Salalah - is it that bad a place??

[karenbeanpole]

What is there to do if I'm not interested in seeing Job's Tomb or doing an excursion. Is the town accessible from the ship? Anything interesting there to see? I've only had bad responses from friends who have stopped in Salalah basically telling me THERE IS NOTHING TO DO IN SALALAH!!  

So if anyone out there thinks differently, please let me know! 

[Dancer Bob]

The town is not accessible from the ship, it's a working industrial port. Some of the most dangerous-looking taxi drivers I've ever seen. There is nothing to do.

[Izzywiz]

Dancer Bob is absolutely right that the ship docks in a very industrial area and the town is quite a way from the port.

We have been 3 times on cruises and have always found something to enjoy because the desert culture is so different from my own.  We did ship’s excursions twice and took the shuttle bus into town the third time. 

The first time we went I found the desert landscape fascinating on our trip to Job's tomb.

 

 

On our second visit we went to the blow hole along the coast and thought the scenery was stunning.

 

 

 

On our third visit we spent time in the town visiting the glorious beach, watching the fishing boats, admiring from a distance the grounds of the sheik’s palace, bartering in the souk for Frankincense and spices and enjoying a delicious fruit drink in a cafe.

 

 

 

 

 

[Dancer Bob]

The public transit bus into town needed OMR (0.3 each way if I remember correctly). I don't recall any currency exchange (I already had OMR). The taxi drivers were really obnoxious. Nothing I found interesting compared to other ports like Muscat or even Fujairah. Izzywiz's photos pretty much sum up how barren and desolate the area is.

[Janet&Carl]

On our port visit to Salalah we caught the local bus right from where the ship docked and went into town - we paid $1 USD each for the ticket and it took us right into town - we had a lovely day - shopping, visiting the mosque etc... doing touristy stuff.  I bought some lovely clothing for my grandies.  Its not somewhere that is on my list to visit again - its not hugely interesting but I never felt unsafe.

I cobbled together this info I hope it helps.........

Re: New bus service in Salalah 

27 Jun. 2019, 9:31 am 

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we did our trip to Salalah and used the new bus service. It was excellent. we were told as we got off the ship that there was no bus by a taxi guy. we could actually see the bus at the bus stop as he said it. We didn't have any problems, the services seems to run pretty much to time table, we did get to the stops 5 mins early just to be sure, one bus was early, one was a bit late. it was clean and the driver was nice. would recommend it to everyone. 

 

 

[Dancer Bob]

I seem to recall some people having problems with Euros. My guess would be you tip the driver, he pays your fare, then makes a profit later on exchange, but he can only exchange bills, not coins.

I'm not a person who likes seeing old churches, I'd much rather research how to get to the airport, so I took the bus to the airport.  The airport was quite modern and from what I saw the town looked clean and safe enough, I'd already gotten anything I wanted in Muscat.

[rkacruiser]

On 10/3/2022 at 1:30 PM, Izzywiz said:

The first time we went I found the desert landscape fascinating on our trip to Job's tomb.

 

I booked the shore excursion to Job's Tomb and, when I saw it, my thought was "so what"?  I did enjoy seeing the desert landscape, but, I would not rate it as "fascinating".  

 

On 10/3/2022 at 1:30 PM, Izzywiz said:

On our third visit we spent time in the town visiting the glorious beach, watching the fishing boats, admiring from a distance the grounds of the sheik’s palace, bartering in the souk 

 

After the tour, I did all of what you did except for bartering in the souk.  I "window shopped" and did consider buying some Frankincense, but decided not to do so.  The tour people were friendly; the citizens whom I encountered were not hostile, but, there was no "warm and fuzzy--glad you are here" feelings either.  Oman, at least for me, was a "one and done" country to visit.  Glad that I had the opportunity to visit; a return visit is not desired.