The welcome
People in Muscat are, in a word, friendly. From the driver assigned to pick us up from the airport to the hotel's bellhop, reception and room-service staff, everyone loves a chat, and seems interested in our well-being. After a 45-minute flight from Dubai, we're given a tour of the nine-month-old hotel apartments, complete with two pools, gyms and spa centres - unisex and for women only.
The neighbourhood
The hotel apartments are on a quiet street between Muscat Grand Mall and Avenues Mall. Conveniently, the former can be accessed through the hotel. Cabs are easy enough to find in the area, although the hotel can call one for you, and also has its own chauffeurs. However, shopping traffic means that you nearly always end up waiting for 10 or 15 minutes to pull out onto the street. The Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque and Royal Opera House are a five-minute drive away, and the souq in the Old Muscat area can be reached in 20 minutes.
The scene
A mix of businessmen and families congregate at the swimming pool every morning and evening, but there's no sign of anyone at the hotel's lone, lobby-facing restaurant, Café M. Most guests seem happy to use their kitchens to prepare meals, and the ultra-modern gyms - complete with machines with inbuilt televisions and a muscle-relaxing gizmo - late into the night.
The room
We get upgraded to a two-bedroom apartment (options range from one to three rooms). The spacious living room opens onto a pool-facing balcony, and the en-suite master bedroom faces a mosque, which glows blue and yellow by moonlight. The guest bathroom comes with a massive shower cubicle, and each room has its own television and telephone - that's three each for the two of us. A motion-controlled entrance light, plus button-controlled housekeeping, do-not-disturb signs and reading lights, up the tech quotient. There's a separate laundry room and ironing nook. The kitchen is the highlight, however - a happy, sprawling space with mod-con gadgets and plenty of crockery and cutlery.
The service
Friendly and professional for the most part, although the taxi driver we call via reception seems to expect us to use only his services each time we leave the property, even following us to dinner when we get into a free cab one evening. Room service is until 11pm, babysitters are available at a few hours' notice, and you can indulge in beauty services, some of which are complimentary for hotel guests, at the attached Permedion spa for men and women.
The food
We try almost everything off the menu, but nothing stands out as exceptional. The breakfast - a choice of continental, American or Oriental for between 8.50 to 10.5 Omani rials (Dh81 to Dh95) - is tasty and filling, as is the chicken wonton soup (4 rials [Dh38]) and family-size mixed grill platter (10 rials; Dh95). Steer clear of the tuna, though. If you enjoy cooking, the fully kitted-out kitchen is a dream come true.
Loved
The beautifully designed spa, well-informed masseuse and state-of-the-art gyms.
Hated
The restaurant - location, ambience and food - is nothing to write home about.
The verdict
Conveniently located hotel apartments, ideal for long stays and family fun.
The bottom line
Two-bedroom apartments at the
Millennium Executive Apartments
cost from 100 rials (Dh955) per night, including taxes and Wi-Fi.
pmunyal@thenational.ae
