HOTELS & MOTELS
There are more than 20 hotels in Kuwait. These are officially classified as deluxe, first class, and second class.
   Kuwait's top hotels compare favourably with the best internationally. Facilities include swimming pools, health clubs, tennis courts, shops, and business centres. Many have good conference and seminar facilities.
   The hotels in Kuwait belong to an informal cartel and prices are expensive by international standards. Prices per day in the deluxe class range from KD50 for a single room up to KD100 for an executive suite, to as much as KD250 for the most expensive suite. Substantial discounts are usually available for stays of more than 29 days. In both deluxe and first class hotels, a 15% service charge is always added to all prices. Prices per day at the lower end of the Second Class are about KD15 for a single room and KD18 for a double. Cheaper long-term rates are negotiable and there is no service charge.
   Kuwait also has a number of establishments which describe themselves as 'motels', but which are really serviced apartments. The better ones have flats with two bedrooms, two bathrooms, sitting room and fully equipped kitchens, and the prices include housekeeping and laundry services. The motels usually have swimming pools, satellite TV and international fax facilities. Cheaper than hotels but offering similar facilities of comparable quality, they are suitable for executive expatriates, on short-term contracts of six months or so, for whom renting an apartment would not be time or cost effective.

VILLAS & APARTMENTS
Villas and apartments can be found through friends, advertisements in the local newspapers, real estate agents, and by wandering around suitable looking buildings and apartment blocks.
   Heating in winter is not really necessary. But in summer air-conditioning is essential and is of two types, wall type 'portable' units and central AC.
   In some of the large Western style apartment blocks the central AC conduits are often combined with the heating system, so in winter the AC must be shut off to provide heat.
   Nearly all apartments and villas are let unfurnished. Costs vary widely, depending on location and standard. A small basic flat, the sort that is usually let to groups of third world nationals, may cost just about KD100 a month. In some areas, two bedroom flats in older buildings without central AC cost KD125, three bedroom flats in slightly better buildings with central AC about KD250. Ordinary two bedroom flats in the City without central AC cost about KD200 a month.
   Unfurnished single bedroom executive standard apartments with central AC in the City and down along the coastline cost about KD225 a month, while similar three bedroom apartments cost KD550 or more. An innovation in recent years is the grouping of fully furnished executive apartments in 'self-contained' compounds with excellent amenities such as swimming pools, tennis courts, restaurants, etc, but these can cost up to KD850 a month. Villas in the City suburbs begin at about KD600 a month depending on the furnishings provided. Large suburban villas may cost well in excess of KD1,000 a month, with KD2,500 being charged for the most sumptuously appointed.
   Usually a deposit of one month's rent is required, more for more expensive properties. Rent is normally payable at the start of the month to which it relates. Estate agents charge quite high finder's fees, often one month's rent, but their fees are negotiable.

UTILITIES
Most apartments have a telephone line installed. Domestic supplies of water and energy are reliable.

Water & Electricity
Most areas of Kuwait have mains water supply, though in a few places water is still delivered by truck to tanks on the roof. All residential areas have an electricity supply. The cost of water and electricity may or may not be included in the rent.
   To have the power and/or water turned on, the tenant's civil ID and house rental agreement must be shown at the local office of the Ministry of Electricity & Water (MEW). A refundable deposit is needed.

Cooking Gas
Domestic gas is distributed through a network of pipes only in the Ahmadi area, and most residents in Kuwait do their cooking using cylinder gas. In each area there is a gas cylinder distribution depot near the local 'coop' supermarket.
   A newcomer must buy at least one cylinder (KD8 each) and a connector (KD5). It is best to have two cylinders, so that a full one is available when the one in use runs out. Empty cylinders are exchanged for full ones at the depots for 750 fils each.