Review: W Muscat | Frugal Flyer

During my time in Muscat, I checked out a handful of properties across the city. After a stellar stay at the JW Marriott Muscat, I headed over to W Muscat for a two-night visit.

W Muscat feels like a throwback to the brand’s earlier days, layering a kaleidoscope of colors and textures into a design and splashing it across every surface and then confidently labeling it as style. The whole place leans into that nightclubby inspired vibe that helped put W on the map. If you enjoy that kind of setting, you will feel completely at home here. I would even call W Muscat one of the defining examples of what made the brand (in)famous.

While newer W properties have shifted toward a more restrained look, I still appreciate this original style in moderation. However, a flashy design alone means little without some substance to support it. So, what’s W Muscat like to stay at? Here’s what you can expect.

Booking

I visited Muscat in August, which falls in the region’s low season because of the intense daytime heat. I redeemed a 35,000-point Marriott Bonvoy Free Night Award for my first night and paid 84 OMR (CA$300) for the second night.

During peak season, rates at W Muscat can climb past $1,000 per night, and award pricing can reach 70,000 points. This is an excellent property to redeem a Free Night Award if you can find availability close to 35,000 points and don’t need to top up the award with any extra points. The hotel also upgraded me in advance to a Marvelous Suite, which boosted the overall value of both the award night and the paid stay.

The Middle East and other parts of Asia are one of the best regions to redeem a Marriott Bonvoy Free Night Award, as you’ll often find lower redemption rates at luxury properties compared to North America. On top of that, you’ll consistently receive excellent elite recognition, including a generous daily breakfast and proactive suite upgrades if you hold Platinum Elite status or higher.

Both the American Express Marriott Bonvoy Card and the American Express Marriott Bonvoy Business Card provide an annual free night just for holding the card each year, making them strong long-term keeper cards. At W Muscat, I was able to double the value of the annual fee of either of those cards by using a Free Night Award at this property, which is about the best you can hope for in most situations. 

Check-in

I arrived at the hotel in mid-afternoon and was promptly greeted by the valet staff who assisted me with my bags and directed me to the reception desk to complete the check-in.

The lobby area is visually striking and includes all the usual W design elements such as neon lighting, vibrant patterns, and unique furnishings. 

I liked double-height windows on the far side of the lobby which looked out over the pool area and gave the lobby lots of natural light.

The agent who was checking me in acknowledged my two separate reservations and informed me that I had been assigned the same room for both nights and that I had been upgraded to a 1-bedroom Marvelous Suite for my stay. 

He also went over the Titanium Elite benefits available to me which included complimentary breakfast each morning at Harvest Restaurant. 

Location

W Muscat is in the upscale beachfront area of Shatti Al Qurum in Muscat, Sultanate of Oman. The hotel faces the Gulf of Oman with direct access to the Qurum Beach Walk promenade. While the property is located directly on Qurum Beach, this is not a beach resort. The hotel does not have any amenities available for guest use on the beach; instead, the beach area is for public use including hotel guests. 

The hotel is adjacent to the Royal Opera House Muscat, which you can reach in about five minutes on foot. The nearby Opera Galleria Mall has access to shops, restaurants, and gardens if you’re looking to venture off property for a meal or to do some shopping.

Qurum Beach is accessible from a gate at the rear of the property and stretches roughly 1 kilometer in either direction. The beach offers wide sandy stretches and calm water views. Qurum Park is about a 15-minute walk away and has some shaded walking paths and open green space.

If you want to explore historic Muscat, the Mutrah Corniche is about a 15-minute drive from the hotel. There you will find the waterfront promenade, traditional souqs, and views of the old harbor. 

Muscat International Airport (MCT) is approximately 20 kilometers from the hotel, and the drive usually takes around 20 to 25 minutes depending on traffic.

Uber and Lyft do not operate in Oman. However, similar rideshare services such as Otaxi are widely available, allowing you to schedule a pickup and pay for your ride by credit card. Traditional taxis also operate throughout the city. In the few times I used a taxi, the driver did not use a meter, so I recommend agreeing on a price before you depart. You should also carry some cash, as many taxis do not reliably accept card payments.

Parking

Complimentary valet and self-parking are available to all hotel guests.

