Oman

Using it to plan my family leisure trip to Oman during mid-December,2024.

This is one of the worst guide books I've ever used. Museum hours and fees are wrong, hotel descriptions are inaccurate, list of sights puzzling. For example, it describes Muttrah Souq as one of the best in the Middle East, and very authentic, while in reality it is full of junk from India and the prices are so high (USD 125 for a Omani cap) it is impossible to bargain. It described the Muscat Corniche as one of the most beautiful walks in the country but it was completely devoid of all charm. It directed us to restaurants that were blatant tourist traps (they bring you plates you didn't order and try to charge you for it), Worst, it failed to provide significant background on the sights. It failed to warn of the country-wide taxi scam, where prices are all fixed at an outrageously high rate (USD 16 for a 1.6 km ride) and none of the taxis have meters or accept credit cards. This is the 2022 edition so it should have been up to date.

In general I have liked and been impressed by Bradt Guides. This one to Oman is an exception, written in a list-like style in which it is difficult to glean what might be of interest. It’s as though it’s been compiled by a cartographer rather than a travel guide writer, with special emphasis on how to drive into towns and little about their qualities or sites. An example: “Khasab, 42km from the UAE border, is Musandam’s main town (although only a relatively small fishing port) and is the next town you come to when traveling around the west coast. Khasab and its associated villages are home to 29,688 of Musandam’s approximate population of 49,062. This is the northernmost wilayat in Oman and its geographic area overlooks both the Arabian Gulf to the northwest and the Seo of Oman to the east. Khasab’s previous mainstays were fishing and agriculture…”. One learns that “government employment, tourism and trade, notably with Iran, are key elements of the economy,” but not why one would, or would not, be interested in the place. The whole guide is like this. The excellent Rough Guide Oman and compact but informative Insights Guide are far superior, from my point of view.