Is it too late to plan a break this Eid?

Muscat: With expectations growing for a long Eid Al Fitr holiday later this month, one thing that is on everyone’s minds is how to plan Eid holidays. Is it late to book or should I wait longer or should I grab the deals on offer before they are sold out?

It is certainly time to rush with the plans if one wishes to travel out of the country or book hotels during a staycation in the Sultanate of Oman.

Astronomical calculations show that the crescent of the month of Shawwal for this year will be difficult to spot on the evening of the 29th day of Ramadan in the Sultanate of Oman’s governorates, Arab and Islamic countries of the world. In all likelihood, the first day of Eid Al Fitr is expected to fall on Saturday corresponding to April 22, 2023.

As a result, the holidays in Oman are likely to start from April 20 and continue till April 25, 2023.

Planning holidays is not an easy matter, though, with the ease of travel since the removal of pandemic restrictions a lot of people love to travel to cooler countries in Europe. But one of the major challenges they are facing in recent times is getting a visa with families complaining that they are getting dates for visa submission at times after months.

A leading travel agent admitted to Times of Oman and said that “getting appointments for Schengen visas is a challenge.’

“Most of our travellers were unable to get appointments for Schengen visas ahead of the Eid holidays. We are advising people to go to countries where tourists can get a visa on arrival.”

Among the various Eid Al Fitr holiday offers, Oman United Agencies Travel (OUA) is promoting destinations like Bangkok for OMR 191 (3 nights), Phuket OMR 141 (4 nights), and Bali for OMR 150 (5 nights), Maldives for OMR 271 (3 nights) and Mauritius from OMR 196 (3 nights). The prices, however, exclude flight tickets.

Another leading travel agency, Travel Point, is promoting four nights stay in Sri Lanka for OMR125, Azerbaijan for OMR140 and Bali for OMR190. “There’s still time to plan an exciting vacation for the Eid Al Fitr Holidays. Take a look at our top-selling packages starting at affordable prices - the perfect getaway for you and your family,” read a promotion on Travel Point’s Facebook page.

Khimji’s House of Travel (KHOT) is promoting Eid break in Sri Lanka with six nights and seven days stay, starting from OMR 205 per person.
Few of the travel agents said, “Demand among Oman residents is very high for travel to Azerbaijan, Georgia and Maldives, because these destinations offer visa-on-arrival for residence visa holders.”