Review: W Hotel Muscat, Oman

W just has not aged well. They really need to figure out what to do with it. Realized its also a horrible hotel to stay at when traveling as a group of friends, no bathroom privacy haha

Maybe because the entire theme of the hotel attracts transients and making the furniture too comfortable would be… a liability? Perhaps hard to clean?

I don’t get why the brand should evolve to fit your changing preferences?
3 stars purely on your subjective view of the aesthetics? Harsh.

Aesthetics aside, the actual hotel review seems nicer than the ultimate rating.

@ Pete -- The brand doesn't have to evolve for me. But the reality is that most brands do evolve over time to reflect changing consumer preferences. That doesn't have to be my preferences, but I'm just sharing why I won't stay at W properties anymore.

And the star rating ultimately reflects that I'm not going to be staying at W properties anymore, and I'm annoyed by the uncomfortable furniture, which is probably the single thing I value most in a hotel. Should I give the hotel five stars?

Ben, I’m chuckling at your review because I’ve also thought W‘s can be corny for sometime. I do think you’re being particularly hard on this property - maybe because this is the W you came to the realization that they’re not as cool as you once thought they were. My wife and I are staying at the Ritz Carlton Oman at the beginning of April. Apparently it’s a property with some character and that also reflects Oman. We’ll see. I wonder if you can comment on what local sites you enjoyed seeing. I’ve really enjoyed the Oman series of reviews that you have done.

I can definitely relate to this post. Perhaps I aged too quickly, but (I think) I'm the same age as you, but have gravitated towards the Meridien and Westin brands (or the newer Sheraton hotels) for quite a few years now. The clean, modern, yet calm interiors really do make the rooms a lot more pleasant to relax (or work) in.

Sure, the W Hotels have always been kinda cool, and I did really enjoy staying at the W Taipei and Sentosa hotels. Sadly, the wow factor quickly wore off and the furniture, colors, vibe, etc. then became really annoying. After all, I went on vacation wanting to relax--there are always spots to party and hang, and it doesn't have to be the same place where you call it a night!

When your'e young you like things that you then no longer like when you get older?

' .

This was a great review because Ban struggled openly, rather than secretly, with the biases that concerned him. Biases? Preferences? I find reviews like this especially useful because they give me more to think about than the classic by-the-book review. I've been intrigued by W, especially with a gorgeous new one opening near me soon (W Toronto). But my interest was stoked mostly by W's marketing and by the look of the building as the renovations proceed. I wouldn't know about uncomfortable furniture without this review. Cheesy formulaic "welcome" goodies with my name misspelled would be of limited appeal, for me at least. I'm glad to have more information about W.

Yes I get the irony in my comment about misspelled names. Maybe W also uses an editor that doesn't permit editing.

Yes. And vice versa. Trust me.

I stayed at the first W in NYC soon after it opened. I stayed at a few more in the early years. It was always an amazing experience & everything they did was definitely new and exciting. Now it’s just another brand style & it’s no longer exciting. @Ben I completely agree with your observations. Their design style is pretty tiresome - it’s like the design brief is “put as many patterns, shapes & textures in one small space as you can” oh & don’t forget “make everything uncomfortable” !!

OMAAT readers voted via secret ballot and the decision was unanimous: we demand a "Ford Says..." pull-quote in future reviews.

"Ford says walking into a Crowne Plaza is like..."
"Ford says entering a Four Seasons is like..."
"Ford says limping into a Sheraton is like..."

Omg! Ben was DEFINITELY in a bad mood these 2 nights he stayed here.. Poor W

It's a beautiful hotel and I consider it one of the best in the middleeast

I agree, it’s as if they’re stuck in the early 2000s. Andaz properties are similar - the most uncomfortable stay was at Andaz in Maui, I hate their rooms. I’d rather stay at an old property like Kahala Hotel on Oahu because it’s comfortable.

Their style is definitely cringe and not for me at all.

So, I generally agree about W's, they're trying to be cool to the point of cringe, but...

I've still liked many of the W's I've stayed at (all in Asia, Hong Kong, KL, Shanghai). The uncomfortable furniture just doesn't bother me all that much, I haven't tried to work any of my trips.

