Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Up to two one-month visa extensions are possible. To do this, an application needs to be
made to the
Immigration Department
(28 Street, off Airport Rd)
in Shuwaikh before the existing visa
expires. Alternatively, hop on a plane to Bahrain for the weekend and re-enter on a new
visit visa. There is a hefty fine (KD10 per day) for overstaying once the visa has expired.
WOMEN TRAVELLERS
Women travellers may find the increased attention from men in Kuwait a nuisance. From
being tailgated while driving to being followed around shopping centres, expat women are
frequently the targets of young men's harmless but irritating fun. Despite dressing conser-
vatively, refusing to respond to approaches and avoiding eye contact with men, it's still
hard to avoid attracting unwanted attention.
Generally, if the situation becomes uncomfortable, the best way to defuse it is to stop
being an object and become a foreign person: this can be accomplished by turning to-
wards the men in question, giving them a firm but frosty greeting (all the better in Arabic)
and offering the right hand for shaking. Ask the offending parties where they come from
and to which family they belong. This is usually so unexpected and traumatising for these
men that the threat disappears.
Getting There & Away
AIR
Airports & Airlines
Kuwait International Airport
( flight information 161;
www.dgca.gov.kw
)
is due for an upgrade. Visas
are obtained from a counter on the upper storey of the airport (take a ticket and wait in
line), before descending to passport control and baggage claim. Given the limited attrac-
tions of the airport and the heavy smoking of regional users, waiting around for a flight
can seem like a long time.
2434 5555;
www.kuwait-airways.com
; cnr Abu Bakr al-Siddiq St & Al-Hilalli St, Safat)
which flies to many
destinations in the Middle East, Europe (including London, Paris and Frankfurt), Asia and
the USA. It has an excellent safety record and is reliable and punctual.
Kuwait also has a no-frills, private carrier called
Jazeera Airways
( 177;
www.jazeeraairways.com
; Kuwait International Airport)
with flights to 30 destinations within the
Middle East and the Indian subcontinent.
Airlines flying to/from Kuwait
2242 5635;
www.ba.com
)
Heathrow, London
British Airways
(
