Monday 25 / November / 2024
Three hours north of Muscat, Sohar is to most a stopover on the way to Dubai. The city is famous for its shipping port and university, but I’ve never heard anyone talk about it as a tourist destination. I’ve stayed there before, and the accommodations and dining were less than inspiring. But now, there’s a new guy in town. The well-known Radisson Blu hotel chain, opened their latest resort in Sohar, so I jumped on the Sultan Qaboos Highway to go check it out.
The first thing I noticed as I pulled off the main highway and wove my way towards the blue lights of the property, was that there was no road. It’s in the works, and the dirt path is sufficient for getting to the impressive entrance, even by sedan.
At the end of the dusty drive a grand, circular drop-off rose out of the sand, and inside, the lobby was chic and modern. After a warm welcome at reception, I was escorted up to my room. There I sat on my balcony and began paging through the room service menu.
The business level rooms feature generous sized balconies with full views over the ocean. Though the hotel is beautifully positioned directly on the beach, sadly there is no private beach at this time, so in lieu of beach chairs on the sand, the property has several fantastic pools, whose shaded lounges still enjoy a view of the sea. Looking down on the rows of shaded lounges, I imagined that was where I would be spending most of my weekend.
I was right. I spent my exploratory weekend at the Radisson Blu Sohar doing three things: Eating, sleeping, and sunning.
It was easy to do because the dining outlets, from the buffets to the poolside light-bites to the fine Thai, were fantastic. And, in addition to the mammoth swimming pool and adjacent 15-seater Jacuzzi, there is a totally awesome pool bar, with built-in tables and a swim-up ordering shack.
The facilities also include a small health club and spa where you can workout or get a massage and a tennis court, where I did spend a few hours trying to balance out my gluttony.
If you need a golden cage to ensure a weekend of absolute rest, relaxation, and gluttony, take a seaview room and spend your days moving leisurely between your balcony, the pool, and the restaurants. (The hotel, which caters to business travellers, offers a full-board option, which I fully recommend.)
Sometimes a weekend at what amounts to a big, ocean-side restaurant is just what the doctor ordered after a long week. Throw in a little (poorly played) tennis and some laps in the pool, and you’ll leave feeling like a new woman. —[email protected]
Thursday
17.00 Leave the office and head straight for Sohar. It’s an easy drive north on the 1 (Sultan Qaboos Highway) the entire way until you pass the Sohar mall. Turn right, then left at the light, then right onto a dirt road leading to the glowing blue palace.
20.30 Check-in and go enjoy a pre-dinner drink on your terrace.
21.30 Head downstairs to Amaranthai for a super-authentic Thai meal. Start with chewy, lime-y fish cakes, then ask for the Chef’s special king fish—a peanut-crusted, pan-fried fish steak served with three incredible chilli-lime sauces alongside coconut rice. It is the perfect amount of food for a late dinner for two.
23.00 Walk around the glowing pools and stop by the Aqua Bar for a nightcap.
Friday
10.00 Sleep late. Then have tea on your terrace before heading down to Al Zafaran for breakfast. Snag a table outside by the fountain, then head inside to load-up at the well-stocked buffet. Ask the short-order chef to make you an omelette while you peruse the other offerings.
11.30 Change into your swimsuit and go for a dip. Alternate between laps and air drying on one of the shaded lounges while reading a book.
14.00 Head upstairs to change for lunch. You missed the buffet, but no worries, there is still a great a la carte menu available fountainside. Order the particularly good Caesar salad.
15.00 Go to the Leopard gym and borrow some racquets and balls. Hit the tennis court for an hour of humbling cardio and then treat yourself with a 30-minute massage.
17.00 Have an evening espresso in the Al Zafaran Lounge or have a stroll along the beach before getting ready for dinner.
19.30 Go back to Amaranthai for a tasting menu of Thai specialities.
22.00 Go to bed early (honestly, how often do you get a chance to do that?) with the sounds of crashing waves as your lullaby.
Saturday
09.00 Order breakfast-in-bed and spend the morning sipping cappuccino and watching the waves.
11.00 Go for a quick swim in the pool, let the breeze and sun dry you off, then head upstairs to get packed.
12.00 Grab a coffee and a fresh-baked cookie for takeaway, check-out, and start your three hour journey back to Muscat.
Make your Reservation
The Radisson Blu Hotel, Sohar
+968 2664 0040
radissonblu.com
