Driver-guide in Oman

We wanted to share a nice “find” we made in Salalah, Oman, while on a cruise in April ’05. It is a great cab driver and tour guide named Khalid Bakheet (phone 99489979 or contact his friend, Ali Atif Al Yafai, who is the assistant front office manager at the Hilton Salalah Resort, Box 699, Salalah, Oman 211; phone +968-23-211234 or fax 23-210084).

Khalid communicated quite well in English, and he knew a lot about his country and the world. I believe we paid him $50 for three hours, but we were with him for about four hours and it was well worth the cost. We all were very happy with Khalid, the car, what we saw — everything. He was able to show us a lot. He even took us shopping and negotiated with the shopkeeper.

Incidentally, Oman is a wonderful country to visit — clean, friendly and just very pleasant.

JUDI JONES & DAVE ESTEP

San Pedro, CA