How to Find Hotels in Kuwait

Travelers enjoy wandering around the country of Kuwait's many mosques, souks and other sandy traces of the old Bedouin culture that came before the discovery of oil.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• Passport

Know Your Destination

1. Be aware of an income gap in the country. The wealth of oil has created a culture of opulence, but it is concentrated among a few select families.
2. Be respectful of religion. Muslim values permeate the culture here.
3. Understand that tourism to Kuwait is new, but it is a growing phenomenon. Many people did not know this country until Iraq invaded it in 1991. Now, it openly welcomes visitors to see the many sights of this predominately desert country.
4. Pay with local money. The Kuwait Dinar is the official currency of the country.

Choose Your Transportation

5. Be prepared to spend money. Flying to Kuwait is expensive as the airlines and travel agents tightly control prices.
6. Use public transportation from the airport. Taxis charge a reasonable flat fee to the city; taking the bus is even cheaper.
7. Rent a car. To get to places other than Kuwait City, you must rent a car.

Find Accommodations

8. Stay in Kuwait City, where most of the action is.
9. Feel right at home. Many of the top hotels in Kuwait City are major chains and have sport facilities, restaurants and shopping malls.
10. Choose moderate accommodations by looking near the financial district of the city.
11. Understand that while 'boutique hotel' may scream high prices in the United States, it can mean anything from inexpensive to luxury in Kuwait.

Learn Local Information

12. Visit Failaka Island. There is a museum and archaeological sites here which offer insight in to the area's history.
13. See the Red Fort. Also known as the Red Palace, this is the biggest attraction in the city.
14. Visit what matters to the country. Take a trip to the Al Ahmandi Oil Centre, which shows the primary source of the area's economy.

Tips & Warnings

• Handshaking is the customary form of greeting.
• Alcohol is totally prohibited in Kuwait.
• There's a small airport departure tax that may be added to your airline ticket or paid when before you leave the country.
• A service charge of 15% is usually added to bills in hotels. Otherwise, a 10% tip is acceptable.