Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Overlooking 500-metres of stunning coastline, Shangri-La Barr Al Jissah Resort & Spa is spread across 2 distinct wings that are connected in their Arabian spirit of hospitality: Al Waha, “The Oasis” and Al Bandar, “The Town.” While Al Waha is ideal for families, Al Bandar is the heart of the resort, catering to business and leisure travelers alike. A wide array of amenities makes for an unforgettable stay, from thrilling watersports to a lazy river and kids club, a secluded spa and diverse dining options. 460 rooms and suites in 2 distinct wings 15 restaurants & bars 6 swimming pools, a variety of watersports and a lazy river attraction
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
Places to stay are graded on a 0-100 scale. The higher the grade, the easier it is for travellers to find restaurants and things to do within walking distance.
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Nestled in a picturesque setting with stunning sea views, Shangri-La Barr Al Jissah in Muscat garners acclaim for its spacious, clean rooms and a plethora of engaging amenities, including a lazy river and sports facilities. Guests appreciate the hotel's cleanliness and culturally rich atmosphere, though some experiences are marred by noisy disruptions and inconsistent staff behavior.
While the attentive housekeeping and friendly staff members are highlights, the value is sometimes questioned due to the high costs of taxis, food, and on-site activities.
Location
Picturesque
Atmosphere
Traditional
Rooms
Spacious
Value
Expensive
Cleanliness
Immaculate
Service
Inconsistent
Amenities
Well-appointed
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Splendid hotel located in a magnificent bay. We had a room overlooking the sea in the Al Bandar building which is located in the center of the bay, with on one side the Al Waha building and on the other side the Al Husn. A huge park surrounds these establishments with an artificial river that takes us on a buoy from Al Bandar to Al Waha. The beach is beautiful! The majority of the sun loungers are arranged about twenty meters from the water on the lawn which is very nice. From a gastronomic point of view: it is happiness! The breakfast buffet offers a wide range of dishes from different cuisines. We had half board with the possibility, with a small supplement, to eat away from the buffet in the evening, but given the quality and diversity of themes from one night to the next we ate there every night. The rooms are very comfortable and well thought out in every detail. What struck us about this hotel was the welcome and kindness of the staff: they even manage to precede our wishes! (Small example: one of the young people who takes care of the sun loungers at the beach sometimes stopped by to clean our glasses). Many thanks to the whole team and especially to Anu who took care of our room so well in the evening. We have already decided to return to Oman and for the hotel in Masacte, the choice has already been made! See you at the Barr!
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Date of stay: November 2024Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The Shangri-La hotel complex consists of a total of three hotels with a beautiful sandy beach. You can visit all the restaurants and pool bars of the hotels.
We stayed at "Al Bandar", the hotel in the middle. The quiet hotel is well maintained and clean, the service first class. It has spacious green areas and pools as well as many sun loungers. During our time there were no annoying reservations with towels and there were always free loungers available.
We used the Lazy River a lot, a long channel with a slight current in which you can float with pneumatic tires. It flows to the Hotel Al Waha and back.
Hotel Al Waha is the family hotel in the resort. It's spatially all a little tighter, fuller and louder not least because of the many children.
Just above on the other side is the Hotel Al Husn, an Adults Only hotel, which is also priced higher.
We were very pleased with our choice of hotel. Also our room had a beautiful view of the pool area, palm trees and the sea. It was on the 3 floor. Further down you look into the palm trees.
We ate dinner in all restaurants (except samba) and were very happy everywhere with the delicious food and good service. Of course, A La Carte food has its additional price for half board. And prices for a bottle of wine start at over €60. A can of beer from the minibar costs € 12 (!).
In summary, we can say that we have been relaxing in a very nice hotel complex with diverse restaurants and good service.
