Shangri-La Barr Al Jissah Resort & Spa

The Shangri-La Al Jissah Resort & Spa is set by a private beach looking out over the Gulf of Oman, and offers an impressive range of facilities and activities.

These rooms were made for ultimate luxury and relaxation - they are spacious and light with a touch of authentic Omani influence.  Al Waha is slightly larger, with large generous family rooms and a play station to keep the kids entertained.

Al Bandar has equally spacious rooms and suites but has a more subdued atmosphere than Al Waha, suiting couples in search of some much-deserved downtime perfectly. For a personal touch, request your favourite tunes and receive an iPod on arrival with them pre-loaded.

There is an abundance of choice at Al Waha and Al Bandar with a wide range of restaurants and bars. Sample delectable Arabian flavours and tender meat of the Al Tanoor restaurant or contemporary Italian cuisine at Capri Court. For outdoor dining, Tapas and Sablah offer a range of light Mediterranean and Asian snacks.

The facilities include a blissful spa, and you can relax further by the pool. There is a children's pool at Al Bandar, a fully-equipped fitness centre and an Omani Heritage Village, a unique cultural centre where children can enjoy the chance to get close to Arabian horses and camels. There are multiple gift shops and galleries selling jewellery, handmade crafts and artwork - perfect for a souvenir. 

Al Waha offers a lazy river and a kids club as well as a children's pool, and there's a teens club at Al Bandar - but the most popular activities are the daily dolphin excursions, snorkelling trips and sunset cruises.

Day tours, dhow cruises and visits to the Grand Mosque and the souks of Muscat are a must for any visitor to Oman. And if all the activity and the sunshine just gets too much, then at least one spa treatment per day is totally acceptable.