General: Kuwait

When I first announced I would be travelling to Kuwait, I came up against some pretty strong opposition. Family and friends alike urged me not to go. Throw Kuwait into a game of word association, and Iraq comes back at you time and time again. It's taken me quite some time to write this review, and it's come out lengthier than I would have liked. I've tried to edit it down, but every section I've written feels relevant to anyone visiting Kuwait for the first time. Bearing in mind that Kuwait is no ordinary tourist destination ... there is no nightlife, alcohol is illegal ... removing anything ... more

Introduction *************** About three months ago I was lucky enough to go to Kuwait with mixed emotions to what I might find. Kuwait is usually regarded as a country similar to Iraq and Iran in culture however this couldn't be further from the truth. It is more westernised than I could have ever imagined. I was able to go around malls, go for a McDonalds and go shopping. It extremely similar to walking around one of the cities in the UK except without the heat. Monuments ************* Kuwaiti Towers - Kuwaiti Towers is the main symbol of Kuwait which made me go for a visit. It consists of ... more

I spent a year living and working in Kuwait and I can safely that there does not exist a more God forsaken wasteland on the planet. Firstly you cannot enter the country as a tourist (and why would you). You must be visiting someone or have a work permit, HIV test, chest X rays, blood tests, birth certificate, the list is endless. If you are prepared to go through all this then fair enough. The next step is that your employer will then take you to go through the whole process again, X rays, HIV test etc plus the addition of the fingerprints. I was assigned to a shared apartment in the middle of ... more

Arriving in Kuwait, i didnt actually know what to expect!! But i was shocked in how much i enjoyed it and what the culture is like. First thoughts i piuctured would of been similar to Iraq, until i noticed the fantastic buildings, palm trees and superb hotels. Quite a few Brits are located in Kuwait, mostly of whom work in oil companies. A very rich country, with many activities, some of which surprisingly you can find over here, such as Macdonalds, Go carting etc. If your into cars, then you will have no surprises when you see the rare motors driving around. Not a place for nightlife, as the ... more