Oman is one of our favorite places in the world. We visited during a couples around the world trip and were eager to visit Oman with the kids. We decided to celebrate Christmas in Oman and returned to stay at the Grand Hyatt Muscat. We previously stayed for free by redeeming an award night from our World of Hyatt credit card. Alternatively, this Oman Hyatt requires just 15K points per night. Read our Muscat Grand Hyatt review from our first trip. This Oman beach resort is luxurious, family-friendly, and extremely welcoming toward children. To help you decide where to stay in Muscat Oman with kids, read our Grand Hyatt Muscat review. Grand Hyatt Muscat is one of the best hotels in Muscat for families and makes a convenient base for Oman holidays. This 5-star luxury resort sits on one of the best beaches in Muscat, has a pool families will love, numerous dining options, spacious rooms and suites, and friendly top-notch service.

Where to Stay in Muscat Oman with Kids: Grand Hyatt Muscat Review

**Our WTA score represents our own views based on our personal experience with the entity being reviewed.

Grand Hyatt Muscat Location

The Grand Hyatt Muscat is located in Shatti Al Qurum, the diplomatic district of Muscat. This makes the hotel convenient for business travelers, but it is also popular with leisure travelers and families visiting Oman with kids. It sits on one of the best beaches in Muscat, which makes it ideal for families. Our kids could spend all day playing in the sand and splashing in the sea, so they were very excited to stay there.

The hotel offers free parking on-site for 300 cars. We never had trouble finding a parking spot right out front, which was very convenient with our day trips for sightseeing.

Transportation to the Muscat airport can be arranged through the hotel’s concierge. The hotel is only 3 km from the Royal Opera House and a short drive to many other tourist attractions. We recommend renting a car to go sightseeing or taking a taxi, since it is not walking distance (at least not with young children) to the main sights.

A Warm Welcome with Omani hospitality

We received a warm welcome at the Grand Hyatt Muscat. True to Omani hospitality, Arabic coffee and dates are available in the lobby for guests to enjoy upon arrival or at any time. The sweet dates complement the cardamom-flavored gahwa perfectly. The kids had fun pretending to drink coffee out of the giant Arabic coffee pot that decorates the main entrance. When they saw the lavishly appointed lobby they began to ooh and aah. Even though we’d been here before, we were once again in awe over its decadence.

The traditional Arabic architecture, luxurious silk-draped tents, rotating fountain, and gilded accents on the walls are reminiscent of a royal Arabian palace. The hotel has a very interesting history. It was built by a Yemeni prince with money salvaged from an American ship that sank off the Oman coast during World War II, the John Barry.  The John Barry Bar pays tribute to this intriguing history.

In the palatial lobby, you feel like you’ve been transported to a scene from Arabian Nights. We absolutely loved the sumptuous design and decor of the lobby. The 4-story ceiling and 14-meter high stained glass windows overlooking the garden, pool, and Arabian Sea allow sunlight to flood the luxe space.

Post from RICOH THETA. #theta360 – Spherical Image – GH Muscat

Grand Hyatt Muscat Rooms and Suites

After checking in, staff showed us to our rooms. We had a Grand Executive Suite connected to a 2 Twin Beds Pool View Room. We had two bedrooms with a living room and work area in between. The rooms were extraordinarily spacious, which gave our energetic children space to move freely. The Grand Executive Suite is 135 square meters and the 2 Twin Beds Room is 42 square meters. They were beyond excited to have their own bedroom, own beds, and own bathroom. We were even more excited to have complete privacy!

Our bedrooms each had a bathroom and the living room had a half bathroom. If you’ve ever been waiting for someone to finish in the bathroom in a hotel room with only one toilet, you know how that can play out with children. We never had to rush anyone out of the bathroom, which was such a luxury.

The bathrooms had large bathtubs with a separate shower, a toilet, bidet, and marble vanity. The kids love taking baths and stayed in their tub until their fingers were prunes. They also got a kick out of the bidets. We were happy to shower without the kids wandering in asking for something.

Our suite had a king-sized bed and the kids’ room had two twin beds. Each room had a plush lounge chair. The kids room had a desk area, while our desk area was in the living room. Each bedroom had a balcony overlooking the pool, gardens, and Gulf of Oman. Each room also had a mini-fridge, safe, closet, robes, minibar, 3 or more phones, TV, iPod docking station, and tea and coffee making facilities. Rollaway beds and cribs are available upon request to accommodate families.

