<h2>Why Go to Muscat?</h2>
<p>Some UAE OFWs need a periodic visa run, while some will just want to travel for the sheer pleasure of it. You might also be based in Oman itself. Muscat is a great city; with historic mosques, souks, green oases, mountain ranges, and ancient forts. So why not take a Muscat weekend on a budget.</p>
<figure class="wp-block-image alignnone size-large wp-image-4042 size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="181" src="https://production-prod-trueprofile-blogassets-origin.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/uploads/2021/03/Flickr-andryn2006-1.jpg" alt="Muscat Weekend on a Budget " class="wp-image-9469" title="Muscat Weekend on a Budget " srcset="https://production-prod-trueprofile-blogassets-origin.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/uploads/2021/03/Flickr-andryn2006-1.jpg 1024w, https://production-prod-trueprofile-blogassets-origin.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/uploads/2021/03/Flickr-andryn2006-1-300x53.jpg 300w, https://production-prod-trueprofile-blogassets-origin.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/uploads/2021/03/Flickr-andryn2006-1-768x136.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption>Find your forever in Muscat!</figcaption></figure>
<p>In fact, I couldn’t decide which sight to zero in on as there were too many! There’s a sight for every one whether you prefer culture, nature, mountain, or sea.</p>
<h2>The Budget</h2>
<p>The budget can be a low PhP 12,000 per person on a three-person trip. This is based on a three day weekend trip from Dubai by bus. It will also mean <a href="https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/4926513?s=iabnutqy&guests=3&adults=3&check_in=2017-02-09&check_out=2017-02-11" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">triple-sharing</a> a room at an <a href="https://www.airbnb.com/s/Muscat--Oman?page=1&s_tag=iabnutqy&allow_override[]=" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">AirBnB rental </a>and cooking most of your meals. Forego a <a href="http://www.omandaytours.com/detail.php?t=20-Jebel-Shams-(Day-trip)-4WD-The-Grand-Canyon-of-Oman-:Muscat-Tours-.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">guided 4WD trip</a> to Jebel Shams by driving you and your <em>barkada,</em> and it will be even lower.</p>
<p>You can choose to drive yourself. <iframe loading="lazy" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/gPGVKLhlw1s" width="600" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen">A self-drive tour to <a href="https://www.tripadvisor.com.ph/ShowUserReviews-g298421-d1073179-r57407963-Wadi_Shab-Sur_Ash_Sharqiyah_Governorate.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Wadi Shab</a> and the nearby sinkhole is also included in this budget. Amazing, right?</p></iframe></p>
<h2>Checklist before you go.</h2>
<p>You can get a visa upon arrival, but you must still check or call the nearest Omani Embassy at your area in case there has been any changes. Pack a swimsuit <i>and </i>a<i> </i>jacket as well as comfortable walking shoes.</p>
<div class="wp-block-image size-full wp-image-4040"><figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="800" height="531" src="https://production-prod-trueprofile-blogassets-origin.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/uploads/2021/03/Flickr-prasad-om-1.jpg" alt="Muscat Weekend on a Budget " class="wp-image-9468" title="Muscat Weekend on a Budget " srcset="https://production-prod-trueprofile-blogassets-origin.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/uploads/2021/03/Flickr-prasad-om-1.jpg 800w, https://production-prod-trueprofile-blogassets-origin.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/uploads/2021/03/Flickr-prasad-om-1-300x199.jpg 300w, https://production-prod-trueprofile-blogassets-origin.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/uploads/2021/03/Flickr-prasad-om-1-768x510.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption>Explore Muscat and it’s nearby Wadis</figcaption></figure></div>