Room – 1 King Bed, Sea View, Marvelous Suite

I was assigned suite 540, which is a sea view Marvelous Suite. This suite is very large at just under 1,000 square feet in floor space.

As you step inside, a small foyer leads straight into the living room, with a door on the right that opens to a half bathroom.

Against the back of the sectional couch was a desk and chair. Some stationary items were provided and there were plenty of outlets at the desk for charging devices. 

The minibar cabinet was placed beside the entrance door.

The half bath at the entrance of the room features a toilet and sink.

The minibar cabinet is stocked with a Nespresso machine and a selection of complimentary coffee and tea along with plenty of snacks and drinks that are available for purchase.

The hotel provided free bottled water and was replenished each day. 

The design of the room and the furnishings are exactly what you would expect from a W Hotel from this era. Bold colors, flashy patterns and quirky furniture. 

A welcome amenity of a basket of fruit and two cupcakes, along with a handwritten note thanking me for my loyalty and wishing me a pleasant stay was set on the coffee table prior to my arrival.

The living room featured a floor to ceiling sliding glass door that opened onto the patio and allowed plenty of natural light into the living areas.

A flatscreen TV was built into the paneled wall separating the living room from the bedroom.

A large opening off the living room led to the bedroom. The two rooms could be separated by using the pocketed sliding doors.

A king-sized bed was placed in the center of the bedroom and was flanked by two nightstands. On each side of the bed, there were plenty of power outlets and controls for operating the suite’s lighting. 

A chaise lounge was placed in the corner of the bedroom, and a set of sliding glass doors opened from the room onto the outdoor patio.

As is typical of W guest rooms, the Marvelous Suite features the iconic zero-privacy bathroom. There’s nothing separating the bathroom area from the main living area. While I know a lot of people hate this design, it’s just something to be expected when staying at a W property. 

Just off the bathroom is a large walk-in closet area that includes ample space for hanging any clothing and plenty of drawers and spots to place any luggage. A few amenities like an iron and ironing board and some slippers were available from the closet.

The bathroom features an enormous circular soaking tub, a single vanity, and the toilet chamber and walk-in shower were behind the opaque back glass. 

For what is close to the property’s highest level of suite, to only have a single vanity was surprising, especially since there was plenty of space to add another one. 

This was by far the largest bathtub I’ve ever seen in any hotel. It certainly makes a bold design statement, but I can’t help but wonder how practical it is. How long would it even take to fill?

The toilet chamber and the shower were the only areas where there was any semblance of privacy in the bathroom, which were enclosed in privacy glass.

The walk-in shower included a wall-mounted fixture and an overhead rainfall shower.

Bath amenities were provided by MOMO along with a few other shower accessories.

The outdoor balcony was accessible from sliding doors in both the living room and bedroom. The balcony provided a narrow strip of outdoor space that ran the length of the suite.

A few chairs and a small side table were placed at one end of the balcony. 

You may also notice the ashtray on the patio table. W Muscat has designated smoking rooms, which didn’t occur to me when I was checking in. I’ll elaborate more on the smoking situation in a moment.

The view from the balcony overlooked the pool deck and further out you could see the Gulf of Oman.

As I mentioned, some rooms at W Muscat are designated for smoking. Since there was an ashtray on my balcony, I assumed my room was one of the approved smoking rooms. I noticed a faint smell as soon as I stepped inside the suite. It was extremely subtle and barely noticeable, but it was there.

Normally, I would have asked to move to another room. However, the scent was almost imperceptible. In many Middle Eastern countries, including Oman, smoking indoors and in public spaces is much more socially acceptable than in North America, so I did not feel it warranted a room change. Though if I had known in advance, I would have mentioned my preference for a non-smoking room at check-in.

Restaurants & Bars

W Muscat has four restaurants and one cocktail bar on the property. Do note that during the observance of Ramadan, three of the five food and beverage outlets are closed during this period. 

