Currency:
|
| The
Kuwaiti Dinar
(KWD) divided into 1000 fils
(100 fils = approx 37¢ US)
|
|
|
|
100 fils |
50 fils
|
20 fils
|
5 fils |
1 fil |
| Exhange Rate: |
|
| Weather
& Climate:
|
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Send Your Kuwait tips to info@airlinelayovers.com
Getting
Around Town:
Use hotel van or hotel recommended taxis. |
|
Restaurants
We Like:
- There are many walk-up, take-out places with rotisserie chicken, hummus, bread - also takeout Indian. Very inexpensive - walking distance. Some restaurants will deliver, i.e., pizza - ask front desk which restaurants deliver. Expect to pay cash in smaller restaurants and kiosks.
- Hotel has a terrific breakfast buffet. Crew room
offers continental breakfast.
- There are well known restaurants, such as Starbucks,
TGIF, Chili's. The Sharq mall has several "fast
food" places, including the familiar, then
there are more interesting such as fast Thai.
- La Piazza - Good Italian - walking distance
- Oriental - good variety - take out - will deliver - call 2456553
- Caesar's - really good Indian, walking distance
- Saj Express
- "99" - walking. They will also deliver - 2429665- the hummus is great
- Seven Seas - cab
- Panini - sandwiches, salad, pizza, desserts -
takeout or deliver - near Al-Seif Palace. Phone:
2422245 or 2435168
- The restaurants in the hotel are very good, but
not inexpensive, although crew discount is offered.
- Crew room has 24 -hour snacks (mostly cookies),
bottled water, sodas, coffee
machine and a microwave.
- Alcohol is illegal; do not bring it with you.
You will quite possibly be stopped and could potentially
be arrested.
Tipping: Although Kuwaitis generally do not tip, foreigners are expected to do so. A service charge of 15% is usually added
to bills in restaurants and hotels; if not a tip
of 10% is acceptable. Taxi drivers appreciate a
small tip for long journeys. |
Shopping
Finds:
- Gold
- Scarves
- Spices
- Carpets (see August
2007 tip of the month)
- There is a huge open-air market near the airport.
Rugs, clothes, furniture - large assortment of items. We have been told that the "Friday market" is actually open every day of the week but it's the biggest on Friday because all have that day off and the prices are the best that day. Double check with concierge to make sure that it's open - some people are arriving on days other than Friday and finding that it isn't. (Thanks Scott!)
- Bargaining is common place in the markets. Initiating
bargaining indicates the intent to purchase once the
price is agreed upon. Don't start bargaining unless
you plan to buy. Start at half what you would like
to pay and be courteous. Gold is 21 or 22 karat; some
is 18 or less. Sold by the gram. Get a receipt which
indicates the gold karats. Workmanship is typically
included in the price. |
| What
to See:
|
Souk Market - old market - about 30 minute walk |
Sharq
Mall - very modern, huge grocery on ground floor |
| Gold
Market |
Old
City Gates |
| Kuwaiti
Towers - 1 KD admission fee - go up to observation
deck |
At Dhow
Harbor - Science Museum, Imax, Aquarium |
| Green
Island |
Saud
House (weaving house) |
| Tareq
Rajab Museum - private collection of the Rajab family. Calligraphy, pottery, metalwork, glass, wood, ivory and jade carvings of the Islamic world. |
The Liberation Tower - symbol of Kuwaiti liberation |
| National
Museum - comprehesive collection of Islamic art |
|
|
What's
On Around Town: -
- Arrange city tour with concierge.
- Kuwaiti weekend is Friday and Saturday (as of Sept. 2007)
- Ramadan begins Sept 1, 2008
- Coffee houses are the night life
- Kuwait City is not geared toward tourism. We will
try to keep you posted on any cultural events available.
- Catholic church is a few blocks away. http://www.catholic-church.org/kuwait/cathedral.htm |
| Travel
Time to the Hotel: 20 min. |
| Flight
Time from IAD: 12 hours (+ or -) |
| Nearest
ATM : hotel lobby, in the main building |
| Nearest
Grocery: Close to hotel - near the KFC. "LuLu" is a hypermarket with grocery items and alot of other things too. Van will take you. |
| Closest
Gym: There is a swimming pool and free gym in the hotel.
|
| Best
Place to Run: Along the Arabian Gulf. |
| Good
Walks: Along the Arabian Gulf |
| Easy
Day Trips: None |
Hotel
Ammenities:
Rooms have high-speed internet, a safe, bottled water,
coffee/tea set-up, refrigerator, dvd-vhs players,
dvd checkout at health club. Put t.v. on ch.999 to use dvd player. Fax/printer/scanner/copier
in room. Hotel has pool and gym/steam/sauna.
There is no access to phone services such as ATT,
etc. Use Skype if you have a laptop - www.skype.com. Phone cards are available in the hotel gift shop, in the other building. They are a little expensive, but if you have to make a call, it's worth it. (Thanks, Sarah!) |
Safety:
Please read the training materials carefully and observe
dress/conduct advice. Check www.travel.state.gov
for travel advisories. See our sister site at www.realworld.safety
for travel safety tips. Be careful, use common sense
and you will think you were on vacation on this layover! |
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Last updated 8/03/08
Gordon Group, LLC |