<p>Don’t forget your passport and ID. Photocopy your birth certificate as well as the relevant pages of your passport and stow it in a separate place. This is just in case your passport got lost.</p>
<ul><li>Book the <a href="https://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/forums/middle-east/oman/buses-dubai-to-muscat" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">bus to Muscat</a> shortly before you go.</li><li>Book the room of your choice at AirBnB way before you go.</li><li>Correspond with your potential host. If the host is especially accommodating, he may even pick you up at the bus station.</li><li>Check the house rules and amenities. Part of your budget involves cooking a baon/picnic. You can even pack frying oil, garlic, and onions to save on buying them in Muscat – Pinoy style, baby. Just don’t forget the tupperwares, water bottles, and the fork and spoon.</li></ul>
<h2>Muscat Long Weekend Itinerary and Budget</h2>
<h3>Day 1</h3>
<p>7:15AM – 2:00PM Bus from Dubai to Muscat (<a href="http://www.ladyandhersweetescapes.com/2014/04/Dubai-Muscat-ONTC-Bus.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">PhP 1,221.00 round trip</a>)</p>
<p>2:00PM – 3:00PM Check in and freshen up at your AirBnB (PhP 1,826.00 for 2 nights/person)</p>
<p>3:00PM onwards Explore the city (Mosques, souks, market). Take this time to buy the <a href="https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/in/Muscat?displayCurrency=PHP" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">food stuff</a> you need. I trust that you’ll already have the menu prepared (usually Adobo as it doesn’t spoil). (PhP 1,000.00 more or less)</p>
<h3>Day 2</h3>
<p>9:00 AM – 4:00 PM Guided 4WD day tour to Jebel Shams (PhP6,500.00/person). This is the part where you can save a lot if you can rent a car instead at just <a href="http://www.rentalcars.com/SearchResults.do?enabler=&country=Oman&doYear=2017&distance=10&ftsEntry=1472579&city=Muscat&driverage=on&doFiltering=false&dropCity=Muscat&dropFtsType=A&ftsAutocomplete=Muscat+International+Airport+(MCT),+Muscat,+Oman&driversAge=30&dropFtsAutocomplete=Muscat+International+Airport+(MCT),+Muscat,+Oman&dropFtsLocationName=Muscat+International+Airport+(MCT)&fromLocChoose=true&filterTo=1000&dropLocationName=Muscat+International+Airport+(MCT)&dropCountryCode=om&ftsType=A&doMinute=0&countryCode=om&puYear=2017&puSameAsDo=on&ftsLocationSearch=27431&dropFtsSearch=L&locationName=Muscat+International+Airport+(MCT)&puMinute=0&ftsInput=&doDay=11&searchType=&filterFrom=0&coordinates=23.592,58.2819&puMonth=2&travelReason=Leisure&dropLocation=27431&dropFtsInput=&doHour=12&dropCountry=Oman&dropCoordinates=23.592,58.2819&ftsLocationName=Muscat+International+Airport+(MCT)&ftsSearch=L&puDay=10&dropFtsLocationSearch=27431&puHour=12&location=27431&dropFtsEntry=1472579&doMonth=2&filterName=CarCategorisationSupplierFilter" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">PhP 2,000.00</a> per day. You can also ask your AirBnB host if he can recommend a taxi service that can take you there as well.</p>
<h3>Day 3</h3>
<p>Start as early as you want for this self-guided tour to the Wadi Ash Shab. The car rent will be somewhere at the PhP2,000.00 range for a 2WD.</p>
<p><iframe loading="lazy" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/t0RUWEIoBJ0" width="600" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>You can also opt to check out and then go straight to the bus station after the trip. Buses going back to Dubai leave at 3:00PM and 11:00PM. If you prefer to leave the next day, there is also a bus leaving as early as 6:00AM.</p>
<p>Enjoying yourself while working away from home is a must in order to survive as an OFW. Traveling is a way to enjoy the fruits of your labor. The material things you buy will long be forgotten but your time in Muscat will stay with you forever.</p>
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<p><i>Picture attribution <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CC BY 2.0</a></i></p>
<pre class="wp-block-preformatted"><i>flickr.com/</i><em>prasad-om</em>
<i>flickr.com/</i><em>andriesoudshoorn</em>
<i>flickr.com/</i><em>andryn2006</em>
<i>flickr.com</i><em>/xiquinho
</em></pre>