It was my birthday, then. My friend, Kim, and I decided to stay overnight at Shangri-La's Barr Al Jissah Resort and Spa, particularly in Al Waha (The Oasis) Hotel wing. And from that day on, I set expectations on the resort knowing that it is Shangri-La.
Traveling from Al Khuwair took us about 40 minutes. Your eyes will not be bored as the location of the resort is tucked amidst dramatic landscapes, wondering how were they able to build a way in between those sleek mountains. That is one of the reasons why I love traveling in Oman - it surprises you every turn of the way!
Anyway, back to the topic. Upon entering the hotel, the lobby was quite busy. It did not take long for us to checked-in, though. The front office staffs were fast, friendly and approachable.
When I enter our room, I cannot help but compare the hotel that we have been stayed to during my birthday, too. I ended up feeling disappointed - the room was not that spacious, a renovation is in need in the bathroom. There was also another problem, which I do not want to elaborate here anymore, that made my friend felt sad also. (Clue: It was about the service).
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| Double Sized Bed |
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| Balcony |
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| Minibar |
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| Minibar |
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| Toilet and Bath |
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| Bathtub |
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| Toiletries |
Anyhow, we do not want to waste our time being sad, right? We did not bother to feel disappointed anymore but instead, we look what the rest of our stay beholds.
1. Fitness Center. We first went to their fitness center. We went back to the main entrance of the hotel and asked how to go to the gym. The doorman was very helpful and instructed us on what to do. However, the driver of the shuttle did not understand us, maybe, and dropped us in the other wing of the hotel, Al Bandar (The Town). There was one staff who helped us, too and we decided to just go by walking since he told that it was a few meters away. It was nice to roam around the resort and see what else it has to offer.
Their gym looks lavish and has a lot of equipment. What I love about it is that the washroom is spacious and they are giving away free hair ties! Yay! It is the little things! Hahaha
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| Mirror Selfie |
2. Kayak. After some time, we went back to our room to change and decided to try Kayaking. From Al Waha, it is a not more than 1 km walk going to the tent where the water sports activities are available.
3. Beach. Just as we enter the beach area, the staffs were handling us towels and bottled water. And, a sunscreen is also available for the guests to utilize just in case you forget to bring yours. We dipped in the beach for like 5 minutes right after kayaking. You can see small fishes swimming with you as the water is clear and deep turquoise in color.
4. Splash Pad. We dropped by to Splash Pad which was unfortunately not in it's working state.
5. Lazy River. Lastly, we went to the Lazy River! This is where the highlight of my stay happened! You just need to grab a buoy floating around or wait until it is available, hop in and the laziest ride of your life starts! I swear, it was very convenient because I can see other people sunbathing while going with the current.
We had our dinner at Al Tanoor which is located at Al Bandar hotel. Dining in this restaurant remarks the most unforgettable experience of my life, so far. All the dishes are on point and exceptionally delicious - from the overflowing seafood choices, Italian cuisine, Indian delicacies to Arabic favorites, everything! Too bad I was not able to take any pictures.
Kim and I woke up around 7 in the morning to have our breakfast at Samba. There were only a few varieties but enough to have the hotel breakfast experience. I was not able to enjoy it, though because I am still feeling full from last night's scrumptious feast! Just before we packed up for check out, we decided to ride a Kayak again and stayed at the Lazy River.
Whether it be a couple, a group of friends or traveling with family, Shangri-La's Barr Al Jissah Resort and Spa is the place where anyone could fit in. No wonder it was called Shangri-La - a remote beautiful imaginary place where life approaches perfection.
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