Al Waha Hotel, Barr Al Jissah Resort Spa, Oman

The Cranley Report®: Al Waha Hotel, Barr Al Jissah Resort & Spa

Al Waha Hotel, Barr Al Jissah Resort & Spa, Oman

Hotel Address

PO Box 644
Postcode 113
Muscat
Sultanate of Oman

Cranley Rating

AL Waha Hotel

Photo 1 of 41. Click to enlarge

Hotel Summary

Category

Resort Hotel

Hotel Opened

2006

Cranley Summary

The Al Waha Hotel is part of the Barr Al Jissah, Shangri La Resort which also comprises the Al Husn and Al Bandar Hotels. The three hotels are located about 50 kilometres from Muscat International Airport in an isolated location set in a sandy cove with the Hajar Mountains as a backdrop and the resort being accessed via a scenic mountain road, of which the last few kilometres were blasted through the mountains. Whilst enjoying an isolated location the resort is only a fifteen minute drive to the souks and old town of Muscat. The three hotels are located next to each other and have their own swimming pool and restaurants but they all share a common gym, spa, tennis courts and conference facilities. Guests of the Al Waha can use all the facilities of the Al Bandar hotel and the restaurants of the Al Husn hotel by prior appointment. The pool and beach at the Al Husn is for the exclusive use of guests staying in that hotel.

The Al Waha Hotel is the more family orientated of the three hotels having the children’s club located by the pool and a large main swimming pool as well as a shaded children’s pool. There is also a lazy river that connects the pool to the Al Bandar pool and runs along the boardwalk next to the beach. The hotel is finished to a high standard with a range of room types with luxury amenities and benefiting from all en-suite bathrooms having a separate shower. The hotel has a range of restaurants from fine dinning at the Bait Al Bahr to casual dinning at the Surf Cafe. The breakfast location is the Samba restaurant which serves a comprehensive buffet. For guests wishing to work or stay in touch there is a fully equipped business centre, wi-fi works throughout the resort and all rooms have high speed internet connectivity. The hotel puts on a range of daily activities for adults and children and for further entertainment the resort also has a Heritage Village due to open at the end of the year which will demonstrate local arts and have an authentic Omani restaurant. Lastly the hotels beaches are a breeding ground for turtles and there is an environmental programme with a Turtle Ranger employed full time to help guests observe egg laying and hatching without disturbing the turtles.

Hotel Location & Layout

Location Description

The hotel is located about 45 minutes from Al Seeb International Airport and 15 minutes from Muscat city centre and near Ruwi business district and Mutrah the old city of Muscat. The resort is set in a spectacular back drop of the mountains and in fact some of the mountains edge was cleared to create space for the hotel to be built and a passage cleared for the road in and out of the hotel. Its location gives the hotel a pleasant sense of isolation but at the same time it is only fifteen minutes from Muscat and the Souks.

Airports
Distance	50 km
Airport Transfers	Muscat

Cities and Sights
Distance	20 km
City/Sight Transfers	Taxi or a chargeable hotel limousine. The hotel also runs a shuttle bus four times a day at 10.10, 12.00, 15.30 and 16.35 to the Bait Al Zubair Museum, Mutrah Souk and the SABCO centre with the bus returning at 11.00, 13.00 16.30 and 17.35.

Layout Description

The hotel is part of the Barr Al Jissah Resort and Spa that also comprises of the Al Husn Hotel and the Al Bandar Hotel. The hotel is located on the right hand side of the resort as you approach from the mountain road. You enter the lobby which is on the third floor of the hotel with views at the back of the lobby overlooking the pool and beach. Within the Al Waha Hotel are guest rooms set over four floors, a number of restaurants on the ground floor and swimming pools. The spa, gym and tennis courts are located between the al Bandar and Al Waha hotels and in addition guests can use the pools and restaurants at the Al Bandar hotel. The facilities of the Al Husn hotels are for the dedicated usage of those guests with the exception of the restaurants which can be pre-booked.

Lobby & Guest Relations

Open Hours	24 Hours
Languages Spoken	English and Arabic
Payment Methods	Major credit cards
Foreign Exchange	Major currencies exchanged
Taxis Arranged	The hotel has a number of taxis on its own fleet that charge by the meter.
Tours Arranged	A range of tours can be arranged through concierge and include dolphin watching and snorkelling, canyon crossing by wirers, snorkelling, geology tour of the Hajar mountains, sunset boat trip, Muscat city tour, a two day wadi/bedouin and turtles trip, overnight bedouin desert trip, overnight turtle beach trip, sea kayaking, bird watching, game fishing and Nizwa City tour.

