Trying to figure out if buses and metros in Oman take cards or if Ill need small cash. Any recent experiences?
It was let-down when trying to pay bus fares with plastic. In Nizwa, the bus driver rejected my card and only took cash; I had to walk to a corner shop to change $20 for a few rials. And in Salalah, the minicabs were also cash-only. For a wealthy country, I expected more modern payment options. Carrying a stash of exact OMR notes is simply necessary.
Despite being cash-based, Oman’s buses were efficient. I caught a city bus from Muscat City Centre to the Royal Opera for just 0.200 OMR. The driver didn’t have coins but kept the extra 0.100 and waved me on. Cheap and eco-friendly. The roads were clean, air-conditioned, and the drivers courteous. Just be sure to have small notes; the rest is pleasantly smooth.
I stayed in Qurum Heights and took Mwasalat buses to Muttrah daily. The driver looked confused when I tried paying with OMR 5; he insisted on bum 0.100. I had to run into a nearby café to break the bill. No tourist card systems exist, and once I tried calling for a ride-as backup-but ended up walking. Cash only, and exact fare strongly recommended.
Oman boasts no metro-transport consists of buses mostly operated by Mwasalat and regional minibuses. These are strictly cash-only: you hand over rial Omani. No card readers exist. Even the modern Auwallah bus stations require cash. Drivers rarely, if ever, provide change for large notes. If you're staying in Muscat or Salalah, carry small bills in OMR or be prepared to buy change at convenience stands.