The decor in the guest rooms is less elaborate than in the main hotel areas. While we did not have any complaints about our rooms, we’ve heard some guests critique that the room decor could use an update. We learned during our stay that several suites are in the process of being updated. Those wishing for ultra-luxurious suites can opt for a Crown Suite or the Royal Suite, which we’ll show you next.

Premium Suites: Crown Suites and Royal Suite

We were able to take a tour of the hotel and see a Crown Suite and the Royal Suite. These suites are enormous, sumptuous, and offer the best views in the hotel with balconies directly facing the Arabian Sea or Hajar Mountains. These suites include a full kitchen and large dining room. The Royal Suite (where we heard Michael Jackson stayed) has a sauna, grand piano, dining room for 10 people, and includes butler service. Here’s a peak at these premium suites.

Grand Hyatt Muscat Grand Club Lounge

As Hyatt Globalists, we also had access to the Grand Club Lounge. For guests without Hyatt elite status, lounge access is included with suites and club access rooms. We highly recommend having lounge access for families to be able to access complimentary drinks and snacks throughout the day. We loved the convenience but also it can save families a lot of money.

The club lounge serves continental breakfast, afternoon tea with light refreshments, and evening cocktails and hors d’oeuvres from 6-8pm daily. The club lounge has several cozy indoor seating areas with couches and tables as well as an outdoor terrace overlooking the Hajar mountains. There are several TVs, newspapers and magazines for guests to enjoy.

The evening hors d’oeuvres are hearty enough that you could make a meal out of it. Offerings included a salad bar, fruit, breads, Arabic mezze, and several hot dishes that changed daily like meatballs and chicken wings. The lounge also has 2 business centers, one of which they converted into a kids room over the holidays to cater to families. They served children’s favorites including french fries and chicken fingers and played Disney movies, which made our kids very happy.

Grand Hyatt Muscat Beach and Pool

The Grand Hyatt Muscat beach and pool are additional reasons this is a family-friendly hotel. What kid doesn’t love playing in the sand and spending hours in the pool? Our kids were eager to head straight to the beach, which is accessed through the pool area. Luckily our rooms were located just a few floors above ground level and right by the pool. We spent several lazy afternoons at the beach and pool, both of which were highlights for our kids.

The Grand Hyatt pool area is so much fun for kids and parents alike with its lazy river, toddler splash pool, and swim up bar. We brought inner tubes and they floated along the lazy river giggling and squealing in delight as the light current pulled them along. We were excited for the outdoor jacuzzi since the weather was unseasonably cool during our visit. We relaxed in the pool and jacuzzi and played in the sand until the sun sank below the sea. It was a beautiful ending to a perfect vacation day.

Grand Hyatt Muscat Restaurants

We ate at several of the Grand Hyatt Muscat restaurants during our stay. The hotel has 8 different restaurants ranging from casual pool-side family dining to gourmet romantic candlelit meals. The different restaurants at Grand Hyatt Muscat offer an impressive variety of international cuisine, including Middle Eastern, Arabic, American, Mediterranean, Italian, Indonesian, and Indian food.  As a family with young children, we appreciated having so many options to choose from, especially with a picky 5-year old. We were able to order something he liked at every meal, which can be challenging in a foreign country. We also appreciated that even the fine-dining restaurants welcomed children, which is not always the case at luxury hotels.

As Hyatt Globalists, our breakfast was complimentary every morning for our family of four. We had the option to eat breakfast in the Grand Club Lounge or at Mokha Cafe. We opted for Mokha Cafe because of its bountiful breakfast buffet. Highlights of this immense buffet include made-to-order omelettes, waffles, pancakes, pastries, fruit, salads, Indian cuisine, yogurt, Arabic spreads, and fresh juices. The food and service were fantastic, and we enjoyed sitting outside during the cool mornings. If there’s something you would like but don’t see it at the buffet, make sure to ask because they might be able to make it for you. They made us eggs benedict and brought out fresh cantaloupe for our kids simply because we asked.

Mokha Cafe also serves lunch and dinner, featuring Arabic and international cuisine with a la carte and buffet options. The Mokha Cafe has a famous Friday Brunch that is known as the best brunch in Muscat. We were not there on a Friday, but fortunately were there for their spectacular Christmas Brunch. Get all the details on how the Grand Hyatt Muscat celebrates the Christmas holiday in Oman with its extravagant Jingle Bells Brunch and other festivities.

