Al Bustan Palace, A Ritz-Carlton Hotel
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Lonely Planet review
Situated in a secluded bay ringed by spectacular mountains, the legendary Al-Bustan Palace Hotel is more palace than hotel. It has an atmosphere and class of its own, partly engendered through the exceptional interior, smiling service and some top-quality restaurants.
Al-Bustan Palace Hotel, or as most people call it, The Al-Bustan, is something of an institution in Muscat. Built as a venue for the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) summit in 1985, it doubles as a venue for all manner of visiting delegations and dignitaries and yet remains accessible and friendly to the casual diner or holidaymaker. With its remarkable spangled atrium, Arabian Nights rooms, shady gardens and magnificent location, it is a difficult hotel to beat. Don't let the odd complaint about service put you off - the hotel is currently investing in local staff who, it would be fair to say, still lack experience. With stiff competition appearing around the next cove, however, it is unlikely that this venerable and much-loved hotel will be lacking in this department for long. Try to extend your stay over a weekend; the Friday brunch is memorable.
Services & facilities
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Spa
- Beauty services
- Health club
- Steam room
- Sauna
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Kids club
- Supervised childcare/activities
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Luggage storage
- Luggage storage
- Safe-deposit box at front desk
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Guest services
- 24-hour front desk
- Multilingual staff
- Porter/bellhop
- Room service (24 hours)
- Tour assistance
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Parking
- Free parking
- Valet parking
- Free outdoor parking
- Free valet parking
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Outdoor space
- Patio
- Barbecue grill(s)
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Cards accepted
- American express
- Visa
- Diners club
- Jcb international
- Mastercard
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Transport/transfers
- Limo or town car service available
- Area shuttle (free)
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Recreation
- Outdoor tennis courts 2
- Tennis on site
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Shop
- Gift shops or newsstand
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Housekeeping
- Laundry facilities
- Dry cleaning/laundry service
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Family
- Babysitting or childcare
- Suitable for children
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Pets
- Pets not allowed
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Bureau de Change/ATM
- Currency exchange
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- Bar/lounge
- Beach bar
- Poolside bar
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Swimming pool
- Swimming pool - children's
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Restaurant/Café
- Coffee shop or café
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Accessibility
- Elevator/lift
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Air Conditioning
- Air-conditioned public areas
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Concierge
- Concierge services
Description
Location. Al Bustan Palace, A Ritz-Carlton Hotel is located on the beach in Muscat and local attractions include Qasr Al Alam Royal Palace, Al Jalali Fort, and Muttrah Souq. Other points of interest are Sultan Armed Forces Museum and Port Sultan Qaboos.
Resort Features. Al Bustan Palace, A Ritz-Carlton Hotel features a coffee shop/café, a beach bar, a poolside bar, and a bar/lounge. Room service is available 24 hours a day. The resort serves hot/cold buffet breakfasts each morning in the restaurant (surcharges apply). Recreational amenities include a children's pool, outdoor tennis courts, a health club, a sauna, and a steam room. This 5-star property has a business center and offers small meeting rooms, secretarial services, and limo/town car service. Wireless Internet access (surcharge) is available in public areas. This Muscat property has 756 square meters of event space consisting of banquet facilities and conference/meeting rooms. The property has a complimentary area shuttle which runs to destinations within 15 km. Wedding services, concierge services, and tour assistance are available. Valet parking is complimentary. Additional property amenities include barbecue grills, multilingual staff, and gift shops/newsstands. A total renovation of this property was completed in June 2010.
Guestrooms. 250 air-conditioned guestrooms at Al Bustan Palace, A Ritz-Carlton Hotel feature minibars and CD players. Furnishings include sofa beds and desks. Bathrooms feature bidets, bathrobes, and hair dryers. In addition to complimentary newspapers and safes, guestrooms offer multi-line phones with voice mail. Televisions have satellite channels, DVD players, and pay movies. Rooms also include coffee/tea makers, windows that open, and irons/ironing boards. A nightly turndown service is offered and housekeeping is available daily.