Tell me about the ME especially Oman

[imightjustsing]

DH and have the opportunity to have a week in the Middle East in November or December.
I think a few days in Muscat then off to the beach would be great for some winter sun. Can anyone recommend a beach resort and hotel? The Six Senses looks ideal but is over budget.

The other option is Dubai but it doesn't hold much appeal to me. Happy to be told otherwise though.

TheHulksPurplePanties i was checking she'd looked at a map!!! There are some pretty far flung places mentioned as "a few days on the beach".
That said, I know several people who have driven to Oman from here - and that involves 5 hours before you even get to the Emirates..... I have a different tolerance to driving to some people!

Only done short haul with Oman air. It was fine. Don't know what the long haul option is like.

Dunes we drive to Muscat from Dubai fairly often (my DP's and DPil's live in Qatar so...), and it's 5 hours if the line up at the borders are good. It's not bad NOW, because of the new Al Batinah Expressway, but it used to be a long horrible drive on the old highway.

I always laugh when I pass the sign in Hatta that says "Salalah 1111km's" and think, who the hell in their right mind would drive that! And I'm Canadian so used to driving long distances.

Don’t go any time soon though- 49 degrees Celsius in Oman just now!

Oman air is absolutly fine. Never had a bad experience on it.

If you go to Muscat, The Chedi hotel would be my first choice . It's absolutely lovely . If you don't stay there at least visit for dinner or Friday brunch.
The enormous Shangri-La hotels are in a bay 12km from Muscat. The adults part would be best, usually there are a lot of kids at the other two.
My other picks would be a day trip to Wadi Shab and a boat trip to dive/snorkel. Last time I went out , my children saw a shark.
The attraction of Salalah is that it is a great deal cooler than the rest of the country. In Nov/Dec
Muscat will be lovely so you needn't take to the south.
The six senses Zingy bay is another amazing option. You need to fly to Dubai (rather than Muscat) and be driven in but its absolutely gorgeous.