Al Baleed Resort Salalah by Anantara — Attraction in Dhofar Governorate

Disappointing Experience at a Supposed 5-Star Hotel:

I recently stayed at this hotel in a deluxe room, and unfortunately, my experience fell far below expectations—especially considering the premium price I paid. Here are the main issues I encountered during my stay:

Uncomfortable Bed and Poor Bedding: The bed felt cheap and uncomfortable, more like something from a budget store than a 5-star hotel. It was small, unattractive, and the pillows were extremely flat and unsupportive—sleeping on them felt like lying directly on the floor.

Ineffective Curtains: The curtains were practically useless at blocking sunlight. I woke up at sunrise every day because of the bright light entering the room. For a 5-star hotel, blackout curtains should be standard. I’ve stayed at 4-star hotels with significantly better window coverage.

Unclean Floor and Lack of Carpeting: From the day I arrived until I checked out, the room floor was never cleaned. I also found it surprising that there were no carpets—not even portable rugs. The bare floor created an echo in the room, making it noisier and less relaxing. It also felt unpleasant on bare feet. For a hotel of this class, carpeting should be expected both for comfort and acoustic insulation.

Inconsistent Air Conditioning: The AC kept turning off by itself after a while, which meant I had to keep getting up to turn it back on during the night. This constant disruption made it very difficult to get restful sleep.

Suspicious and Dusty Water Bottles: The hotel provides its own branded water bottles, but they were often dusty and unsealed. I had to wipe them down before drinking, and I couldn’t help but question the source and safety of the water. A proper 5-star hotel should offer sealed, trusted water brands—not raise concerns about hygiene.

Dirty Chair Cushions: The cushions on the room chairs were dusty and visibly unclean. One of my friends even experienced skin irritation after sitting on them. These cushions should either be cleaned regularly or at least shaken out to remove visible dust.

Poor Lighting in the Room: The room lighting was too dim, making it hard to see clearly at night. I had to request an extra lamp just to brighten the space, but even that wasn’t enough. Either the ceiling lights are too weak or they need to be replaced with stronger ones. Regardless, the lighting setup is inadequate for a room in this category.

The Only Positive – The Bathroom: The bathroom was the only part of the room that met expectations. It was spacious and clean, with both a good bathtub and shower. The hot and cold water worked perfectly and maintained a consistent temperature.

Final Thoughts: This hotel has potential, but the poor attention to detail—especially in areas like comfort, cleanliness, and basic functionality—makes it fall short of what you’d expect from a 5-star establishment. I genuinely hope management takes these issues seriously and improves the overall guest experience to match the standard they...

From the very first moment of contact with Anantara Al Baleed in Salalah, I knew my stay would be exceptional. My journey began with a wonderful call with Miss Noora from the reservations team — her professionalism, warmth, and attention to detail gave me complete confidence that I was about to embark on something truly special.

Upon arrival, I was welcomed by Mr. Mohammed in a genuinely royal manner. His hospitality and deep insights into Omani culture set the perfect tone for the days ahead. Throughout my stay, I was constantly impressed by the attentive and heartfelt service provided by the restaurant team — Naveen, John, Zaher, and Taima — who made every meal feel personalized and memorable. The culinary excellence of Chef Andrea deserves a special mention; each dish was a delightful blend of creativity, authenticity, and perfection.

One of the absolute highlights of my stay was the wellness experience. Under the wonderful supervision of Miss Joy, the highly skilled therapists — Noora, Kenza, Pichu, Yuri, and Erni — provided treatments that left me deeply relaxed and rejuvenated. I’m especially grateful for the sound healing session with Dr. Amit, which was both grounding and transformative.

A special mention goes to Nouha and Noora, who offered me the most exceptional Moroccan Hammam experience of my life. Their skill, care, and attention to detail turned the ritual into a moment of pure bliss — an unforgettable highlight of my wellness journey.

For nature lovers, the farm visit is an absolute must. Guided by Adil, who I fondly call “the Guru of Plants,” I discovered the rich secrets of Omani vegetation and traditional cultivation. His passion and knowledge made the experience truly inspiring.

Just before leaving, I had the pleasure of meeting Munira, and I truly wish that moment had happened earlier in my stay. Her warmth, energy, and kindness were so inspiring that they have become one of the main reasons for me to plan another visit to this exceptional resort.

Last but certainly not least, I was privileged to be accompanied by my Personal Trainer, Mihira, whose guidance during gym workouts, meditation sessions, and even our relaxed moments by the beach and pool elevated my overall experience. His energy, motivation, and mindfulness truly made a difference.

Every detail of my stay at Anantara Al Baleed was handled with such care, warmth, and authenticity that it left a lasting impression on my heart. It’s not just a resort — it’s an experience of genuine hospitality, wellness, and connection.

I highly recommend this destination to anyone seeking a perfect blend of luxury, nature, and inner peace. Thank you to the entire Anantara team for making my time in Salalah so memorable — I’m already looking forward to...

Very rude and uncooperative staff. They have a policy that they will only abide to when you already spent half your stay so they basically don’t give a damn about you since the money is nonrefundable anymore. They don’t care if you are pregnant or disabled, and would not even try to help making your stay a little more comfortable and smooth. They will literally ignore your requests and you will have to wait TWO HOURS for in room dining even if they are informed of your pregnancy and your need to get your medicines on time and with food. And if you don’t want to wait that long for some mid food ( with extra unidentifiable object such as hair, cling wrap pieces INSIDE THE FOOD and not laying on top, and runny eggs when asked for well done as you do not want to risk losing your fetus because of salmonella ) you will not be allowed to order outside food ( depends on how the butler or the reception is feeling today, if he’s in a bad mood you won’t be eating unfortunately ). Honestly i would never recommend this place for anyone especially as a family with kids or disabled or pregnant women because they simply don’t dive a heck if you’re risking your pregnancy/health or not. * REPLY: I didn’t report the issues at the time because the food had already arrived two hours late and my family — including myself, a pregnant woman — was already starving. In that moment, the priority was feeding my family, not chasing staff who had already shown a lack of care or urgency.

In case you’re unaware: When you’re pregnant and medically required to take medication with food, waiting two hours isn’t just inconvenient — it’s dangerous. Reporting it “in time” would have meant even further delays or missed medication. Not to mention, the food quality itself was unacceptable, which made the situation even more distressing.

Just because I didn’t have the energy or capacity to escalate in the moment doesn’t mean the experience was any less real — or any less unacceptable. Again; the reply on behalf of the resort shows further lack of responsibility by basically saying “ it didn’t happen because you didn’t report it “. Mind you, there are many other inconveniences that should be taken seriously but I CHOSE to not include them as the review was already posted and they...