Atana Musandam Resort

I genuinely love Oman and have always found Omani people respectful, warm and welcoming, so what happened at Atana Resort stood out in a really negative way. Around 12:30 PM I waited nearly 10 minutes at reception for my bill and saw three guest interactions. Two Indian families asking for early check-in were dismissed and told to come back at 2 PM, without being allowed to properly explain or complete their requests. Then a European family was treated very differently: the receptionist became extremely polite and said their room would be ready within 5 minutes, even though official check-in was 2 PM. Nearly 80% of the hotel guests seemed to be Indian families at the time. The reception lady on duty came across as unwelcoming, rude and noticeably biased in how she treated people. This was especially disappointing after the warmth and professionalism of the Omani immigration officers during an extremely busy holiday period. The hospitality and respect we experienced at the border reflected the kindness Oman is known for. I hope senior management takes this feedback seriously, because experiences like this leave a lasting impression. I’d hesitate to stay at the resort again, and I’m sure other guests who felt similarly would too. I hope the resort improves its customer service so all guests get equal respect and professionalism.

Breakfast was tasty, and the open buffet dinner was pretty good too, with a decent range of dishes. The hotel is comfortable and well maintained. It’s one of the best hotels in the Musandam area, though a bit expensive given there’s no direct sea access, no real panoramic view and no gazebo or dedicated spot to sit and enjoy the ocean scenery. The location is handy, with a supermarket within walking distance and the port just 4 minutes away by car for a dolphin-watching or dhow cruise excursion.

The rooms are a nice size, and the friendly staff helped us hire a dhou for a day of dolphin watching and fishing. Lulu is next to the resort, and the port is a short 5 minute drive away. There isn’t much else nearby.

I was a little concerned by reviews saying the hotel needed maintenance, but everything seemed great to me. It exceeded my expectations. The room was roomy and quiet, and the hotel was clean and very comfortable. I liked having a supermarket and some restaurants within walking distance. Recommended.