I think it's a reasonable blend of nice (if cheesey/cringy at times), affordable on points (I've found they are a category lower than a St Regis or RC in a lot of cases), good elite treatment (always had great luck with upgrades, SNAs, and legacy SPG brands seem to offer better benefits across the board), consistency (I've stayed at some fantastic JW's (Phu Quoc comes to mind), Sheratons, Renaissance, Design Hotels, etc, but there are also plenty of totally unremarkable ones. Most W's are at least pretty nice), and a little more "upbeat" than some of the other luxury brands (which is nice in a city hotel sometimes).

Would I rather stay at a StR, everything else being equal, yeah probably. But is it worth the extra points, probably not. And W's may be generic, but so are most other full service properties I'd be staying at instead.

I do wish they would update the brand though!

My preferences for a room are comfortable furniture that is functional, well-placed outlets, a decent-sized work surface, and a good shower. One of the dangers of trying to stay "hip" is that once it gets to the level of standardization needed to scale out to a chain hotel it has already become mainstream and requires constant updating to avoid becoming passé.

W Muscat: So what did you think of our property?
Ben: GET OFF MY LAWN!!!!!
Seriously, though, this is a great review - Ben made it a point to honestly reflect on how the property and brand work for him, recognizing that his tastes and preferences have changed over time. Thanks for that!

I just did a stay at the W Rome, and felt the brand didn't go over-the-top there. Otherwise, my experience has been the same -- there are only a few W properties worth staying at (Punta Mita, Bali, Dubai) -- the rest are to be avoided.

I completely relate to this post. When the W’s opened in NYC they were fresh, new, modern and fit the time. I was also in my late teens / early twenties so they fit me at the time.

In terms of comfort I think it helped that most rooms were tiny containing only a bed (which is you note their beds are pretty comfortable).

I stayed for a night at a W recently and it was just awful. But I did wonder how much of it is what I have gotten used to. The vast majority of my hotel stays now are at true luxury hotels. When I started staying at W’s I don’t think I knew what four seasons was. If I’m checking into a Sheraton or a Westin my expectations will be managed knowing that I’m not staying in a luxury hotel. But somehow the W brand is still tied to my younger days where I thought of it as luxury and so I’m likely to be very disappointed.

Your sarcasm detector may need new batteries.

This review resonates so strongly with me. 15 years ago W Hong Kong and W Bali seemed pretty cool, but now way too cheesy. Style over substance indeed. Kind of like the hotel equivalent of Abercrombie and Fitch. Had its moment when it seemed fresh and cool and original but no more.

I vote for more Accor hotels… We need variety… Le Meridian is a hidden gem too

Yup, easy decision, I will NEVER say at a W. How cringeworthy.

Sadly, I'll never be in DA HOUSE.

What is the obsession with bathrooms with no/little privacy? Stayed at the W in Barcelona and had to have everyone head to the lobby or bar before using the restroom with just an 1/8" thick glass door

Agree Re Accor but for a North American audience, there's no points angle. No branded credit card, no transfer partnership. A glowing review of Sofitel So | Bangkok would only be a frustration for the readers, given that the review would obviously have to be glowing, while the property is beyond reach for nearly everyone. I was lucky to enjoy it while Accor Platinum status was a benefit of The Platinum Card (Canada), 7 years ago or so.

I completely agree! This is one of my biggest gripes. I absolutely HATE this open bedroom/bathroom concept and everyone seems to be adopting it.

Very similar experiences and time frame. The other point I’ll add is Bonvoy itself puts the W brand in the same Luxury level as edition, JW, Ritz and STR. So it’s almost they’re shooting themselves in the foot.

This!

I agree with you Ben , whilst the property looks funky I think as one ages you look for the simpler things that matter to your comfort i.e comfortable furniture and less in your face “surprise” elements unless they are worthwhile which clearly these weren’t. Also as it appears that the property is completely empty you have more time to focus on these negative elements which stand out ( no people watching )

I’ve stayed at W muscat twice. Actually the leather desk chair in the room is fine, the sofas too. Every room has the same chairs and sofas. The ‘chairs/seats’ you took pictures of in the entrance area are actually works of art and obviously not meant to be sat on. Shame you didn’t work that out. Plenty of other comfortable places to sit throughout the property. Perhaps you should have stayed at neighbouring Hyatt if you thought the W was ba. Would loved to have tread that review… sorry, as I’ve stayed at this hotel twice, I can openly disagree with you on this. Can we have some sort of interaction from you either here or to FB comments? Really frustrating.

