even extends to the pool area.
Is breakfast included in the price for guests of the Barceló Mussanah Resort?
No, breakfast is not included in the room rate, but can be booked for a fee.
Does the Barceló Mussanah Resort offer a transfer to the nearest airport?
Yes, the Barceló Mussanah Resort offers a transfer service to the nearest airport for an additional charge. For more information, please contact the hotel.
Are there restaurants or catering facilities at the Barceló Mussanah Resort?
Yes, the resort has several restaurants and catering facilities.
Does the resort offer leisure activities or entertainment?
Yes, the Barceló Mussanah Resort offers a variety of leisure activities and entertainment options, including water sports, fitness center, spa, children’s clubs and regular events with entertainers.
Are there facilities for events or conferences at the resort?
Yes, the Barceló Mussanah Resort does have facilities for meetings and events, including conference rooms and banquet facilities.
Are there opportunities for activities outside the resort at the Barceló Mussanah Resort?
Yes, the resort can organize excursions or activities outside the resort, such as sightseeing tours, boat trips or diving excursions.
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