Guest Relations	Safe deposit boxes
Concierge Services	Translation services can be arranged. Parcel wrapping service.
Medical Facilities	A doctor is on duty seven days a week from 09.00 to 18.00. Outside of these hours a doctor can be called with 45 minutes notice.
Parking	Complimentary valet parking

Cranley Comment

On entering the hotel the lobby is a spacious entrance foyer with high ceilings, extensive polished marble flooring and Arabic styling with a picture window that overlooks the pool and the Gulf. The reception and concierge are located on the left hand side and beyond the desk is a wide corridor that leads to the rooms and business centre. On the right side of the lobby is the lobby lounge with armchairs and coffee tables and a small necessities shop and a similar corridor that leads to the rooms on the right side of the hotel.

Shops & Amenities

Description

There is a small necessities shop located in the lobby of the hotel which is open 08.00 to 22.00 daily. In addition the following boutiques are located in the resort:

Al Bandar Souk Area:

Pashmina shop 10.00 to 22.00 Saturday to Thursday and 17.00 to 22.00 on Fridays.
Carpet Gallery 10.00 to 22.00 Saturday to Thursday and 17.00 to 22.00 on Fridays.
Damas Jewellers 10.00 to 22.00 Saturday to Thursday and 17.00 to 22.00 on Fridays.
Porsche Design Shop 10.00 to 13.00 and 17.00 to 21.00 Saturday to Thursdays
Jawahir Oman Jewellers 10.00 to 13.00 and 17.00 to 21.00 Saturday to Thursdays

Al Bandar Hotel

Hamac; Designer swimwear 09.00 to 22.00 daily
Turtles Bookshop 10.00 to 22.00 daily.

Cranley Comment

The hotel has a range of boutiques covering basic necessities to designer jewellery. For guests who want more substantial shopping Muscat with its souks and shopping centres is fifteen minutes away and there is a daily complimentary bus to Muttrah Souk which is nearby.

Rooms, Suites & Villas

Number of Floors	4
Total Rooms	302
Elevators	4
Rooms per Elevator	76

Check-in Time	14.00
Check-out Time	12.00
Late Checkout	16.00 subject to availability
Smoking Rooms	Non-smoking rooms available
Room Service	24 hour ala carte menu available
Laundry Service	Items collected by 10.00 are returned the same day. Four hour express service up to 16.00 at 50% surcharge. Overnight service from 20.00 to 09.00 at a 50% surcharge. Pressing service is available 24 hours. Express 2 hour pressing service at a 50% premium 24 hours a day.

Cranley Comment

The Al Waha Hotel has a number of room options. The Superior and Deluxe Rooms are the same rooms with the same amenities but come with a pool view, a pool view and partial sea view or a direct sea view. There are a range of suites all of which have a separate bedroom and lounge. All the rooms are decorated in a similar style with beige walls and light coloured wood furniture and feature high speed internet connectivity. All bathrooms have a separate shower as well as a bath tub. In addition the ground floor rooms have a patio and the other room types all have balconies.

Type of Room, Views & Facilities

Type	No.	View	Facilities	Max. Occupancy	Size m2
Superior	193	102 Pool/Partial Sea 91 Pool	Satellite television Individually controlled air conditioning Mini-bar Patio or balcony Desk and chair High speed internet Complimentary tea and coffee making facilities Armchair and coffee table Two patio chairs and circular table Iron and ironing board Safe Slippers and bathrobe Separate walk in shower Bath	2 adults and 1 child under 12	37

Cranley Comment

The Superior Rooms are located overlooking the courtyard where the swimming pool is located with the hotel on three sides and the Gulf on the other. The rooms have a pleasant view over the courtyard and a clear side view of the ocean or just a view of the pool. The rooms come with either a balcony or a patio that opens out on to the pool. The rooms themselves are a standard rectangular shape with an entrance corridor (with a double wardrobe) that leads into the room. They are decorated in a contemporary style with light brown carpets and brown/gold curtains. The furniture is a light wood colour with magnolia painted walls. The en-suite bathroom entrance is next to the bed and is tiled with a similar beige marble effect and with a light brown speckled marble sink counter. The bathroom benefits from having a separate shower and bath tub.

Type	No.	View	Facilities	Max. Occupancy	Size m2
Deluxe	87	Sea	As per the Superior Rooms with the added benefit of: Direct sea frontage	2 adults and 1 child under 12	37

Cranley Comment

The Deluxe Rooms are the same room as the Superior Room but have a direct sea view and therefore come with either a balcony or a patio. The rooms themselves are a standard rectangular shape with an entrance corridor (with a double wardrobe to one side) that leads into the room. They are decorated in a contemporary style with light brown carpets and brown/gold curtains. The furniture is a light wood colour with magnolia painted walls. The en-suite bathroom entrance is next to the bed and is tiled with a similar beige marble effect and with a light brown speckled marble sink counter. The bathroom benefits from having a separate shower and bath tub.

Type	No.	View	Facilities	Max. Occupancy	Size m2
Executive	8	Sea	As per the Deluxe Room with the added benefit of: Two seater sofa bed	2 adults and 1 child under 12	50

Cranley Comment

The Executive Room is very similar to the Deluxe Room but slightly larger with an additional 13sqm. The additional space allows for a two seat sofa that also converts into an additional bed and allows two children to share a room with their parents. The room itself is decorated in a contemporary style with light brown carpets and brown/gold curtains. The furniture is a light wood colour with magnolia painted walls. The en-suite bathroom entrance is next to the bed and is tiled with a similar beige marble effect and with a light brown speckled marble sink counter. The bathroom benefits from having a separate shower and bath tub.

