Antique Inn

The garden behind the hotel is a lovely spot to sit, and the pool was a real bonus after exploring. I also liked the decor and the location, and the breakfast upstairs was decent and varied, with a view. The bed was comfortable and the small room was fine. Still, I came away with mixed feelings about the Antique Inn. There were cockroaches on the floor and walls beside the bed, as well as red ants. One night at 10:20pm, male staff came into my room to check the bathroom drain. That didn’t feel appropriate with male-only staff entering the room of a solo female traveller.

The staff were really nice and helpful, and the old town location is great, close to the Souk and fort. There’s also a large parking area at the hotel. I’d say it’s okay for one night, but the place needs renovation. We had a double room by the pool that was meant to be a higher grade. It was spacious, though full of mosquitos and had an unpleasant smell. The bed was okay, the pillows weren’t comfortable, and the bathroom wasn’t clean. There was hair from previous guests in the shower and toilet, and the towels smelled. There’s no shower curtain, so everything gets wet after showering. Breakfast was okay, but I didn’t like the plastic plates and cups or the paper cups for tea and coffee.

The staff were friendly and helpful, and the Arabic breakfast was very good. I’ve had much worse breakfasts in Oman. The poolside rooms were clean and perfectly fine. I stayed one night with two friends while we explored Nizwa, and the hotel turned out better than I expected. I’d recommend it without reservation.

The view from the hotel is great, and it’s set in a handy spot in the old town. There’s a lot of parking for a place in that area. Service was excellent, and the food was good.