Shangri-La Barr Al Jissah, Muscat

I spent two weeks at the Shangri-La's Barr Al Jissah – Al Waha hotel, booked through Wakacje.pl and Best Reisen Group. It was a long-awaited and very expensive holiday. Unfortunately, the reality turned out to be disappointing and far from what was described in the offer. Although the hotel is advertised as 5-star, in reality it would barely qualify as 3 stars by Polish standards. From the very beginning, I was surprised to find that around 70% of the entire resort was closed — restaurants, bars, pools, and common areas were out of use without prior notice. We were not informed about this in advance, neither by the organizer nor on site. The beach facilities were neglected and dirty — sunbeds were sandy, mattresses were covered in animal droppings, and tables by the pool and on the beach were in dire need of proper cleaning. The rooms were clean, yes, but the furniture was very worn out, and with only a small wardrobe and chest of drawers, it was difficult to unpack for a longer stay. Additionally, there were no plug adapters provided – the sockets are British standard, so it's worth bringing your own. The biggest disappointment, however, was the All Inclusive package. According to the agreement and offer description, All Inclusive was supposed to include the hotel’s full gastronomic offer. In reality: Only two restaurants (Samba and Surf Café) were included, the others required a 19 OMR per person credit, resulting in extra charges, and drinks (including alcoholic ones) were only available during specific hours and in limited locations. What was particularly misleading was the information on Wakacje.pl, which stated that the hotel complex had 22 restaurants — naturally raising expectations of variety and broad access to dining. The reality was completely different. This was one of the few vacations I could afford this year — and I feel deeply disappointed. I strongly do not recommend this offer to anyone expecting a comfortable, high-standard holiday. The offer description should reflect the actual state of services. As it stands, this is simply dishonest to customers. It feels like intentional misinformation.

Exceptional customer service from everyone at the hotel. Met all my requirements.

This visit to Al Waha Hotel was truly a remarkable experience. From the moment we arrived, the hospitality and service were outstanding. A special highlight of our stay was dining at Samba Restaurant. The food was absolutely delicious , flavourful, and beautifully presented. We especially appreciated the warm and attentive service from Mr. Ali, who made our meals even more enjoyable with his kind and professional manner. At the reception, we were warmly welcomed by a helpful Omani lady (unfortunately, I didn’t catch her name), but her guidance and advice made a real difference in helping us make the most of our stay.

This was our favorite stay in Oman. An amazing resort with great amenities. The pool, lazy river and beach are amazing. The staff is soo friendly. Shintia and Mohammed Al Hadi were absolutely amazing in their customer service. They went out of their way to help me with lost baggage which included calls to Emirates and to the Muscat Airport. The restaurant offered a wide variety of food for breakfast and dinner. The hotel is far from the city so if you don't have a car you will have to eat on site which can be pricey. Food delivery is not allowed. They do offer a daily shuttle to Oman mall. Overall, I really enjoyed my stay here and will stay here again.

We had a wonderful stay at the Shangri-La in Muscat. It’s the perfect resort for families — warm, welcoming, and filled with thoughtful details that made our trip truly special. The kids club was fantastic, with plenty of engaging activities and a genuinely caring team. A special thank you to Maryam and Intisar, who were absolutely wonderful with the children. The hotel went above and beyond during our stay, even arranging for the shisha supplier to arrive earlier each day at our request — a small gesture that made a big difference. The food was consistently excellent, with a wide variety of dishes to suit every palate. Every meal felt fresh, beautifully presented, and satisfying. They also coordinated our airport meet and greet and private car transfers seamlessly, which was a huge help while travelling with a young child. From start to finish, the staff were incredibly friendly and couldn’t do enough to make us feel comfortable. The Shangri-La Muscat is a place where luxury meets genuine hospitality — we’ll definitely be back!

Great place. Excellent to relax seaside . Very beautiful view on cliffs. Well organized, good amenities, clean. Personnel try always to help, not everybody with the right level of professionalism. The service at some of the restaurants is slow and sometimes chaotic. The party for end year’s eve was pleasant but not at the level you expect in such a place. Too crowded.

The staff at the kids club Intisar Al Wehaibi was wonderful and helpful. She took great care of the kids and they made the most beautiful jellyfish with her. She was keen on their safety and providing them with the best service. Great thanks to her.

We stayed with family for a weekend and thoroughly enjoyed the facilities. The rides along lazy river, splashing around in the splash pad and swimming in the pool were enjoyed by all of us a family! The buffet was even more interesting, especially the kids corner! Highly recommended.

From the moment we arrived, our experience at Shangri-La was made truly special by the wonderful team. Upon arrival, Mahmood and Hamood from Guest Services warmly welcomed us, helped with our luggage, and shared insightful updates about the property, including activities and peak hours – making it so much easier to plan our days with the children. At the Front Office, Khalid and Bashar ensured a seamless check-in. My husband had arrived earlier, and when the kids and I reached the lobby, they instantly recognised us, making us feel valued and cared for. Motaz at Samba went above and beyond to engage our kids and make sure they had the best time. The children were also so excited to see ‘Habibi’ at Samba’s breakfast, adding to their joy. At Assira, Sakiusa and Ruma took exceptional care of us throughout the day. Their kind conversations and genuine engagement with our kids made lounging by the pool from morning onwards such a relaxing and happy experience. Finally, a special mention to Hamed Al Ghafri from the Sales team, who initially informed us about this hidden offer at Shangri-La. Although he wasn’t on duty during our stay, he ensured everything was arranged smoothly, coordinating with the team to make our stay memorable. Thank you to everyone who made our visit so wonderful. It is the people who make a place special, and each of you truly did.

Nice decorations of play room💓🫰...staff accommodate us good... Surroundings are very beautiful 😍🥰staff welcome us well