Type	No.	View	Facilities	Max. Occupancy	Size m2
Premier	1	Sea	As per the Executive Room with the added benefit of: Large terrace/balcony Two sunloungers	2 adults and 1 child under 12	78

Cranley Comment

The Premier Room is located on the top floor of the hotel and its principle feature is a large external terrace that is on the side of the room and overlooks the pool and beach and extends also around the front of the room. The terrace is ideal space to entertain or sun bath in privacy. The room itself is decorated in a contemporary style with light brown carpets and brown/gold curtains. The furniture is a light wood colour with magnolia painted walls. The en-suite bathroom entrance is next to the bed and is tiled with a similar beige marble effect and with a light brown speckled marble sink counter. The bathroom benefits from having a separate shower and bath tub. The additional sqm compared to the Executive Room is the terrace not internal space.

Type	No.	View	Facilities	Max. Occupancy	Size m2
One-Bedroom Suite	3	Sea	As per the Superior Room with the added benefit of: Separate lounge Guest bathroom Two seater sofa bed Two armchairs Additional mini bar Coffee table Round dining table for four persons Additional plasma satellite television Additional desk Walk through wardrobe	2 adults and 1 child under 12	73

Cranley Comment

The One Bedroom Suite as its name implies comes with a separate lounge as well as an en-suite bedroom. On entering the room there is an entrance corridor with the guest bathroom on one side. The guest bathroom also cleverly doubles as the toilet of the en-suite bathroom via a connecting door to the bathroom. The lounge is on one side at the end of the entrance hallway with the bedroom on the other side. The lounge has a range of furniture including a dining table for four persons and a sofa bed and benefits from upgraded amenities like a plasma television. The bedroom is similar to the Deluxe Room but benefits from a larger en-suite bathroom and a dressing area with walk through wardrobes. The Suite also has a balcony that runs across the lounge and bedroom and has two sets of table and chairs. The room is decorated in the same theme as the other room types.

Type	No.	View	Facilities	Max. Occupancy	Size m2
Deluxe Suite	9	Sea	As per the One Bedroom Suite with the added benefit of: Shower in the guest bathroom Larger bathroom No balcony off the lounge. Additional armchair in the lounge One set of patio furniture	2 adults and 1 child under 12	87

Cranley Comment

The Deluxe Suite is similar to the One Bedroom Suite but benefits from having a shower in the guest bathroom, an additional armchair in the lounge and a larger en-suite bathroom. The room itself has an entrance corridor with the guest bathroom on one side with a shower. The lounge is on one side at the end of the entrance hallway with the bedroom on the other side. The lounge has a range of furniture including a dining table for four persons and a sofa bed and benefits from upgraded amenities like a plasma television. The bedroom is similar to the One Bedroom Suite but benefits from a larger en-suite bathroom. The Suite also has a balcony that runs across the bedroom but not the lounge. The room is decorated in the same theme as the other room types.

Type	No.	View	Facilities	Max. Occupancy	Size m2
Royal Suite	1	Sea	As per the Deluxe Suite with the added benefit of: Kitchenette Larger rooms Two plasma televisions. Two wash basins in the en-suite bathroom.	2 adults and 1 child under 12	117

Cranley Comment

The Royal Suite is the premier room type at the Al Waha Hotel. You enter into a large lounge/dining room off which is a small kitchenette/serving room which can be accessed from the hotel hall way by room service to avoid disturbance to guests. Also off the lounge/dining room is the guest bathroom with a shower and the en-suite bedroom. The Royal Suite benefits from additional space in each room and a larger bathroom with two sink basins. The Royal Suite is again decorated in the same theme as the other room types. The balcony runs across the lounge and bedroom. The Royal Suite can also be connected to a Deluxe Room to make a two bedroom suite.

Restaurants & Cafés

Number of Restaurants

Restaurant Comments

The Al Waha Hotel has a range of restaurants to choose from. The main breakfast location is Sambas which also has a different themed international buffet each evening of the week. Bait Al Bahr offers more formal dining set in a purpose built building next to the beach and there is also casual dining at the Surf Cafe and the Lobby lounge. For guests by the pool the Assira pool bar also serves a range of food options. As Al Waha is part of the larger resort there are also a number of additional restaurants at the Al Bandar and Al Husn Hotels guests can dine at.

Samba

Restaurant Type	South American/Argentinean
Restaurant Capacity	Total 240, Inside 102, outside 138
Opening Times	Daily 06.30 to 23.00 Breakfast 06.30 to 22.30 Dinner Buffet 18.30 to 22.30
Dress Codes	Smart casual

Air-Conditioning	Yes
Smoking Policy	Non