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Date of stay: February 2025
Value
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Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:Deluxe Sea View Room in der 3. oder 4. Etage. Zimmer 2335 oder in der Nähe davon.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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We spent an exceptional two-week holiday here at Shangri La in Muscat with my partner in this hotel recommended by FrancoRosso. We found ourselves very well in particular with the room very spacious and always spotlessly clean, at the Samba buffet restaurant both breakfast and lunch and dinner there is always a huge choice of what to eat and a quality still high, we were particularly surprised that even in Oman you can eat decent pasta. The beach is always clean and tidy, but we particularly fell in love with the Lazy River. Last but not least the Francorosso staff on site made us feel at home thank you to the animation guys Luca and Beatrice with their boss Antonio for making us spend a carefree holiday and also Rita for always being helpful when it was needed. We are planning to return next year. Thank you Shangri La!
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Date of stay: November 2024
Value
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Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We recently visited Shangri-La Barr Al Jissah after a long time to celebrate my husband's birthday with our family. Our family chose to stay over in the hotel and we chose to purchase the day pass at a cost of RO 25/- per person. We were shocked to find the facilities lacking and extremely poor customer service. Historically when we have visited, the area around the pool was always extremely clean and well maintained and we received a cool box with water, ice and a spray. This time however, we did not receive a cool box. The sun beds were in poor condition and the bedding on the sun beds were too big for the lounger, towels did not fit. The pool bar/restaurant staff were obviously extremely hot and there was no air conditioning unit for them, therefore the smell was obscene. It is not the fault of the staff as they were obviously over-heated and this impacted their mood which historically was always cheerful, alas not this time. The same can be said for the towel attendant who was also extremely rude and dismissive (clearly suffering from the heat and had no way of cooling down). Having paid exactly the same price as previous years, we were expecting the same level of high service. This was not the case on this occasion. We were informed the main restaurant was closed and were instead directed to a small cafe serving burgers. The service was shocking. Extremely limited menu options, long time to serve and despite presenting the voucher the attendant still came to find us later in the day to ask where our payment was as they could not find the voucher. Our family had already chosen to stay over so we agreed to return in the evening for an evening meal - we were directed to the main breakfast room having been told it was BBQ night. The price certainly did not reflect the service/food as it was extremely lacking in quality. What has happened? We used to thoroughly enjoy our day trips and overnight stays at Shangri La, however we will think twice before returning.
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Date of stay: July 2024
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Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip:Don't use the day voucher...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This was our second staycation at ShangriLa resort. We like the place and will from time to time return there. There are a few points that seemed to have dropped from the quality offered and from what is expected in such a high standard hotel. We booked the dinner buffet. We noticed that the soft beverages selection was very poor and they don't even bring a bottle of water on the table. When I asked for water they brought small cups of water to be refilled in the dispenser. This is a bit far from the quality they're supposed to provide. We paid 100 Omr for the dinner buffet for 4 adults and 3 kids - I was expecting that the 6 year old child would eat free of charge, but still we had to pay 9 Omr for him as well (and all he ate were popcorn). Even the bottle of wine we purchased there wasn't very good quality. In the morning we were notified that the main pool needed to close temporary as it was being maintaind. This was a bit disappointing for our kids that wanted the slides, and were enjoying it, as on the day of our arrival it was very windy and they could not enjoy it. The movie under the stars evening activity didn't happen without any prior notice. In the morning after we asked they told us they put the movie inside in the kids room. The ball provided to play water volleyball was popped and the billiards very outdated. I think there is less to do to improve those steps. The room was nice and comfortable. Generaly the food and drinks are overpriced.
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Date of stay: December 2023Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Our stay at Shangri-La Barr Al Jissah was a mix of memorable experiences and a few disappointing incidents that could have been handled better.
The property itself is stunning, with picturesque surroundings, luxurious amenities, and a variety of activities to enjoy. The rooms were spacious and well-appointed, and the overall ambiance of the resort was serene and relaxing.
However, there were several issues that detracted from the experience, especially considering the premium price paid for this property:
1. Dining Experience: We made a reservation through 6565 for dining at Aagan Restaurant at 9 PM, specifically informing the staff that we would be accompanied by our 3-year-old son. Despite this, we were denied entry to the restaurant due to our child’s presence. When we raised the issue with the hotel management, they were reluctant to address it, and the duty manager refused to take my calls despite repeated attempts. The following morning, we were simply informed that it was a mistake and that the hotel would look into it. While we appreciate the acknowledgment, the response felt inadequate given the inconvenience caused, especially since we had clearly communicated our situation during the reservation call and received confirmation.
