Welcoming Oman

On the internet you find very little about this wonderful country, but it really deserves to be visited both for its landscape and for its people..

A FEW FACTS: We flew with Turkish Airlines, which among the various airlines was the one offering the best price over the Christmas holidays: 880 euros for 2 adults plus a 3-year-old girl... The only downside is the arrival and departure at impossible times: 3 AM.

TAXI: The drivers don't use the meter, so you always have to haggle; broadly speaking you always spend between 5 and 8 euros in Muscat, slightly less in Salalah.

SUPERMARKETS: Lots of small ones run by Indians or Omanis, and a big chain called Lulu that sells absolutely everything: Barilla pasta, Nutella, nappies, powdered milk, meat, fish, fruit, children's and adults' clothing plus everything you need for camping, from cooler bags to tents.. So there's no point loading up your suitcase!!!!!

RESTAURANTS: We ate in the local little restaurants, the prices are very low, we never spent more than 15 euros for three.

HOTELS: Of every kind, everywhere and of every category, Western prices.

CLIMATE: Muscat around 27 degrees, it rains often in December but not all day Salalah around 30 degrees, sea temperature 27 degrees, never a day of rain or clouds.

SEA: Beautiful but always slightly rough.

HOTEL IN SALALAH: The CROWNE PLAZA RESORT. An expensive but splendid hotel, with a kilometre-long white beach, a pool for adults and children, English-style lawns, a golf course and an area set aside for children's play with dozens of slides, swings etc.

OMANIS: Welcoming, discreet, kind and always ready to point out roads or streets or ask if you need help. A wonderful people!

CURRENCY OMR (RIAL) 1 Rial is worth 2 euros.. but prices outside the hotels are lower than ours!!

PETROL: A litre costs more or less 40 cents, which is the price of a can of drink at the supermarket... Hiring a car is a must... given the taxi prices too!!

DOMESTIC FLIGHT: Oman Air, brand-new and very punctual planes, return price Muscat-Salalah 300 euros for three. Or, to reach Salalah there are also buses but they take 12 hours... by plane it takes 1..

A COUNTRY YOU ABSOLUTELY MUST VISIT!!