8/10 Good
Fiona, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
20 Apr 2017
Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Accidental tourists
A day trip with my family to Al Ain on Friday 14 April 2017 turned us into "accidental tourists" over the Hili Border into Oman.
We looked on Wotif & found Dar Al Khaleej in Al Buraimi, Buraimi which was 20 minutes (14 klm) from Al Ain as shown on Google maps. So we booked & paid & didn't realise it until the booking was confirmed that the hotel was in Oman - over the border. We had our Passports with us (luckily) & at that late hour of around 9pm decided we would travel to Oman. What could go wrong?? We weren't expecting to take 3 hours to get to the hotel!! None of the maps on my iPhone were working properly as the carrier changed. Maps took us to the Oman Border crossing. Then we were told after a long wait that we had to go to the Hili Border crossing further down the road. After waiting in immigration at Hili for our visa to enter Oman we were finally on the road again. So tired & so late by this time. We had to stop for directions from the locals in Oman 4 times before we finally found our hotel close to midnight. We were so relieved to be able to sleep. The next day we met the hotel clerk. He was surprised we actually came as usually foreigners don't come.
After midday on Saturday we headed back to the Hili Border crossing ready to head back to Abu Dhabi. At no time were we informed of the exit procedures. The hotel clerk did not tell us we had to exit via the Muscat border. This information including that the hotel is in another country should be on the website.