World Cup Finals
With football being the game of this summer, fans in Muscat have one more option where they can catch the action at the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany. Three giant screens at the Qurm Natural Park have transformed it into a virtual stadium. Muscat Municipality has organised the screens and thrown in some state-of-the-art audio equipment to show live broadcasts of all the matches of the tournament. To top it all off, entry is free. Rajeev and Akshay Chowdhary of New Age Entertainment, which is organising this event on behalf of Muscat Municipality, claim that the huge central screen, measuring 9m by 12m, is perhaps the biggest of its kind in the region. The two relatively smaller screens on either side, combined with the matchless audio, succeed in transporting you to the World Cup 2006 in Germany with little effort.

"Muscat Municipality wished to give people the best. We erected the biggest screen of its kind in the whole of the region. The screen is bigger than the silver screen found in the Al Nasr cinema ," said Rajeev. "Without any publicity, the opening ceremony and first-day games had nearly 1,500 people. We expect the crowds to get bigger as the tournament progresses," added Akshay.

With enough parking available at the main entrance and on the sides of the City Amphitheatre, the only thing you will have to worry about is to reach the venue in time.

Five-star escape
Enjoy five-star accommodation with rooms that will give you a clear view of the sea. This summer, all the way till August 31, Omani residents and nationals of the GCC can find such luxurious accommodation at the Al Waha Hotel of the Shangri-La's Barr Al Jissah Resort and Spa for RO65 per room per night, with breakfast at the Samba included as an add on. The Al Waha, literally 'The Oasis,' is the largest of the three hotels at the Shangri-La, comprising 302 bedrooms, each offering guests either a balcony or patio. The resort also features a children's club – 'Little Turtles,' which offers a wide range of supervised activities for children of all ages. There is an air-conditioned indoor area as well as an outdoor play area featuring an old Omani dhow. Kids' facilities also include a toddler's pool with a rubber-cushioned floor, a separate pool for older children in the shape of a water mushroom and babysitting facilities.

Beach carnival
All the way till September 30, this summer promises to be one long carnival with the Al Sawadi Beach Resort's Summer Festival 2006. That starts with discounts on room rates, membership to the health club and great food and beverage deals. For diving and dive courses offered by the resort people who book for two will get a discount of 30 per cent on the course fee. The resort will also be hosting a kids' summer camp till September 20, with swimming, aerobics, yoga, embroidery and crochet. The Al Sawadi has also been hosting the Weekend Challenge since May 11. Every weekend they have been hosting indoor and outdoor competitions. July, August and September will see them organising sports tournaments. For more information call the Al Sawadi on 26 795545.

Discounts and dining
The Chedi Muscat is offering special rates for all Omani residents. While guests can enjoy a normal room and breakfast for two for RO76, they can upgrade to a deluxe room for RO87. Also on offer are a ten per cent discount on food and beverage at The Restaurant and a discount of 25 per cent on all spa treatments.

Deliciously grand
This summer the Grand Hyatt Muscat has some delicious summer treats up its sleeve, bringing some special fun and entertainment to all its guests.

Between ocean and Earth
For a start, the culinary team at the Grand Hyatt will be introducing Ocean and Earth theme nights at the Mokha Café. The full buffet, including a salad, a soup station and main course that can be ordered from the grill, a selection from the buffet and a dessert station, is priced from RO18. Meanwhile, every Friday, the Café will have on offer the Family Brunch, which includes live cooking stations, sushi and sashimi, sizzling platters of hot specialties and desserts. Post 2pm, a complimentary drink will be added to the list, along with entertainment for children. The Friday Brunch will be available for RO14 per person, or RO7 for children.

Tuscan summer
While Italy celebrated its Festa Nazionalé on Friday, June 2, Tuscany extended its invitation to all its regular customers and Italian residents of Muscat in particular, throughout the week from June 1-8 for a special Settimana Nazionale a la carté dinner. Tuscany's chefs prepared a selection of Italian dishes from various regions, including an antipasti buffet, homemade pasta, risotto and pizza from the wood-burning oven. Tuscany is also open for their business lunch throughout the summer, with a special three-course menu from RO10 per person. A four-course dinner menu will also be available throughout the season for RO12 per person.

Outdoor coolers
The Marjan will be offering a selection of soothing summer coolers, mocktails and ice creams to beat the heat through the summer months. A selection of snacks from the Marjan's a la carté menu will also be on offer. The Marjan, however, will be closed for dinner through summer.

Clubbing through July
Club Safari will now be opening from 5pm instead of 6pm during the World Cup matches for screenings. For those spending the summer without their families, can enjoy a special ‘home comfort meal’ while watching the match.

Piano strains
An exotic cocktail to sip and snacks to enjoy with the strains of piano in the background will be the flavour of the summer at the John Barry Bar this July.

Chocolate obsessions
The Sirj Tea Lounge will offer guests a chance to cool off with their wide choice of deserts and summer mocktails, prepared specially by their pastry chefs.

