Known to be one of the finest five-star hotels in the world, you’ll feel like royalty during a stay here – it was originally built as the home for Oman’s Sultan Qaboos. Expect palatial surroundings with oodles of gold, marble and crystal, contrasted with a relaxed pace of life. Renovations in 2018 were overseen by WATG and Wimberly Interiors, adding contemporary elements, to the existing extravagant opulence. It boasts the tallest atrium in the country, an entire amusement/water park for children and a six senses spa offering 24-carat gold facials. Dine alfresco between the beach and the pool, tuck into seafood at the Beach Pavilion, take The Ritz’s famed tea in the lobby or opt for authentic Chinese cuisine. Around thirty minutes from the airport, it’s sandwiched between the mountains and the Gulf of Oman.