A must-visit restaurant for families is Marjan, the pool-side Indonesian restaurant with views of the Arabian Sea. There is even a swim-up bar if you can’t drag your kids out of the pool and need some refreshments. We had never tried Indonesian food before and absolutely loved it. We ordered several appetizers and a mixed seafood platter, all of which was fresh and bursting with flavor.

Another restaurant not to miss is Tuscany. This award-winning Grand Hyatt Muscat restaurant has been voted the best Italian restaurant in Muscat. We enjoyed eating at Tuscany on the outdoor veranda overlooking the pool and ocean. Our kids were thrilled to watch the chef prepare their wood brick oven pizza, which was so delicious it transported us to Italy.

We ordered mouthwatering appetizers, pasta, and grilled fish. Our meal was absolutely delicious. The chef gave us a sneak peak at their immersive dining experience, Le Petit Chef. A tiny chef explains how each dish is prepared in an engaging kid-friendly animation projected onto the table. Our kids thought this was hilarious and wanted to watch it over and over again.

 

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Another fine dining option at The Grand Hyatt Muscat is The Grill House. We had dinner at this rooftop steakhouse on Christmas Eve. They featured a special dining experience that night with a live DJ and delectable buffet of soups, salads, appetizers and desserts. We ordered steak and seafood off the menu and they were grilled to perfection. The kids ordered hamburgers and milkshakes, which were equally as tasty.

Sirj Tea Lounge is another dining option at the hotel offering light bites and beverages. This elegant lounge is located in the lobby under luxurious silk tents. The tea lounge serves traditional high tea with scones, finger sandwiches and pastries. The Sirj Tea Lounge is the perfect spot for a mother-daughter date. We had tea and cookies while adoring the enchanting atmosphere. We listened to live piano music and daydreamed about being Arabian princesses.

 

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For adult beverages, guests can head to John Barry Bar. The Grand Hyatt Muscat bar is romantic with its glowing alabaster bar, inviting lounge atmosphere, grand piano, and outdoor terrace overlooking the garden, pool, and Gulf of Oman. We stopped by for a quick drink while our kids were with friends. The mixologist wowed us with his luscious cocktails and we wished we had time for more. The hotel concierge can arrange for a babysitter if parents would like a date night during their Oman holiday.

Two other dining options that we didn’t try are Club Safari and Habana Sports Bar, serving multi-cuisines including American fare. Club Safari offers nightly entertainment with a live DJ. Habana has pool tables, 11 televisions for sports fans, and happy hour specials.

Club Olympus Fitness Center

The Grand Hyatt Muscat fitness center is well-equipped with a combination of cardio and strength equipment. There is also a steam room, sauna, and jacuzzi to relax in after your workout. We stopped by the fitness center to check it out but didn’t stay. We got plenty of exercise splashing around in the pool and exploring Oman with the kids. But for guests who like to exercise at the hotel, the gym will not disappoint.

Last thoughts on staying at the Grand Hyatt Muscat in Oman with kids

We’ve stayed at the Grand Hyatt Muscat twice, first without kids and again when visiting Oman with kids. We were so excited to return with our kids because we knew how much they would love the hotel. If you’re trying to decide where to stay in Muscat Oman with kids, we recommend the Grand Hyatt Muscat. It is a great choice for families thanks to the kid-friendly atmosphere, warm and welcoming staff, family-friendly pool with a splash pool, swim-up bar and lazy river, beach access, club lounge, and ability to arrange for a babysitter through concierge. The staff went out of their way to make our kids feel special, from calling them by name to showing us around the hotel to offering them treats. We left feeling like part of the family and hope to return again.

The hotel is conveniently located for visiting nearby sights in Muscat such as the Mutrah Corniche and Souk, Royal Opera House, and Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque. Other must-see attractions in Oman including Wadi Shab and the Bimmah Sinkhole are a 90-minute drive away. The hotel serves as a practical home base for exploring Oman with kids.

For more ideas on what to do in Oman, read our post about 5 beautiful places to include on your Oman itinerary. We recommend a visit to Jebel Akhdar for spectacular mountain vistas, where we stayed at Alila Jabal Akhdar. Make sure to also include a night or two glamping in Wahiba Sands at Sama Al Wasil Desert Camp or Canvas Club Oman, a bespoke luxury experience that begins with a sunset camel ride into the desert. We hope your family loves Oman as much as we do.

**Disclosure- Grand Hyatt Muscat hosted us but all opinions are honest and our own.

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