Luxe Minimalism at the Chedi Muscat Hotel

We waffled back and forth on booking the Chedi Muscat Hotel.  It was a choice between The Shangri La Hotel in Muscat and the Chedi Muscat Hotel.  I know, I know – #firstworldproblems.  We booked The Chedi, then changed over to the Shangri La because everyone said it was better for families. After 3 days at the Shangri La, we transferred to The Chedi Muscat.

Is the Chedi Muscat Hotel Right for Families?

It depends on your family.

In this instance, conventional wisdom is probably right for families that like traditional family hotels.  The Shangri La was more family-friendly with children’s menus and a choice of two hotels on the complex that catered to families.  On the other hand, our children neither participate in kids’ clubs nor are particularly rambunctious.

I was ready for a change of hotel after three days of dealing with other people’s kids.  But that’s a story for another post. Of course, these two hotels are two of several luxury hotels in Muscat but we decided to stick with what we knew.

We loved the Chedi Muscat hotel.  From what we could tell, our children were the only children at the Chedi Muscat hotel.  There was one kids’ pool which was absolutely beautiful.  Lots of adults sat around the kids pool since there weren’t any other kids there (other than my two, of course).

Amenities at The Chedi Muscat Hotel

The food at the Chedi Muscat Hotel was excellent.  We enjoyed our breakfast buffet every morning.  In addition, we had lunch at the hotel courtyard restaurant and dinner at the Beach restaurant.

The boutique at the Chedi was one of the best hotel stores I’ve ever visited.  The items were beautifully curated.  I did some major damage on jewellery, scarves and handicrafts.

We also arranged through the Concierge for a private tour of Old Muscat.  I thought the service at the hotel was also excellent.  Although the Chedi Muscat is outside of the old town, it is only a short drive.  The Shangri La is approximately 45 minutes away from Muscat by car.

The hotel was beautifully decorated with a modern and minimal take on traditional Omani luxury.  There were no shisha pipes on offer, and definitely, no ‘Moroccan or Asian takeaway’ in the bar areas. Also, unlike the Shangri La, it was way too cool for a piano bar.

Photo Gallery of The Chedi Muscat Hotel

Our Opinion of the Chedi Hotel Muscat

You can safely assume that we preferred The Chedi Muscat to the Shangri La Hotel for our family. We liked the sophisticated, modern luxury and our children are used to hanging out in adult environments.

Do I have any criticisms?  The hotel room and bathroom are semi open-plan.  It’s a little awkward with children when you step out of the shower straight into a common area with no door.  It’s also a recipe for creating major wet areas in the bathroom.  Our room had only a shower (no bathtub).  Our children are old enough for the lack of bathtub not to be a problem.

What’s our verdict?  If your children are old enough to appreciate luxury and not to need all the amenities of a ‘family-friendly’ resort, I would definitely recommend The Chedi Hotel Muscat.

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