@ David -- I didn't find the desk chair to be comfortable (and I'm not sure saying it's "fine" is much of an endorsement either), so we'll have to agree to disagree, I guess?

I specifically said that the things in the lobby were art, and didn't suggest you could actually sit on the art. I think you may have misread what I said. Let me copy and paste what I had said:

"I found it interesting that so much of the artwork in the lobby was essentially supposed to look like really uncomfortable furniture. Is the brand poking fun at itself, or…?"

Of course I respect your take, and I'm happy you enjoyed this hotel more than I did.

I just can't imagine traveling to a country where any discrimination is 100% fully legal with no protections
You can be thrown in jail for up to 3 years for alternative lifestyle intimate behaviors which their laws books list as disgraceful. Great pics of the hotel quite beautiful even if its not everybody's thing design wise
Its super posh

Thanks for the review. Just curious, if the staff, food and upgrade were good, is it actually fair to give it a 3/5 because you don’t like he brand? Just to give you something to think.

I hate the 'style', from the bizzare (and uncomfortable) furniture to the excessive use of acres of very ordinary dark marble, everywhere.
There is enormal potential for injecting more local Arabic feel to the place, without going over the top like some Doha hotels.
It's all trying-too-hard without succeeding.

OK if you are travelling solo I guess..... otherwise, not so much.

You know the recently deceased ruler of Oman was gay right? And everybody knows it? Do you really know the laws or is it just your stereotype and unwillingness to open your mind showing?

Should have stayed at the Al bustan palace.

@glenn t

The use of dark marble has a practical purpose: it cuts down the glare from the sun by absorbing it instead of reflecting it back uncomfortably into your eyes. The use of dark colours and materials is a common interior trait of homes in many hot and humid countries. Even with air-conditioning becoming more and common everywhere, the principle remains true. Light = heat. Glare = discomfort. Less light & glare = more comfort.

For what it's worth, this seems to be quite a nice W. I agree that Ws tend to have features/furnishings that can be impractical and gimmicky and the hotel should rethink those. I also agree W's naming of things has become stale and sometimes it's not even clear where the pool or gym is b/c that's not what W calls them. The brand should evolve with the times and it's probably over due at this point.

That said, when you say "As far as Marriott properties go, personally I’d rather stay at… well, just about any other brand" you probably haven't stayed in a non-luxury Marriott brand lately. Also, I find most hotels - whether old or new - have impossible to work at desks and desk chairs. It's virtually impossible for someone shorter than 6'2" to work at a typical hotel desk (desk too tall, chair too short and often cannot be raised).

It was closed for renovations when I went there - is it nice?

Agree in general about the W brand. The Chicago Lakeshore property is probably the most annoying hotel I’ve ever stayed at. One property that bucks this trend though is W Maldives. The funky vibe is a little understated and it all…just…works. Also, Chunky is amazing. IYKYK.

I am always confused, that so many pictures about gym… if its more important then other outlets…

You know that you dont like the W brand, but you still go there so you can write a negative review afterwards. Wonderful job.

He does review non points properties or niche chains in the North American market from time to time. Plus, Accor does have a decent to good luxury footprint in North America, with the Fairmont brand having a strong presence here in the US and Canada.

I don't like W Hotels either. I agree with both of your comments on this. I think all of the details from the décor to the titles for things such as the toiletries and other labels is just too much considering it is not a cheap brand. Would prefer Ritz or St Regis.

Ah I didnt realize. Anyways, yes, it is nice, and after renovations I'm sure it'll be even better!

I understand the comments on the W brand. However I enjoyed my recent stay at the W Verbier.

Hi dwondermeant, I'm an American,living in Muscat for 10 years and I have the same common sense freedoms as I do in the US.

I stayed there a couple of years ago and actually liked it. I totally get what you're saying about some W props being excessively "cool" at the expense of practical/comfortable, especially in terms of lighting (why so dark?!). But I thought this W was big and airy and light-filled and just felt nice.

