Forget Dubai, go to Oman

Last year around this time I was in Dubai. Although the company and hotel received a solid nine, Dubai is not exactly on my list of places I would want to return to. Too plastic, too Vegas in the desert, too difficult to have a glass of wine, too many fountains and bells and whistles, too expensive well... Too ordinary. But it is quite a short flight, little time difference, and guaranteed sunshine, and that is exactly what you need in winter. Now I got the brilliant tip: fly to Dubai and then drive on to Oman.

Because Oman is a two-hour drive from Dubai, has the same sunshine guarantee, but is just a bit more beautiful, freer, older, and purer. They say, right? I've heard it too, but I tend to believe it.

1. Uncovered

Of course, it is expected that you cover your skin when visiting a mosque or other religious location, but otherwise, no one takes offense if you let your bare feet dangle in the sun.

2. Beautiful hotels

You have those in Dubai too, but they are a bit more... plastic-ish. Here you have those beautiful hotels with beach villas like The Chedi, the Shangri-La (which gets a ten from Booking), and the W.

3. 1001 night experience

That is everywhere here, I can tell just by looking at the photos.

4. It is safe

That is of course quite dangerous to write down, especially if you haven't been there yourself, but I read that on wearetravellers.nl and they are always particularly well-informed.

Anyway, I will test it all for you, promised? It’s a dirty job but somebody…