Air Travel

There are currently no direct flights to Oman from the United States, though once the new international airport is built in Muscat, this will likely change. As of now, the best way to travel to Oman is via the United Arab Emirates, transiting through either Abu Dhabi or Dubai. Etihad and Emirates airlines are both excellent and offer direct flights to the UAE with connections to Muscat from most of the major U.S. hubs. Flying time to Dubai is approximately 12¼ hours from JFK, 14½ from DFW, and 16 hours from LAX; it's another hour to Muscat from Dubai (2 hours to Salalah). For travel within Oman, namely between Muscat and Salalah, the national airline, Oman Air, offers nearly hourly flights at a very low cost. For United States passport holders, visa are available upon arrival for either a 10- or 30-day period.

Airports

Seeb International Airport (MCT) in the capital city of Muscat is the main international airport in Oman and the best place to fly into for exploring any of the major cities or regions aside from Salalah (SLL) in the far south. The airport is small and easy to navigate. Salalah also has a small international airport, but unless Salalah is your final and only planned destination, it is best to fly into Muscat.

Contacts

Muscat International Airport. Muscat, Masqat. www.omanairports.co.om.

Salalah Airport. Salalah, Zufar. www.omanairports.co.om.

Ground Transportation

Metered taxis line up in front of the airports, providing the easiest and cheapest option for getting to your hotel. Drivers know the local hotels well. For resorts that are farther away, like Shangri-La or Al-Bustan, the cost of your transfer is sometimes included in the room rate. To get a sense of costs, the average taxi ride to the farthest hotel from Muscat International Airport is typically no more than 20 rials.

Flights

Oman Air is the national airline and operates regional and international flights from their hub in Muscat. Regional brands, including Abu Dhabi-based Etihad and Dubai-based Emirates, have quick, 45-minute flights from Muscat to their respective hubs, from where you can get direct flights to almost any major city in the world. For cheap regional travel to the UAE, Fly Dubai offers extremely inexpensive tickets.