Fanar Hotel and Residences

Eugenia Sanchez

Positive: the accommodation is beautiful. The design, structure, and facilities are modern, new, clean, and spacious. Even though the place was at high capacity, we did not feel that it was hard to get a spot in any of the pools or beaches. The service was overall great; the staff were super attentive, always with a smile on their faces, and they arrived incredibly quickly every time we needed something (laundry, water bottles, room service, etc.). There are several activities for guests to do as yoga, tennis, and more which we enjoyed. Negative: the “hotel and residences” name is a little bit misleading. This is a resort, meaning that if you do not buy the “all-inclusive”, you will be limited to consumption inside the facility (even if you are willing to pay per meal/drink). It was 4pm and we asked where we could eat if we were hungry, and we were told to either upgrade or get room service which is quite limiting, considering that this is a “5-star hotel”. Additionally, they have 4 restaurants which all serve either a fixed menu or a buffet. We found the food to be pricey for its quality and, unfortunately, there is no option to buy from a basic menu. It felt like the approach is quantity over quality, as we saw buses filled with people arriving and leaving. This is a good place if you are willing to be set in one place during your stay. If you want flexibility, it is better to get a different type of accommodation.

Naeema Al Hosni

Our stay at Fanar Hotel and Residences was enjoyable overall. The hotel has a pleasant atmosphere, and the staff were very friendly and welcoming — especially Abdullah at the reception, who made us feel at home right from the start. The room was clean and comfortable, with good furniture, though it could use a bit of an update to match modern interior design and technology. There was ample parking, and the restaurant offered delicious food with a nice variety. The hotel’s proximity to the ocean views made the stay even more relaxing. We truly enjoyed our time there and would happily come back again.

Bea R.

Our holiday at Hotel Fanar was absolutely wonderful and fulfilled all our wishes. There was nothing we missed – everything was perfectly organized and always with a smile. Staff: • The guys at the pool bar, especially Ravi and Adel, were always friendly, cheerful, and provided excellent service every day. • In the SPA, Edam took great care of us — his smile and sense of humor created the perfect relaxing atmosphere. We enjoyed four amazing massages that we can highly recommend. • The night receptionist Khaled managed to make even the impossible possible – his professionalism was outstanding. Accommodation and facilities: Our room was perfectly cleaned and beautifully scented every day. The beaches are stunning, the pools are spotless, and the entire hotel is well-maintained and peaceful. Experiences: Special thanks also to the activity team for organizing a wonderful trip – we saw camels living freely in nature, flamingos, enjoyed a private beach barbecue on a deserted shore, and an exciting quad bike ride. Overall, we rate our holiday 10 out of 10. We truly recommend Hotel Fanar to anyone looking for relaxation, excellent service, and the beautiful atmosphere of Oman.

mark huggett

2 adults, 2 children (11 & 14), October 2025, B&B, Jacuzzi Suite Faultless weather, great beaches with waves just the right size for entertaining the kids and beginner surfing. Sea was a perfect 29 degC. Lots of lifeguards on the beach. Sun-beds and umbrellas around the beach available throughout the day. Pools ok, not particularly entertaining for kids but plenty of shallow water for smaller children. Sun-beds a little harder to find compared to beach, but still possible all day. Water park was good fun, very quiet and very clean. No queues for slides. Lots of sun-beds and shade available. Very well suited for younger children, but even the 14yo enjoyed. Lots of life guards for the pools and keeping the slides safe. Food ok - buffets in larger restaurants were very noisy and food average. Set menus were generally very nice and provided a much more civilised environment. Cost of food was reasonable, and for us worked out cheaper than paying for half board / all inclusive. Circa £100-£120 per night for the four of us including a few soft drinks. Alcohol is available but expensive. Breakfast was very good, Aubergine restaurant provided a much more pleasant and quiet setting than the noisy large restaurant. Evening temperature was very pleasant and humidity very low, so felt comfortable sitting outside. Very few bugs around, though got a few mosquito bites on one night. Only a couple of restaurant around the marina, and the food was pretty average. Very few local restaurants to venture out to in the evening, and the ambience was very quiet. Staff were very accommodating but not always the best informed, sometimes providing contradictory information. We weren’t given the map and food schedule when we checked in, so were a little lost for the first couple of days. Cleanliness and housekeeping were excellent. Room and balcony were a good size and reasonably appointed. Great view of the marina. Room looked a little dated, but very clean and functional. Jacuzzi was fun but came with no instructions and had to be filled by us each day. Not enough furniture on balcony for us to all sit around a table. Minimal separation between bedroom and kids sleeping area in the lounge, and kids beds weren’t very comfortable. Enormous, brand new tv in room, but only one English Channel available (Al-Jazeera). Fire stick didn’t work, no option to stream to tv, no smart apps like Netflix. Wi-fi was strong and reliable, but Oman has strict laws so difficult finding a VPN which worked (but not impossible). Relatively few European tourists, mostly Russians pretending to be Slovakian. However they were mostly families with young children, and we felt very safe and didn’t see any trouble. Omanis themselves are incredibly friendly and welcoming. We ventured out on a couple of ‘tours’ to see the local sites which was very fun and felt very safe. Not really a lot to do in Salalah, but has a very clean shopping mall and decent prices for watches, sunglasses, perfumes etc. Overall would strongly recommend Oman and Salalah. The hotel is not the most polished, but is still very good value and highly recommended.

Latifa Reviews

I stayed at Fanar Hotel in Salalah last August, and it was such a beautiful experience! The resort is stunning — surrounded by palm trees, turquoise waters, and a peaceful marina on one side with a lovely beach on the other. My room had an amazing view, especially at sunrise and sunset. The atmosphere was calm and relaxing, perfect for enjoying the beauty of Salalah. The breakfast buffet was excellent, with many delicious options and friendly staff who made sure everything was perfect. The hotel also has nice pools, restaurants, and walking areas along the marina where you can enjoy the sea breeze in the evening. Overall, it’s one of the best places to stay in Salalah — beautiful, clean, and full of charm. Highly recommended for anyone visiting! 🌴✨ I can’t wait to visit it again !