I’m struggling justifying paying extra to avoid a Four Seasons (in the interest of staying at a points hotel), so I’m curious what OMAAT readers think…
I have an upcoming one-night stay in Kuwait
As I recently wrote about, I’m embarking on a review trip, and this will include a one-night stopover in Kuwait. I’ll be in town for 24 hours, so I’m forward to going into town, strolling around, etc.
Kuwait’s hotel market has gotten significantly more competitive since the last time I visited. In the past few years we’ve seen the opening of the Four Seasons, the St. Regis, and the Waldorf Astoria. My plan is to stay at one of these, though I’m not sure which.
Since this is a one-night stay, I figured this is the perfect opportunity to book through Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts, and take advantage of the $200 annual Amex Travel hotel credit offered by The Platinum Card® from American Express (review).
This is straightforward, as I’ll receive a $200 statement credit with the booking, all while being able to take advantage of Fine Hotels & Resorts perks, including complimentary breakfast, a room upgrade, a $100 property credit, and more.
The issue is, I can’t actually decide where to stay. Looking at the Fine Hotels & Resorts rates (before the $200 credit is applied):
- The Four Seasons Kuwait costs $370
- The Waldorf Astoria Kuwait costs $394
- The St. Regis Kuwait costs $405
As you can see, all the hotels are within ~$35 of one another, and after the credit, I’ll be paying $170-205 out of pocket for these stays.
Which Kuwait hotel should I book?
I’m really not sure which of these properties to stay at, so let me explain my thought process, and then please tell me which property you recommend I stay at, and/or which property you’d most like to read about.
At first glance, I think the Four Seasons Kuwait at Burj Alshaya is the obvious choice. Not only is the property the cheapest, but it looks gorgeous, and Four Seasons is the most consistent major hotel group when it comes to service and standards.
But I also acknowledge that lots of OMAAT readers want more reviews of points hotels rather than Four Seasons properties, which I totally respect, which is why I’m leaning toward paying a premium for one of the other properties.
I’m more in need of elite nights with Marriott Bonvoy than Hilton Honors, so my gut is to go with the St. Regis Kuwait. However, after doing some research, it appears the St. Regis is essentially a rebranding of the initial tower of the Sheraton Kuwait, after an extensive renovation.
All of that is fine, except the St. Regis doesn’t have a spa or gym, and the pool is apparently shared with the adjacent Four Points. So it looks like the rooms are nice, but that’s about it. You Have Been Upgraded (a German blog) reviewed this property recently, and makes me think twice about staying here.
Lastly, there’s the Waldorf Astoria Kuwait. Physically the property looks beautiful. It’s also attached to Kuwait’s biggest mall, which is either a pro or con, depending on how you look at it (given how malls are sort of social hubs in the Middle East).
I’m also intrigued by the hotel having a club lounge, which costs an extra $100 per night (Hilton Honors Diamond members don’t get access to Waldorf Astoria lounges). I’m almost tempted to book that, since I’ve never visited a Waldorf Astoria club lounge before. Then again, I’m not sure I could consume much in the lounge while also taking advantage of breakfast in the restaurant and a $100 property credit.
So I was leaning toward booking this, until I checked out the FlyerTalk thread about this property, which suggest service at the hotel leaves a lot to be desired, and also highlights how a manager essentially called a guest based on a TripAdvisor review, and more or less gaslighted him. I’m not sure if those were just opening quirks or what, but it doesn’t instill much confidence in the experience.
I suppose the one other wild card option is the Grand Hyatt Kuwait. The catch is that it doesn’t belong to Fine Hotels & Resorts (so there would be no credit), and it’s quite expensive with points, at 21,000 World of Hyatt points per night. However, it does have a club lounge that I’d have access to.
I should note that I haven’t really factored location into my analysis much, so if anyone has strong opinions there, I’d love to hear them. For what it’s worth, all properties are 15-20 minutes from the airport, so distance to the airport isn’t a consideration.
Bottom line
Kuwait’s luxury hotel market has improved nicely in recently years, with several new luxury brands opening up properties there. Usually I have no issues deciding on my own where to stay by considering pricing, amenities, etc. However, my upcoming Kuwait stay is leaving me stumped.
Several options are right around the same price, but I’m not sure which to choose. I’ll go with whatever OMAAT readers recommend, so please let me know what y’all would recommend, and/or would most like to read about.
What hotel do you think I should book in Kuwait?