To celebrate my one-month anniversary back in Dubai, Spaniard and I decided to spend the weekend in Muscat, Oman (read: My 30-day UAE visitor's visa was about to expire and I needed to make a run to the border).
This was supposed to be a cheap trip. After all, I am chronically unemployed. Muscat is about a four to six-hour drive through the desert and mountains from Dubai (depeding on the busy-ness factor at the border). Once you arrive, there are plenty of cheap, roachish motels in a corniche and souk area called Muttrah (one of my favorite places), not to mention tons of laid back and inexpensive restaurants.
However, somehow things went a bit off course from the original plan. First off, I found a special online deal at the über chi-chi Chedi Muscat: Stay two nights, get the third night free. Who in their right mind could ever pass up such a steal? I then looked into flights and discovered that it's pretty cheap to fly...why drive when you can fly? Hmmm...
So Thursday afternoon we were on a plane to Muscat! We arrived at the swankypants Chedi and were immediately whisked to our posh seaview room. After that the weekend was a bit of a blur of delicious food, infinity pools, sunshine, prosecco, and even a facial. We didn't even leave the hotel! So much for my big plans of trying to be like locals for a weekend.
When we got in the taxi to leave the hotel on Sunday, I asked Spaniard if I could see the bill. As I opened it, I gasped and tears began to well up in my eyes...No! This can't be! I can't afford this! I felt my heartbeat quicken and Where was the fresh air?! But then I figured that overall it wasn't so bad, considering it was three nights and all meals, not to mention that facial. I began to calm down, and said, "Whew! I was really worried for a second!" But then Spaniard reminded me that we had already paid for the room online...this bill was only for the extras...
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