• Siddharta Lounge by Buddha-Bar: Mediterranean cuisine open daily 7:00 PM – 12:00 PM
• CHAR: Mediterranean grill open daily 6:30 PM – 11:30 PM
• Ba Ban: Chinese cuisine open daily 12:30 PM – 4:00 PM, 6:00 PM – 11:00 PM
• Harvest:  International cuisine open daily 6:30 AM – 11:00 AM, 12:30 PM – 3:30 PM, and 5:30 PM – 9:00 PM
• Living Room:  lobby bar open daily 8:00 AM – 2:00 AM

Harvest – Marriott Bonvoy Elite Complimentary Breakfast

Breakfast is served each morning from 6:30 AM to 11:00 AM at the hotel’s all-day dining establishment, Harvest Restaurant.

If there is one thing luxury resorts in the Middle East do so well, it’s the incredible breakfast buffets on offer each morning and one of the reasons I love traveling in the region.

The buffet included a huge variety of options including Middle Eastern, Indian, and North American. 

Everything from fruit, yogurt, cereal, cheeses, meats, Arabic breads, and pastries were available.

Specialty coffees, teas, and fresh pressed juices were also included with the buffet.

Along with the buffet, made-to-order egg dishes were available and orders could be placed with a server. 

I had an omelette each morning and found it to be expertly prepared and tasty.

Siddharta Lounge by Buddha-bar

On my first night, I decided to eat at Siddharta Lounge by Buddha-bar as I had received a voucher for a complimentary appetizer during check-in on account of my status. 

Siddharta Lounge by Buddha-Bar offers both indoor and outdoor seating, highlighted by vibrant purple neon lighting that sets a stylish, relaxed mood. On most nights there’s a house DJ playing some downtempo tunes to set the ambience.

The menu for Siddharta Lounge is as follows:

I ordered the prime beef sliders with a side of fries, which was enough to suffice for a meal. The food quality and service were excellent, and the staff checked in regularly to see if I would like to order additional drinks or anything else.

Living Room

Living Room is the lobby cocktail bar serving hot and cold coffees, teas, sodas, cocktails, beer, wine, spirits, and more throughout the day.

The menu also features a small selection of finger foods and shareables:

Facilities

Fitness Center

The fitness center is open 24 hours a day and features a solid selection of Technogym equipment, including a wide range of strength machines, free weights, and cardio options.

The space itself is compact and tends to get extremely busy in the morning. I noticed this even when the hotel was nowhere near full occupancy, which makes me question how well it could accommodate a higher number of guests.

Pool

W Muscat has a fantastic pool area. There’s just one large central pool with tons of varied seating around the perimeter offering both places to soak up the sun or relax in the shade.

The pool deck offers lots of seating options, including loungers, daybeds, patio tables, and several built-in shaded areas.

Throughout the day pool staff hand out slushies to the pool guests, which was an appreciated touch and provided a bit of relief from the intense heat. 

Beach

The property connects directly to the beachfront promenade through a rear gate. The hotel does not offer any beach amenities, and I did not see anyone in the water, so I cannot comment on how suitable the water is for swimming.

You can, however, enjoy the paved path that runs along the coastline for a few kilometers in either direction.

AWAY Spa

W Muscat has a full-service spa, and one afternoon I dropped in to use the steam room.

The spa’s reception area offers a few comfortable chairs where guests can relax before their treatments, along with infused water available while you wait.

The spa has several relaxation areas where you can unwind before or after your treatment.

AWAY Spa offers all the usual treatments you would expect at a luxury hotel, including massages, pedicures, detox and energy therapies, and more. You can view the spa menu on the W Muscat AWAY Spa website.

I did use the stream rooms for a bit and enjoyed my time at the spa. The staff were helpful and I always appreciate when the hotel extends access to the spa facilities for all guests, including those who don’t book a treatment.

Conclusion

W Muscat is one of the best W properties I’ve stayed at. The design is very cool (if you’re into the W aesthetic), the pool is fantastic, the staff is welcoming, and the elite recognition is top-notch. I loved the extensive breakfast each morning, and I think the nightly rate using either cash, points, or a Free Night Award is very fair for what the hotel offers.

The smell of smoke in my room was a minor disappointment, though a fairly minimal issue in the grand scheme of things. Normally, this would bother me more, but in some regions like the Middle East, public and indoor smoking is more commonplace, so it’s something I expected while traveling there. It was barely noticeable, and I didn’t let it affect my stay. Still, it’s worth noting, and if I were to return, I would request a non-smoking room at check-in.