Madam Medusa

my kids (6 and 8) loved it there...you get a fab private pool, there are activities to do (horse riding, falcon etc) and there is a kids club that they were begging to go to every day...we didn't go as couldn't be bothered to drive there, but the banyan tree also have a beach club...i would totally recommend it, it's beautiful...

MM, xx

Blue Cat

most boring drive I have EVER done in my life

Tillybean

Qasr Al Sarab - they have limited activities and a dune that you can get the children to run up and down numerous times to tire them out. The hotel is okay, the pool is nice and the bar/restaurants are not too shabby either, although I was not keen on the buffet place.

For a short hop on a plane, then head to Sri Lanka - FlyDubai had some cracking rates. I paid 1,000AED for a seat with extra legroom etc and fly out on Thursday 25 August, back on Saturday 3 September.

Alternatively, head to Cyprus but hire a car and go to the North bit. Loads of nice villas with pools in Kyrenia which has a busy little marina area and there are some nice drives for a bit of culture if you need to.

al dente

We're going with our 5 yr old (and baby but he's not fussed where he is). I thought it sounded like there was stuff to do (camel, horses, falcons etc) but am a bit confused about driving to the kids club?

Also is the 'lifesize' penguin waterpark reasonably close?

al dente

Wry chuckle at that one. Poor buggers.

alitrist

Well when we went it was really really quiet so the kid's club was empty and although we did end up leaving our sons there for 2 hours they ended up in front of the telly. You won't need to drive yourself to the club but need to take the buggy to get there. You virtually need to travel by buggy to get around the place, it's actually quite nice.
With regards to the horses and camels we were told that the kids could go and see them early in the morning or past 6 pm.
Your 5 year old may enjoy it, as previously mentioned my 2 kids are very
young, and didn't think they had enough going for that age group.
Iceland water park is 30 mins away from the banyan tree al wadi.

Oyibopeppeh

The Shangri-La in Muscat is pure luxury, even at the lowest level of the 3 hotels there, yes, there were families there, but never anything more than background level noise.

Just bear in mind that the complex is 20-30 mins drive out of town and there's nothing else available unless you drive.

If you like collecting fossils, Muscat is the place to go! There are hundreds of perfect ammonites just lying on the ground if you take a drive out into the hills and walk around.

al dente

Thanks for the info. We'll see how we get on and report back.

commander

anyone been to the chedi Muscat?

Meow

Yes. I was last there a couple of years ago. We stayed in a villa as hotel rooms were looking very tired and desperately needed a revamp, but that may have been done. It's not really a place for children and parts of the hotel, including the nicest pool are adults only.

Not really a family place.

commander

thanks!!

commander

christ, im even looking at hotels in bloody Dubai now...

Gotta be child friendly and have some good deals on!!

Cynical Scot

4 days may be a bit too long, but with our 2-3yr old we often enjoyed staying at the Intercon at Al Ain.
Not the most luxurious hotel, but + points: proper kiddies pool (i.e. knee deep on an adult) under shade; bigger pool to take them in with you; proper 25m lap pool for your Tri training; reasonable Spa & gym if that floats your boat; good babysitting service allowing you to have QT with the OH; great curry house; good 'English' pub with sports channels (that'll also serve the curries from the restaurant); zoo is (was) worth visiting; Jabel ha'feit () for a drive up (or you could cycle!!).

If not for this 'long weekend' it's a good close escape for a relaxing couple of days.

Meow

Have you changed your mind about the Shangri-La ouside Muscat? They have a couple of pools and a lazy river.

If you don't fancy the drive, which although long isn't that bad, you can always get a cheap flight and take a cab from the airport.

Madam Medusa

al qasr is very child friendly, but probably doesn't have a good deal on...! in oman, the grand hyatt is good for kids, we went when mine were 1 and 3 and we all had a great time...

MM, xx