I have one prerequisite for a staycation. A pool villa. An added bonus is a beach-fronted pool villa with the mesmerising sound of the sea lapping the shore. And that’s one of the many reasons I have returned countless times to @sixsenseszighybay on Oman’s northern Musandam Peninsula since my first visit in 2012 with my parents. Sometimes with loved ones for leisurely jaunts, and sometimes on press trips - most recently last month. Mind you, work trip itineraries are always jam-packed, pool time is limited. Aside from the five-star product, and the mere two and a half hour drive from Dubai, what’s so special about Zighy, affectionately named after the village that the resort supports with employment and sustainability donations?

Link in bio and stories to find out why. Plus a listicle of more go-to pool villa resorts in the UAE & Oman. And…a special edition of my Where Restaurateurs Eat column with @naim.maadad the chief executive and founder of @gateshospitality (think Folly, Jardin Des Arts, Bistro Des Arts and Reform) - as well as a partner in the owning company of Six Senses Zighy Bay.

Swipe for more pics and videos including moi hugging a kid goat. As you do. This post landed in email inboxes this morning. Feel free to subscribe, if not already.

Would love to know your fave pool villa resorts pretty please 🙏🏼💙

#FooDiva #OmanDiva Oman hotels Musandam hotels Pool villas Less