Tiny Kuwait sits at the north-western tip of the Persian Gulf, bordered to the north and west by Iraq and to the south by Saudi Arabia. It's about the size of Slovenia or the US state of New Jersey. Kuwait's land is mostly flat and arid with little or no ground water. The desert is generally gravelly, and the only vegetation in existence is scrub. The only significant geographic feature is the now infamous Al-Mutla ridge, where Allied aircraft massacred a column of retreating Iraqi forces in the closing hours of the Persian Gulf war.

In the summer (April to September) Kuwait is hellishly hot; its only saving grace is that it's nowhere near as humid as its neighbours. The winter months are often pleasant, featuring some of the region's coolest weather, with daytime temperatures hovering around 18°C (64°F) and nights being genuinely chilly. Sandstorms occur throughout the year but are particularly common in spring.

Kuwait is expensive. A rock-bottom budget starts around US$65 a day, and you're likely to find yourself spending more than that. Mid-range tastes require more in the neighbourhood of US$80 a day; top-end tastes tally up to US$175 and more.

For a country with a highly sophisticated financial system, Kuwait can be a remarkably frustrating place to change money. Banks charge excessive commissions and moneychangers often refuse to change travellers' cheques. The bright spot is that credit cards are widely accepted.

Tipping is only expected in fancier restaurants. Know, however, that the service charge added to your bill in such places goes into the till, not to the wait staff. Bargaining is not common except in

The best time to visit Kuwait is in May or October - right before or right after summer, when the temperatures are civilised.