Celebs are one and
the same when it comes to wanting a few days off the job and a place to relax
and unwind on holiday. Stay cations in the UK may be on the up but with the
British weather living up to its unreliable reputation, sun-seeking celebs are
hunting out destinations that have comfort, culture and constant sunshine
during their precious summer holidays. Oman is hotting up as a favourite among
some familiar faces offering all of these things and minimum jetlag with only a
four hour time difference.
Hotels in Oman
have put their best foot forward and received some raving reviews from the
likes of Lulu Guinness, Christopher Biggins and Kate Silverton. The Shangri-La
Barr Al Jissah Resort and in particular the Al Husn (one of three hotels in
the resort) was described as “the last word in discreet and sophisticated
luxury” with “a beautifully designed infinity pool” and attendants that supply
not only “towels, chilled water to drink but an iced face spray” (Lulu Guinness).
Whilst Lulu made the best of the spa and private beach, Christopher Biggins was
enamoured with the “wonderful” food on offer from the 16 restaurants and bars
within the resort as a whole, exclaiming in his Daily Mail article that “you
never need to leave the resort to find a place to eat, everything you could
ever need is right here”.
The beautiful Six
Senses Zighy Bay Resort has attracted many people with its alluring
invitation to paraglide into the resort from the mountain range above and Kate
Silverton herself admits that was her initial reason for booking! However, with
her four-month-old daughter Clemency, and husband, Mike, waiting patiently in the
4x4, she opted for the more conventional method of travel. Catering for the
adventurous and those more attached to the private pools by the villas, the
hotel “resembles a traditional Omani-village, with stone-clad villas and
thatched roofs.” Proving that the first family holiday doesn’t have to be as
fearsome as many think, Kate talks about “how everything we could possibly want
for Clemency had been thoughtfully left for us in our villa” and that
activities such as “crab-hunting, cookie-baking and Arabic lessons” were on
offer to keep older children entertained. Child care facilities were also on
offer for those that wanted to head out hiking or diving to explore the
surrounding area.
Read the full
article about Kate’s Oman experience here.
Fiona Bruce was
looking for ’luxury’ in a ‘real country with a history’ and “found both – and
more – in Oman”. The
Chedi hotel being the “ultimate in minimalist good taste” provided a
fantastic base to explore Muscat and the surrounding area.
Dazzled by jewellery
in the souks and adventuring out to Desert Nights Camp, Fiona
and family had an “exhiliarating and terrifying ride in a 4 x 4 through dunes”,
“dinner under the stars” and a camel ride the next morning before heading back
the The Chedi for a few more days of luxury.
Fiona’s full article
on her time in Oman can be read here.
Great reviews all
round, it’s no wonder that these celebs are already musing about their next
Oman adventure!
