Travel✈️ - My Trip to Kuwait

When I told friends I wanted to visit Kuwait, they all thought I was nuts because of the different stereotypes, and with ISIS these days I can totally understand. Kuwait is a safe place for most travelling to the Persian Gulf but respecting the local laws and culture does help you stay out of trouble... Most are Sunni Muslims. See, I grew up in an Expatriate family so traveling to me is an adventure. I travel because I am curious about the country's economy, culture, political structure, and sociological aspects.
I choose Kuwait because it's a tiny oil rich country in the Persian Gulf, OPEC’s fifth largest oil producer in the world with an output of approximately 2.9 million barrels a day, and a population of 4 million. You do the math! Yes, I am a geek at heart besides fashion:-) It is one of the world's richest countries per capita, a U.S Ally, bordered by Saudi Arabia and Iraq, (the US assisted Kuwait during the Iraqi invasion by Saddam Hussein in 1990).
Currency - 1 Kuwaiti Dinar = 3.31 US Dollar - subject to change, check before traveling

My ticket was less than $1,100 round trip, book in advance to get a good rate. Flight was 9 hrs from JFK to Turkey via Turkish airways & 2 1/2 hrs from Turkey to Kuwait. My trip was for 9 days as I also went to Dubai which is only a 2 hr flight from Kuwait and less than $150 round trip. Will blog about Dubai separately.

A BIG NO-NO:-)

What to Wear - Kuwait is not as rigid compared to others in the Persian Gulf however you have to respect the religion and traditions. It is very hot about 90 degrees and up, however try to cover your shoulders, a T-shirt is fine, nothing above the knee, no form-fitting clothes, and you don't have to cover your head or face not unless you are visiting a religious site. No religious police will bother you if you dress otherwise, however you will get harassed by gawking men as this is not the norm for them. I literally saw a dozen men following this lady, a tourist, in a mini skirt and a tank top at the mall:-) It was embarrassing. They have no chill, lol. Most where migrant workers but just try to be safe.

Moevenpick Hotel Kuwait Spa

Where to Stay - After booking my hotel I later found out that a cousin was actually working in Kuwait at the time so I cancelled and stayed with him. They are very flexible, remember they do not have a high influx of tourists so not the usual fighting to get refunded. Travel Tip - Remember you are in the Arab world of luxury so it's very ok if a hotel is only three stars trust me. It's probably equivalent to a five star hotel in the US. Will tell you about my 3 star hotel experience in Dubai:-) Stay in a safe area that's recommended via blogs and in the downtown area. See below hotel recommendations:
Moevenpick Hotel Kuwait - Visited the Spa dubbed wellness facility. One of the best!
Safir International Hotel - great budget deal
Jumeirah Messilah Beach Hotel & Spa - Luxury but compared to our market its a steal for all the perks
Mirage Suites
airbnb - I only recommend doing this with Expatriate families

Transportation -I suggest you rent a car or hire a chauffeured car for the day. Remember there is a lot of cheap labor so it won't cost much, some are as low as $16 a day without a driver. Only draw back is the traffic and some crazy drivers as in most cities. Public transportation may be limited especially for road trips. You must obtain an international driving permit and insurance before driving in Kuwait. You can get this at the Car rental company's the same day.

Foodie - I most admit I was disappointed at how many American food chains there were, Red lobster, Cheesecake Factory, Johnny Rockets, Shake Shack, Applebee's, TGI Friday's et el... Bars and clubs are not the norm, most people have big families so leisure here is dining out, going to Souks, and Malls are a very big deal. Smart for these food chains to cash in on the economy however for tourists it's a blah. I strongly recommend street food and if you must dine, try local Mediterranean restaurants. I visited the below and I highly recommend.

Travel Tip - Alcohol is prohibited. Yes, I was in AA during my vacation for one who drinks wine every night:-) Smoking is allowed in public areas, so be sure to ask for a non-smoking area if available. Most restaurants provide Shisha/Hookah pipes. Shisha smoking is serious business in Kuwait, so if you are bothered by the smell or smoke do not go to an exclusive Shisha bar. These are the restaurants I visited and liked.

Al Boom Steak & Seafood Restaurant
In the hull of a boat, this inventive restaurant isn’t in just any old boat: this is Mohammedi II, built in Calicut, India, in 1979.

Burj al Hamam

Waterfront restaurant is a terrific place to try Middle Eastern cuisines

The Chocolate Bar - OMG dessert galore!

What to Do - Be adventurous and keep an open mind. If you are looking to stay in all day, this is not the trip for you. Travel Tip - stay updated with the news/current affairs as much as possible. Dress appropriately, safety is not an issue but always stay alert. For such a small country there is so much to do that I definitely need a second trip. Travel Tip - I honestly would not recommend this an all-girls trip but if you have to, ONLY do the souks, malls and local tourist places during the day. I would not recommend a road trip if you do not have a local male or a male presence with you. It is very safe, there have been no tragedy's with tourists however just to be safe. You and your girls can do Dubai instead.

A drive to the Kuwait-Saudi border - dubbed the neutral zone, about 2 hours and a half road trip from Kuwaiti city. You get to see miles of oil mines, bedouin villages, camels, great street food and enjoy an awesome landscape. Travel Tip -DO NOT venture to cross the border and do not get too close:-) Stay far enough were you get to take pics and see the sign. There are no militia or anything scary but goods in trucks waiting to be inspected, however I hear once you are in the Saudi Region they can arrest you for the most trivial things. Better to be safe than sorry:-) I tried getting a visa from the Saudi embassy in DC however I was told that they do not give tourist visa's. They were very nice. You can only go there as a foreigner to work or you have to travel with a male escort such as your father, brother or husband, definitely not as a single women. Call your local embassy even if you do get a visa before you cross the border just to be safe even if you are male.

I did not go to the opposite side the Kuwait-Iraqi border but the next trip. Dubbed the 'Highway of Death' due to the Iraqi invasion in 1990, 25 years later are still remnants or war, the Kurds villages etc.

The Grand Mosque

Kuwait Towers - three slender towers that symbolizes Kuwait’s economic resurgence
The Grand Mosque - Biggest mosque in Kuwuait, great Islamic architecture. Tour is free. Ladies are required to cover - long sleeves and long ankle length skirt, otherwise the mosque will provide a cloak.
Seif Palace - opposite the Grand Mosque, home of the royal family however they have not lived there since the war. Only used for special celebrations and events. Free tour.

Failaka Island - was home to more than 2000 residents prior to the Iraqi invasion who never returned. Travel there by Ferry, much of the island lies empty and in ruins, although a small tourism industry has emerged - with boat trips, overnight accommodations etc.

Gold at Souk Al-Mubarakiya Souk

Souk Al-Mubarakiya - OMG the best bazaar ever! Travel Tip -Great deals on golds & diamonds, if you need to shop for that special piece, wedding ring, engagement ring, anniversary, you get a bang for your buck in Kuwait.
Al Kout Beach & Marina Mall - fountains which offer a night show. It is the second biggest mall in Kuwait. I literally OD'd on spices, nuts and dates in this mall.
The Avenues - largest shopping center in Kuwait with higher-end designer stores.

One of the Spice, nuts & dates stores in Al Kout Mall

I got a good deal on a Persian rug at Souk Al-Mubarakiya