NEW STARS IN THE EAST

Forget bland sands and blingy skyscrapers - Oman, Dubai and Qatar blend breathtaking ambition with laid-back charm and exceptional luxury

MAGICAL OMAN

Presenter Charlotte Hawkins falls for the gentle allure of this beautiful country bordering the Arabian Sea: I had thought Oman was the best undiscovered secret holiday location with all the right ingredients - guaranteed sunshine, stunning scenery, welcoming people and good food. How wrong could I be? It turned out to be not so secret after all, for as soon as I started telling people where we were off to, it seems they'd either already been, had a friend who was going, or had a hankering to go.

So what is it that's making Oman the latest go-to destination? For us it was the sunshine all year round-plus, I wanted to try somewhere new. A place where we could flop on a sunlounger while our seven-year-old played in the pool, but also have interesting things to see and do on our doorstep while we were there, enjoying our long-overdue vacation.

Hotel heaven 

Our hotel was on the outskirts of the capital Muscat, just 25 minutes from the airport. So before we knew it, we were right there soaking up the sun. With palm trees, a view of the sea and numerous pools, it was perfect. The Chedi Muscat has an exclusive feel, and even when full there's plenty of space to call your own.