Nizwa Heritage Inn

For the price, this place worked perfectly well for us. We stayed one night a few months ago, and I’m not sure why its reviews are so low. The location is hard to beat, and the showers, bathrooms and beds were all comfortable and clean. Breakfast was plentiful but mediocre, and could easily be better. Check-in went smoothly, and our room was very clean. We stayed in one of the guesthouses, about a 10-minute walk from check-in. It felt secure, with multiple locks, and had a modern elevator. A couple of room details: the windows have no glass, so you have to choose between keeping them closed with no natural light or opening them with no AC. It wasn’t a big problem for us because the AC worked well, and we could leave the windows open at night. Getting there can be confusing. GPS may send you along an undrivable route. Instead, drive towards the mosque/fort square and turn left to reach the property. Don’t go left around the souq, or you’ll get stuck in its narrow streets. One caution: around 10 PM, a guest accidentally latched an ornamental wooden lock on the guesthouse door and locked everyone out. Staff spent 30 minutes finding a local kid to bang on windows and wake the guest so he’d open it. The guest then tried to fight the kid with his fists. Afterward, staff screwed the lock in place. Check whether your room has one, as it could cause a difficult situation. I’d happily stay again.

Asaad at reception was wonderful and made us feel well looked after. He pointed us toward tourist spots around Nizwa and Jebel Akhdar, and he and the team were kind and accommodating. The rooms were neat and clean, with an authentic city vibe. I’d definitely recommend it.

We spent two nights here during a tour organized by our travel agency, so we hadn’t chosen the hotel ourselves. The location is excellent, and the outside looks very cute. Our room seemed cozy at first, but I noticed stains on my bedsheet when I looked more closely. The bathroom was the main problem. The shower had no walls or curtain, so water went all over the toilet, sink and floor. Our ground-floor windows had no glass or curtains, and we had to keep them shut for privacy. That left the room a bit dark and stuffy. It’s a shame because the place has potential, with a great location and a nice traditional touch inside. Better bathrooms and windows could make it a lovely little stay.

This is a heritage house converted into a hotel, with nice rooms, welcoming staff and plenty of parking. They need to improve their cleaning standards. There’s no lift. It could be a good option if they fix problems with clean bed sheets and pillows.