Budget Travel Ideas

Salalah is actually a pretty great place to travel if you are on a budget. Once you get past the initial cost of getting there, you can entertain yourself at a very reasonable price. Smaller and less tourist-oriented than some of the other major attractions on the Arabian Peninsula, such as Dubai or Doha, a great deal of Salalah's attraction comes from the natural bounty of the monsoon season. Striking the city with heavy rains from June through mid to late September, the monsoon season keeps Salalah a green, tropical city quite at odds with the normal climate of the region.

The Monsoon Season

The best time to go to Salalah is towards the end of the monsoon season, typically in September. While a major way to save money traveling is to go to places off peak-season, in the case of Salalah you would really be missing the point. The lush greenery brought on by the monsoons is one of the key attractions of the city, and since it is usually free to enjoy natural scenery, it is also budget friendly. The Khareef Festival celebrates the monsoon season. Running for over a month, it showcases local art and music, and keeps the city a bee hive of activity. Because of the relatively small size of the city, it is fairly easy to get around. If you do take a taxi, make sure it has a meter or negotiate the price before you get in.

Enjoy Natural Beauty

Outside of the city, some great places to go include Wadi Darbat, a natural park with several beautiful waterfalls, Ain Razat and Ain Homran, known for bountiful bird-watching opportunities, and Mughsail beach, featuring natural blow holes that can shoot water and foam high into the air. Also worth exploring are the towns of Taqah and Mirbat, both with interesting architectural features, historical significance and small town charm. Travel and food will be your main cost for all of these expeditions--not a bad deal for those keeping an eye on their costs.

Where to Eat

For your dining experience, the best idea is to stay away from the hotels' high class dining and enjoy some authentic local and regional cuisine cooked up by a variety of modestly priced restaurants in the area. The Al Fareed Tourist restaurant offers traditional Omani food alongside Indian and European food. For the less adventurous you can also find KFC and Pizza Hut inside the city limits. Reasonably priced places to stay include the Haffah House, located quite close to the airport and near the center of the city, and the Dhofa Hotel, also with a convenient centralized location.