Carlton Tower Hotel Kuwait

For the price, this was the best option I found in an otherwise expensive city. Carlton Tower Hotel is handy for getting to JACC, the Grand Mosque, and the Souk, each about a 10 to 15-minute drive away. I was also upgraded to a room with a sea view. Wafa at reception and the night staff were super, and there were decent meals downstairs plus some nice coffee shops nearby. I liked the hotel, though I wouldn't say I loved it.

The price seemed high to me at first for what I thought was a 3 star hotel, but it turned out to be a 4 star place and felt competitive for what you get. The entrance hall looked amazing, and the reception staff were polite and very nice. I spent most of my three days out, so I can't say much about the services, though I’m sure there was a laundry area with washing machines and a menu for ordering meals. I’m not sure whether there was a pool, and I didn’t need one anyway. They can pick you up from or drop you at the airport for a little more than a regular taxi. Their VIP taxi service also includes customer service staff helping move your luggage safely in and out of your room, whether you arrive with them or on your own. The sea view from my room was spectacular. I think I could see an iconic building, perhaps the parliament, but I’m not certain. The room had a king bed, two single beds, extra dressing space, and a bathroom. I didn’t need all that, but I liked it. It was clean and tidy, smelled nice, and came with a desk and chair, a big screen, a kettle with tea and sugar, and several bathrobes and towels. I wasn’t keen on the shampoo or shower gel because they had no scent and didn’t foam much, though that’s just my personal preference. One real problem was the locked connecting door to the next room. It didn’t block sound, and I could clearly hear the Indian man next door talking on his phone around the clock, even though I couldn’t understand him. They should replace that separation with a wall or use soundproofing material in the door. Also, the hotel gate is on a small side street, and that confused Uber drivers trying to find me. There’s a sign at the street corner saying entry is only for judiciary members or something along those lines, so taxis failed to get in several times. I booked through "Agoda" and my confirmation email said check-in and check-out were both at 12pm. When I arrived around 1:15 pm, they said check-in was at 2pm, even after I showed them the email. They were understanding and very nice about it, and upgraded me from a single room to a "Sweet" room. That helped make the stay exceed my expectations. I give them 5 stars for the value.

I’m writing because I was deeply upset by how Mohamed treated me during my stay. He spoke in a disrespectful, accusatory way and suggested I was lying. Even after I explained clearly that I had arrived with a family member, he refused to believe me. I found the whole exchange humiliating and unprofessional. Most troubling, he took my phone from me. That left me feeling unsafe, powerless, and disrespected, and crossed a personal boundary that should never be crossed. I’ve stayed at luxury hotels around the world and have always been treated courteously and professionally. I’ve never encountered staff behavior this poor. It fell far short of what I expected from a hotel with this reputation, and left me deeply disappointed and distressed. I trust management will investigate what happened and take appropriate action so no other guest is treated this way.

Ishtaiyaq and Saber were especially kind, and everyone working at the hotel was so helpful. The service was great, and we really enjoyed our stay. Thank you for being so kind.