Our 11-day trip also expanded to Jeju and Gyeongju. Absolutely love Gyeongju and wish I can live in Jeju! Total cost for the trip is a lot more than expected but it's mainly due to transportation and food. We spent less on shopping except for souvenirs. Our main agenda is to sightsee and try their food

Lol... lemme load to flickr first...

---

Added on March 14, 2011, 2:19 pmIt doesn't have private bathroom.. there are 2 shared bathrooms (upstairs & downstairs). Initially I was against shared facilities but Stay Korea II is very cozy like a home.. the bathrooms are clean, well decorated, well maintained and everyone keep it clean too. Maybe it's off-season now, we don't have to wait for ppl to finish their business in the bathroom at all.. lol.

---

Added on March 14, 2011, 2:27 pmI had been walking around Hongik area almost everyday during my stay in Seoul; mostly to walk back to Stay Korea hostel from Ehwa (E-dae area) or to walk to/fro to Hongik station. Day and night time, I only see restaurants, cafes, convenience stores, PC Bang, KTV.. and 1-2 pubs there. The whole atmosphere wasn't that lively though.

We went to a pub in Sinchon (can't remember the name cos we ran in there to escape the cold wind) and it was full of happy students.. lol. Nice ambience, not too rowdy.. they played english songs and serve snacks like chicken wings, grilled cuttlefish etc. We had 1 pint of CASS beer (i like it!) only. That was the only time we visited pub in Seoul. Most of the time we either drink soju or makgeolli in the room or had it in the restaurant

When asked, the guesthouse owner said Sinchon is the known area to drink, eat and have fun. E-dae is for women to shop and Hongdae is for cheap food. I find that E-dae has cheap food too.. hmmm..

---

Added on March 14, 2011, 2:29 pmU're welcome 
Ehwa is really interesting.. I like it better than Namdaemum and Dongdaemum

---

Added on March 14, 2011, 2:42 pmHi divasweet!

We stayed in Tae Gong Gak Inn, it's a very nice guesthouse with 4-star service and room. I've written a review in Tripadvisor - http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g2...po_Jeju_do.html

What others wrote are true; the owners are really helpful, warm, friendly and kind. They won't push you to go for this or that but they will give very good advices on where to go, what to eat..etc. Knowing our language barrier, they will write down food order, road directions, instructions to taxi driver or bus driver in korean language for us without prompting. I was surprised by their hospitality at first but they're genuinely nice!

Their website: http://www.lepotel.kr/eng/index.html

Other ppl recommend Jeju Hiking Inn in Tripadvisor, it was our secondary choice that time and it's cheaper than Tae Gong Gak. Not sure if they're as helpful as TGG owners though..

Their website: http://www.hikinginn.com/

My thoughts: At 65,000won/nite (double-bed) in TGG, we had bottled mineral water, fresh clean towels, toiletries, big bed, duvet cover, extra winter blanket, slippers, tv, spacious room and large bathroom, unlimited supplies of food (noodles, bread, snacks, coffee, tea, water) in pantry, free tangerines.. good recommendations on food (cheap&delicious), walking distance to Cheonjiyeon Falls.. and bonus point on the fact that the owners know a lot of ppl in Jeju so you can find help very easily.. so yea, I will go back to TGG again - not for freebies but for its warmth, I felt at home and being taken care of properly; I didn't feel so lost thanks to the owners!

You really hardcore

sophi,your pics are really jjang especially places at ewha-dae and hongik,seems like you are an experience backpacker huh? i tried strolling around the street with no map but after awhile scared cos everywhere seems new then we turn back

ah.. muslim readers.. do take note that most sundae / sundae soup are non-halal ya..
just afraid that the muslim readers later try to order coz the pic of the food looks tempting.. kekeke

Took Air Busan (budget airline) from Gimpo to Jeju island. From Jeju airport, take bus 600 to Seogwipo town. Bus fare 5000won; takes about 30min to reach. We stayed in Tae Gong Gak guesthouse.

However due to the early flight (755am) we were stoning and dozing off in the bus. Misheard the stop name and alighted early @ World Cup stadium stop. Thought it wouldn't take long to reach Seogwipo from there so we walked.. mana tau, after walking for 10min the GPS stated it would take us 2hrs to reach the destination (!!!) There wasn't any stops for bus 600 along the way so we walked on.. tried to flag taxi but all occupied.. walked from normal pavement to highway side path, up slope, down slope.. total distance 4.3km, that's like completing half of the Olle trail! T___T

Note: Apologies to muslims as most of the food posted are non-halal..

I have just come back from Korea today.. a mixed feeling..
Anyhow, for your info, the cherry blossoms is in full bloom in Namsan Park.. Went there yesterday, & the view is awesome! I advise to travel to Namsan Tower (N Seoul Tower) via bus instead of cable car in order to enjoy this beautiful view. Take bus no 02 or 05 from Chungmuro station (accessible by line 3 or line 4)..

I was able to see cherry blossoms around Yeouido Hangang Park, Yeoryang, Nami Island and Namsan Park.. Love it so much..

In addition, while we was at Mt Sorak, small white particles came down with the raindrop.. Yeah, it's snow.. Many people was surprised even the Koreans there.. But the snow quickly melt down, couldn't capture it with camera.. There were lots of Malaysians and Thais there - with gleeful expressions on our face (some of us do not have any experience with snow in view of our country's nature).. I was really blessed in this trip..

hi guys....wow it's May already....so excited for my Korea trip on end of this month.
hmm...wanna double confirm with you guys, Lotte World & Lotte Young Plaza is 2 diff place right??

Lotte Young Plaza is the place that sell those branded bags (very CHEAP!!!) right? With any platinum credit cards entitle for another 15% discount right??

---

Added on May 2, 2011, 11:46 pmLotte at Myeongdong,level 9 & 10 sell duty free things right?but they open till 8pm only right?

Not only money. Even wetaher also no good..That's the peak of summer mth

For sure-lah there will be additional charges..i.e admin charges (Refewr to their rate schedule in theri website) + the diff of the new ticket price & your old wan

3. Is traveling alone in Korea generally safe for a female?

hye all sifus...kindly check and feedback my itinerary below

Day 02(Thursday)

1pm-4pm : 63 building
4-6pm : Gwanghamun tour (Donghwa duty free, King Sejong Statue)

This is what I plan to do. My sisters and I have different departure day. I'll stay until Day 08 but they have only 06 days and we want to make use the limited time of the stay. My question if is better for us to stay at Gyeonggi do from Jeju on Day 03 rather than return to Seoul and come back to Gyeonggi do again the next day. From the map, I can see that Gimpo is not far from Gyeonggi do.

Day 01
Arrive Seoul at 0710hrs. Chk in at Myeongdong guesthouse. Visit Gyeongokbung Palace, Namsan Park, Namsan Tower, Myeongdong and Itaewon.

Day 02
First flight to Jeju

Seems like there isnt any halal food in Jeju Island?
Still considering on a trip to Jeju Island due to this issue as most of my colleagues are Muslim...
any suggestion?

I'll recommend you to stay 02 nites in Jeju. So many things to see in Jeju. But if your time is limited, then stay 1 nite.

Through the airlines website. Jeju Airline, Eastern Jet Airline, Korea Airlines, Asiana Airlines. Those who had make booking via this airline posted the webiste in this forum. Just go through this thread one by one.

Unless you follow the package tour, I noticed most forumers that travel independent book direct with the airline's website.

What about other airlines?? Did you manage to chk?? When is the travelling date for that rates??