2. Food Options: The breakfast buffet had no Indian options, which was disappointing for a property catering to international guests. Additionally, the options for Indian vegetarian dishes—whether in-room dining or at the restaurants—were extremely limited, leaving little variety for guests seeking such meals.
3. Transportation Policy: The taxi service policy at the hotel proved to be extremely inconvenient. Regular taxis are not allowed to pick up guests from 5-star properties like Shangri-La. Although taxis from any part of the city can drop guests at the hotel, only Murhaba Taxis are permitted for pickups. These taxis can only be booked through the hotel concierge and are exorbitantly priced—10 times or more compared to regular taxis. For example, reaching the hotel from Muscat International Airport cost us around 12 OMR during the day, but taking a taxi from the hotel to any other destination is far more expensive due to this policy.
That said, one positive aspect worth mentioning is the hotel’s complimentary shuttle service to the city. There is a morning shuttle to the Mall of Oman, with a pickup from the mall later in the day. Additionally, there is an afternoon shuttle at 3:50 PM to Mutrah Souq, with a return pickup at 6:15 PM. This service is a thoughtful offering, especially considering that traveling from the hotel can otherwise be quite expensive.
While we enjoyed the beauty of the property and its luxurious offerings, these issues left a sour note. Given the price we paid for the stay, we expected a far more seamless and accommodating experience. The property does have the potential to deliver an excellent stay, but improvements are needed in service recovery, dining inclusivity, and transparency regarding transportation options.
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Date of stay: January 2025Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip:Install the Otaxi app before your trip. Purchase an Omantel SIM card at the airport. Keep a...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
And the hotel itself and its location really liked it. The rooms are super comfortable, everything is thought out, everything is necessary in the room and in the whole territory. There's plenty for the kids to do, mini golf and tennis. Excellent beach, entrance to the sea is calm and suitable for children. I especially want to mention the young man who cleaned up our room daily, Shahab, made some incredible figures out of towels and hand tools, which both the children and we were delighted with every time. On the downside - hotel in the distance from the city infrastructure, to get out into the city is not realistic, only by taxi, for 30-40 minutes. So all the food is only on site. And the biggest downside is the checkout, the chaos, never before have we left a hotel in this category for over an hour. Billed two and a half times as much as it actually was. It was long and arduous, there were items on the bill that were paid for on the first day of the hotel stay, you had to stand there and prove that you paid for them. As a result, everything was taken out of the account (every point on the account had extra items), spent more than an hour of their vacation on it and the reception manager said - sorry, turned her back on us and went about her business. It's the first time you've ever seen one, not even a normal apology.
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Date of stay: January 2025
Value
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Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We spent five relaxing days at the Al Waha at the end of our Oman tour. The complex is fabulous, the room with a sea view was excellent, we had half board and could choose between two restaurants. The breakfast was extremely plentiful (including Arabic and Indian specialties) and they really tried to fulfill all our wishes. The cleaning staff in the room and in the entire hotel were perfect.
Only the "hard selling" attempt when checking in - they wanted to force an upgrade to one of the more expensive categories - was a bit annoying and required steadfastness on our part.
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Date of stay: February 2024Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:Informieren Sie sich vorher, welcher der drei Komplexe Ihnen am besten zusagt.Informieren Sie...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We stayed here as a group of two families between Christmas a New Year in Al Bandar. The setting of the hotel is delightful, and the hotel is very nice. Set in a very pretty bay.
Our rooms were nice, and big but a little tired in places but otherwise lovely and clean. Huge bed for us too.
The only issue we had were not being able to get sunbeds when we arrived (Saturday lunchtime) and this was a persistent issue for many guests who didn’t claim a lounger before breakfast. We ended up on the sand and on the grass. The staff initially couldn’t care less. We walked down to the family hotel, Al Waha, and they were more responsive, gathering loungers for us and providing us with towels.
