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Oman, Not Italy, Will Get a New Missoni Hotel

Where: Oman

It looks like the opening of the Missoni Hotel Edinburgh was a success because the fashion hotel collection has announced yet another new locations for its hotels: Oman. Earlier this week, Missoni said it would open in South Africa next and now that news been quickly followed up with a 250-room beachfront resort in Oman, The Hotel Missoni Jebel Sifah.

Hotel Missoni Jebel Sifah will be part of a luxury resort community located between the blue waters of the Arabian Gulf and Oman's breath-taking mountains, approximately 18 miles from the capital, Muscat. Hotel Missoni Jebel Sifah's 250 guestrooms will be complimented by 50 apartments and villas, as well as a private beach, two restaurants, an 11,000-square-foot spa, two tennis courts, meeting rooms and a 4,300-square-foot ballroom. The community will also feature a three-mile beach, marinas, an 18-hole golf course and boutique shopping.

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Amazing Race 9 Hotel Report: Niggles in Nizwa

Where: Nizwa, Oman

We thought, after Lake was eliminated last week, that there wouldn't be any dumb animals in last night's episode of The Amazing Race. Boy, were we wrong! There was an exercise in camel-winching, frolicking mountain goats, and Eric & Jeremy struggling to read a map. Good times all around.

This week's pit stop was in Nizwa, Oman. Nizwa has an 400 year-old fortress in the city center, as it used to be the capital of Oman. While the racers were focused on getting to the pit stop in Jabreen castle--which dates from the 1600s--to stave off potential elimination, they might have taken a look at the Golden Tulip, one of Nizwa's best hotels. OK, so there are only three hotels worthy of mention in Nizwa, but never mind that.

The Golden Tulip is furnished in the Omani Style, which we'll call haute-Arab, and is located slightly outside of town in the Hajar mountains. You get Satellite TV--maybe that new Al Jazeera English language channel--strong AC, and a pool hall in the hotel. Rooms look pretty standard, in a floral bedspread sort of way, but that's what you'll get in Nizwa. No word if they're in the Omani style, too.

Staying there will run you about $100 a night.

Related Stories
· Amazing Race 9 Coverage [HotelChatter]
· Chasing Racers: The TAR map [Jaunted]

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Omani Hospitality

Where: Muscat, Al Khuwair, Oman

Oman is oft referred to as "the safe destination in the Middle East." While we have no idea if that is true or not, we do know that while the UAE and Dubai have zigged (think Vegas in the Middle East), Oman has zagged.

Oman is aiming to be a more peaceful, prosperous, and traditional Middle Eastern destination than its glitzy neighbor, and even some UAE citizens are beginning to agree:

I live in dubai and can tell you that the chedi is better than any hotels we have - including the very highly (over)rated burj al arab. oman is much nicer too. Dubai is turning into a very expensive tourist trap. go visit the country cousins in Oman.

If you are going to Oman, you are probably considering staying in the capital city of Muscat.

The Chedi, a Muscat hotel, offers up a trendy lounge with Internet access, top notch service, and two sea front infinity pools--so what's not to like?

Well there is a nearby desalination plant and an airport, so noise and smells may permeate if the prevailing winds blow just right--however, most guests agree that these two detractors are not show stoppers, nor even really noticeable:

We did not think the aircraft noise was terrible (we live near Heathrow so probably got used to it), the desalination plant is not that visible from the vast gardens and the service we received was excellent.

Related Stories:
·   The Chedi Hotel Reviews [TripAdvisor]
·   A Good Oman [Daily Candy]