The cheesy wow/wonderful/fabulous stuff needs to be updated, for sure. But I am also grateful that there are properties that have funky art, seating, decor, etc. because the same old generic Hilton and Marriott gets really old.

Agreed its not aging well but i think everyone is missing the point about W hotels. They are not for families or travel with friends. They are for younger couples who want to hook up a lot (to put it nicely). W hotels arent in areas where they are the only premium option so its not like you cant avoid them. The lights, the music, the modern firm furniture all lends itself to "setting the mood" and i totally get why that is not appealing for a lot of people and its gross when you think about the uncomfortable couch in each room because its not there for sitting, its there for you know....

Seems like Father time has caught up with your sensibilities. I've been staying at W's since 2010 and I still would prefer their style to the stuffy and overbearing brands like Ritz Carlton and St. Regis. Thanks for the review and effort to stay here though.

@Steve

Thank you! I was hoping someone would explain to readers the connection between the 'style' of W and the customer base its aiming for: twenty-somethings. It's been described as 'entry level luxury'. Meaning twenty-somethings just starting to make some money. After that (presumable late 20s/early 30s) the idea is to move on to the more premium brands within the group. I can't believe people can't see that point! The same principle works in other businesses: this is why Ralph Lauren has RL Kids. So that children can grow into the brand and move onto RL proper when they're adults. Same with Vogue Magazine. There's Teen Vogue to capture a younger market and then move them on to Vogue proper as they get older....I doubt people who criticize W fully understand how the concept is supposed to work.

I used to think W's were cool but as I've gotten older, I have also tended toward more comfortable surroundings (and being able to see the elevator buttons). Perhaps Edition would be more your vibe as a compromise between stuffy and boring?

Thanks for review. Appreciate the change in taste. But with a good number of photos, would have been nice to at least include a couple of you & Ford. Primarily to put some bodies in the photos. Thanks.

Maybe I'm the only one, but I really don't care about brand. I'll happily take a weird W if it's in the right location, has good views, price is right etc. What is a "lifestyle brand" even? I might have some loyalty to hotel company (Hyatt/Hilton/etc.) but I couldn't care less about brand within a company. Limited service/full service - really don't care. The "limited service" places seem to be the ones that give me free breakfast, while the full service places don't, they just have aggressive bell hops who try to take my bags away from me (to be seen again at some unknown time).

I guess the hype and cool stuff gets boring as you get older and having experienced so many W hotels. Oh and you make me search how the Intercontinental looks like, and yes, that doesn't look like Intercontinental from the outside

I stayed at this property a couple of weeks ago - likely right around the time that you were there. I'm also not a huge W fan, but have to say that the pool was outstanding, with attentive service. And I certainly wouldn't say its anything like Ibiza, as the annoying scensters were nowhere to be found. We tended to sightsee in the morning and spend the afternoon at the pool.

I was in the Marvelous Suite and found the sofa comfortable, bed, shower and housekeeping all excellent. The concierge was also extremely helpful. We did two nights at the Buddha Bar and were served by the same two servers each night - they were really on point. Sorry you didn't have a great experience up there... we thought it was lovely. The tennis court was also awesome.

While I think its entirely fair to reflect on the W not being right for you, I'm not sure it was entirely fair to do that in a post on a specific hotel that actually does a lot of things well... its really one of your more negative reviews in tone and rating, but you actually say they do a lot good. Food for thought.

Thanks for this.

I still enjoy a change of vibe when I stay at a W, it’s good to feel young sometimes, all those lavish stuff, loud to deaf bars.
That being said I always keep it a one day stay, and yeah, during that day I better not have stuff necessities long time usage of laptop.

missed The Living Room off the main foyer, great for pre-dinner cocktails (better than Budda Bar), and the Chinese restaurant attached to the hotel.

Also, plenty of dry restaurants 5 minutes walk along beach which were great.

The review is pretty thorough. However, I feel that a review should be based on the brand's identity and what it is supposed to offer. If one has evolved away / grown up from the W brand, there are other brands in the Marriott portfolio to choose from - St Regis or JW or Ritz.

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The W brand is fine as it is !

The early 2000s were so much better than anything nowadays, and no, the W brand has evolved way too much. It is futuristic.

I second this.