Basil Hostel — Hotel in Muscat

Transferred from Legacy Hostel as they were over-booked and did not honour my reservation made on Booking.com. To my luck, from the moment I stepped into Basil Hostel, I was not sure if I'd find something special in Muscat. It wasn't just the clean rooms or the convenient location (which were both fantastic, by the way!), it was the feeling – an instant sense of warmth, welcome, and community that's often hard to find when traveling. The staff here aren't just employees; they feel like friends. They greeted me with genuine smiles, were incredibly helpful with local tips (pointing me towards hidden gems I wouldn't have found otherwise!), and always went the extra mile to ensure everyone felt comfortable and included. Whether you need directions, help with a tour, or just a friendly chat, they are absolutely wonderful. The atmosphere is simply brilliant. The common areas are cozy and perfectly set up for relaxing. I met a handful of amazing fellow travelers from all over the world, sharing stories, planning adventures, and enjoying the relaxed vibe. It strikes that perfect balance between being social enough to easily connect with others, but also quiet and respectful when you need some downtime. Let's talk practicalities: the entire place was spotlessly clean – rooms, bathrooms, kitchen, everything! The beds were comfortable (essential after a long day exploring!), the Wi-Fi was reliable, and the facilities had everything a backpacker or a solo traveler could need. Honestly, my stay at Basil Hostel wasn't just about having a place to sleep; it significantly enhanced my entire experience of Muscat. . I enjoyed a small pizza 🍕 party in the kitchen with fellow travellers during afternoon. Thumbs up 👍 for Pizza Hut. (Tasty Pizza. Great Company 👌) I met a doppleganger of Sabrina Carpenter from Spain Also I bumped into a travel content creator. Her name is Marisa Mr. Basil arranged a mini group tour for witnessing the Eid Celebration and we had some delicious Biryani on the way back to hostel. The owner of the Hostel, Mr. Basil is also a content creator. He played the traditional instrument in evening and it was totally amazing and setting the vibe 🤠 There's this neighbour of Basil who sometimes visits the hostel in the evening and engages into real life conversations with the hostel guests (which sometimes causes problem for Mr.Basil - but heyy Lightning McQueen's gotta have a Mater around always). Some people call him wierd but that guy is genuinely GOLD and only cares about the reality and things that matter in life. It was delightful to have him in the hostel and have a meaningful conversation. . Basil hostel felt safe, welcoming, and genuinely fun. It offers incredible value, but more importantly, it offers connection and comfort. There's a section of free food and beverages in the kitchen where everyone can contribute food items. Being a lacto-vegan, I personally enjoyed preparing the cottage cheese for breakfast and also almond tea for a fellow guest, leaving behind a pack of tea time biscuits, a pack of jeera-masala khakhra, a pack of Ramen Noodles and delightful memories.. . If you are looking for a place in Muscat that feels less like a temporary stop and more like a home away from home, filled with friendly faces and good energy, I wholeheartedly recommend Basil Hostel. My Regards to the hostel owner Mr. Basil and his brothers. (Brother we gotta explore the night clubs and also this place FANJA for Avocado 🥑 juice) . Minister of the hostel - the cat Ricardo is fun to be around. Ricardo doesn't care about the birds in the backyard or maybe the cat doesn't know of their existence 😂 . I would also like to thank the housekeeping lady - Hannah for keeping the hostel clean and tidy. Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5/5)...

This hostel is operated by the same partners who operate all the other main hostels in Muscat. It's definitely a complete tourist trap and very overpriced for the location. The WiFi didn't work at least half the time for which there is no excuse. They try to short change you when you arrive claiming the booking.com price isn't correct and it is an even 5 per night (which doesn't include a towel - an extra $1.30). The bathroom was in constant use with a queue and the towel I paid for wasn't even clean. There are no matress protectors either, and you have to make your own bed, and un-make it upon departure. You're being scammed. The area isn't a good area and so you're paying a premium price and in exchange, you'll not get a towel, properly working WiFi and guess what...they're that greedy - check-out time is 10:30 and emember....you're expected to make and un-make that bedding (always a great indicator of the attitude of management regarding the guests). So what exactly are you paying for? 😅 I've visited Muscat many times and you're being completely scammed by the non-Omani ownernship of this chain. I originally booked their other main hostel before knowing who owned it (the one that miraculously has sooo many reviews and is +9) and they cancelled the day before claiming they were closed and instructing me to book this hostel (their partner) whilst all the while they remained listed on booking.com the entire time they were "closed". I can never recommend businesses operated by such grim people. I stayed one night after arriving from the airport and that was enough. Tourists should instead promote honest businesses operated by locals. Don't give them any more money...when you can get hotels for 30% more for 2 people in this area...

I expect some nonsense response to this review from the business in question, as it is usually the case, that when such characters receive criticism, they often respond with...

I'm a real traveler, i've traveled all over europe, stayed in more than 20 hostels and this is by far the worst hostel i've ever been. When i arrived at the hostel around 3 o'clock in the middle of the night, they informed me the hostel was 'overbooked' so i had to sleep on matrass on the ground in the public space. What could i do? Fi'd another hotel after a busy day travelling and being extremly exausted. I already took a taxi to the hostel and it was 3 in the night so i agreed. The bad management of this hostel caused i slept for like 2 hours that night because of the noise. The Vibe in this hostel was good but it was the only thing that was good about this hostel. Instead of the client is king, the owner was king and we had to sleep on the ground (I was not the only one). I would never recommend staying here. For double the price you can have a good hotel in the old city of Muscat. I'm very disappointed because the reviews looked good. Normally i never complain about staying in a bad hostel and i've stayed at many bad hostels but it has never as bad as this one, that's why i write this review.and then this hostel reacts and say it my own fault? Normally if you have a reservation at a hostel it means you have a bed there and not need to find another place to sleep in the middle of the night when you've already arrived at the hostel. I hope they recognize their mistake and learn from it so they don't do this to any...