The lazy river was brilliant for the children, but make sure they are competent swimmers as there was only a lifeguard at the ends of the river. No music blasting anywhere so it was peaceful and relaxing once we had a sun lounger.
We ate breakfast at the main restaurant which was extensive and something for everyone. We also ate at the fish restaurant n the Italian restaurant which were both very nice. We struggled to get into the Italian, but it’s common here for other guests reserve tables and then don’t show. The hotel should apply a charge for this time wasting, entitled behaviour.
The poolside restaurant really struggled on both lunchtimes we ate there. Service was slow and ambivalent. The manager confirmed that the hotel was struggling as they were double their usual capacity.
Despite insufficient sun loungers and bad service, I would come back here again, just not between Christmas and New Year.
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Date of stay: December 2024
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Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I’m a regular guest at SHANGRI-LA I’ve been there many times it’s was one of my favorite hotels in Muscat room -food - service-hygiene Yesterday I had some friends from Qatar and I wanted to show them the beauty of Oman I decided to take them to SIO 2 lounge it’s was my first and last time they really destroyed the reputation of years and years of SHANGRI-LA What a shame The main issue is the manager (onur ) I hope it’s his name but I’m talking about manager how was wearing grey suit , he have nothing to do with hospitality ,a manager how doesn’t speaks professionally , when we just arrive the waiter bring for us a bite and we have to hold in our hands no tissue no plates nothing Then the manager passes by we told him that it’s not nice to keep the food on our hands he replied in rude way welcome to sio 2 no plates no spoons no forks…. This is our concept . my friend said at least tissue, he send us small plate and tissue thanks god The quality of bite was disappointing mini sandwich with eggs /macaroni balls / and a lllllot of race ball I’m going to post the photo after the first round of bites they bring sweet we told the waiter that we still want to eat because we paid 25 omr each so we are expecting to eat they bring one more round of bites same kind and we request to have sweets they told us is closed and finish how come finished, when we called they said the event till 11 pm and we requested at 10:15 pm the hostess said there is no more bites or sweet it’s over in a rude way as well and she send a waiter I told him it’s not yet 11 pm and we did not get sweet he told me let me check with the manager I sow that the manager give the waiter a an order to stay away and don’t even come back to us I just felt so embarrassed In front of my friends, imagine your are in 5 stars resort and you are going to pay money and he just ignored us and walk away ….I requested for bill I paid and I left The shisha guy is very kind and polite and helpful my first waitress I can’t remember her name she is from Philippines very kind and polite the place is nice nice dj / show , but the atmosphere is toxic the manager over acting shouting at staff in front of guests running right and left he is stressing the staff and the funny thing that the place is empty but the staff are under pressure SHANGRI-LA management I believe you are responsible for this mess please give him a proper training as soon as possible I will never go there again and I will never recommend
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Date of stay: January 2025
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I’ve been going to the Shangri La annually for the past 6 years. Yes there is a children’s pool with a canopy, lazy river and other children’s water based activities on a pirate ship. I’m booked to go again with my grandson in May 2025
In my opinion this will not affect anything, hotel host many ppl with different cultures during the year including ramadan, about your other question about outside the hotel I think most of the activities will start after fast breaking however things will be open like Matrah souq and others.
Depends on the restaurant, some areas acceptable
guests are generally allowed to wear smart casual attire, including tailored shorts, during the evening in certain restaurants. However, it is always best to confirm with the hotel directly to ensure a comfortable and appropriate experience.
There are more places to choose from in the Bandar Jissah area.
PRICE RANGE
RM 1,150 - RM 1,897 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
shangri la`s barr al jissah resort & spa-al bandar hotel muscat governorate, shangri la`s barr al jissah resort and spa-al bandar, shangri las muscat, shangri la muscat, shangri la oman, shangri la hotel oman, shangri la hotel muscat, shangri las al bandar
LOCATION
OmanMuscat GovernorateBandar Jissah
NUMBER OF ROOMS
460
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
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