Of particular interest will be the Sirj Lounge Slimmer: blackberry and strawberry ice cream with plain yogurt, with mango and raspberry sauce, fresh kiwi and strawberry. Meanwhile, their Giant Obsession will get you a sacher cake with chocolate, raisins, strawberry, blackberry, tiramisu, vanilla ice cream and mint sorbet, accompanied with fruit and cookies. Crazy Chocolate will combine cake with three chocolate ice creams served with whipped cream, caramelised walnuts and chocolate sauce. Get romantic with Amore, with its straciatella, tiramisu and zuppa inglese ice cream. Have it topped with strawberry, meringue, Amaretto cookies and caramel sauce. And don’t forget the Mediterranean Garden, with rosemary, basil and mint sorbet topped with orange, strawberry, peach and almond tuile.

InterContinental summer
The InterContinental Muscat has a host of festivals on for this summer, ranging from the FIFA World Cup to Thai food festivals to wedding packages. They’re all here this July.

• Football fever
  The Al Ghazal will be hosting a special World Cup programme throughout the football season. Offers include a price tag of RO1 on select beverages from kick-off till the first goal is scored. You can also buy World Cup special polo T-shirts for RO6 and get 33 per cent off on select beverages. For those of you who hunger for more than the excitement of the game and the quenching of your thirst, you can order anything for RO3.333 per dish.
  
• The four-tiered wedding cake
  At RO8.500 per person (inclusive of 17 per cent tax and service charge) between Friday and Tuesday, till August 30, one can enjoy a four-tier wedding cake, a red carpet, a dance floor and a night's stay for the newly weds at the executive suite. Included in the package is a complimentary dinner for the bride and groom and breakfast at the Musandam restaurant the next morning. The newlyweds will also receive a gift voucher for a night's accommodation at the executive suite and a complimentary breakfast for their first wedding anniversary.
  
• 33 reasons why
  The digits 3 and 3 are going to form the lucky number at the Al Ghazal this summer. Through July and August, the pub will be offering a discount of 33 per cent on select beverages. You can also order food from a special menu where everything will be priced at RO3.333. You will be treated to one-litre of complimentary shots if it happens to be your 33rd birthday, and, for every 33rd customer, the bill will be on the house.
  
• Inaka Ya and Sawas Dee
  The InterContinental will have two specials at Trader Vic's through this summer. From July 1 to the end of the month there will be live Inaka Ya preparations everyday of the week from 7-11:30pm. While the end of July will see the end of the live preparations, August will be the season for Trader Vic's Thai food festival. Sawas Dee will run at Trader Vic's from August 1 to 30 between 7-11:30pm everyday.

Summer of sport
With a view to cashing in on the summer holidays – an opportunity for youngsters to invest their time in sports – the Ministry of Sports Affairs is hosting the Summer of Sport till August 25. It is an initiative to give young people a chance to discover their talent, learn a new sport, play and practice and get expert coaching. Log on to www.summer.sportsoman.com for more details.

Moonrise over Cat Island
Water World Oman has a few summer packages on offer for all those who wish to enjoy a day's fishing or the cool sea breeze on that leisurely cruise along the coast. Their breakfast package and Sunset Cruise include spectacular views of the Jelali and Melyani forts, the Bait al Ahlam palace and the Muttrah harbour and a trip around Fahal island. The Summer Evenings package will include cocktail snacks and a late swim or snorkel from the boat at Bandar Khairan. You will return to the marina in time to catch the moonrise over Cat Island. For eight passengers on board the Azzan II, the trips are on offer for RO120, while for the smaller Azzan III that can accommodate six passengers the packages will be available for RO100.

Log on to www.waterworldoman.com for more details.

Summer camp
The Golden Tulip Seeb is organising a camp this summer for children between five and 14 years old. Activities include tae kwon do, first aid workshops, hygiene workshops, courses on personality, public speaking, communication in English and Arabic, swimming, painting and drawing lessons, face painting and henna. For entertainment the participants will be shown movies and given refreshments and free gifts, with the camp culminating in a dinner and an awards ceremony. At RO50 per head, the camp will be held from Saturday to Wednesday between 8am-12pm. Call 24 510300 or Email keepfit@goldentulipseeb.com.

Eye of the tiger
It is all about fitness and culinary delights at the Sheraton Oman this summer. For bowling addicts the Sheraton offers their alley for RO1.200 per person. A full wet bar and an extensive snack menu will also be at hand to whet your appetite. The hotel is also offering birthday packages for children. For RO65 you can pack in bowling, a standard birthday cake, balloons, party packs, playstations, party food, cartoon videos and even their staff dressed up as popular cartoons.

There are special rates for membership to the health club till September 15. A month long single membership will be available for RO40, while a couple membership and a family membership, for the same length of time, will be available for RO65 and RO80. The packages includes complimentary physical examinations. Apart from these special rates, the Sheraton is also organising health club events like the Swimming Gala and the Charity Bowling Marathon.

The Sheraton Qurum Beach Resort has introduced a take-away menu featuring as many as 150 dishes. Beginning July 4, the hotel will host a special Asian buffet every Tuesday. Named ‘Eye of the Tiger,’ the buffet will feature Chinese, Thai and Japanese dishes that will come at a cost of RO6. You can also take your family to the resort for a day out for RO5 per person and you will have access to the establishment’s facilities and will be treated to a soup and noodle lunch.

Meanwhile, The Green Mountain Restaurant is offering light lunches with a combination of soups, salads, sandwiches, a hot main course and desserts for RO1.500 per option. Apart from these, the Sheraton also offers gourmet burgers at Oliver's Bar, Chef Bruno's ice cream delights and Chef Ashish's curry creations at Curry Night on Fridays.