Thanks for the advice! That is exactly my concern upon reaching seoul from incheon airport where we have to bypass the tunnel.. go up and down, walk up hill to reach the hotel.
As far as I know Myeong Dong is not the best shopping area as sales assistants there are not as friendly as Dongdaemun and the prices are higher than Dongdaemun with similar goods.

It's kind of a hassle to look for a decent motel/Inn/guesthouse in seoul with good location and reasonable price.
I chose Namsan 3 in the first place because the price WAS consider OK... RM140/night and I didn't mind about dragging the luggage all the way from Sejong hotel..
But come to think about it.. with RM180, probably I can top up a lil' bit more and get to stay at a much more better place right?

Please advice which area are as convenient as Namsan Guesthouse... around Eujiro (interchange station)? DongDaemun (as it opens till late)?

This post has been edited by anilin: Apr 29 2012, 11:31 AM

Heading Seoul soon.
Will pretty much be in city.
What is best way from Airport to City - Banpo-dong area.
Printed out the phone voucher but would would still need a data sim.
In city is there a weekly subway?

Not really. I found out that perfume in Migliore Myeongdong is cheaper than their duty free shop. Overall clothing in Korea is not cheap even for Made in Korea brand. Their sales assistant does not matter in Myeongdong, Dongdaemun, Namdaemun are nice and very helpful. We were shock when the sales assistant in one of the shoe shop in Myeongdong helped my sister to put on the shoes to try it. You know, like we always see in the drama. So happened that guy is good looking and my sister was so perasan The guy asked us where are we from and we replied Malaysia. He patted my sis shoulder and said, beautiful,beautiful The next evening, we went to the same shop and my another sister bought a pair of shoes. My niece recorded in her handphone the whole event and we returned to the guesthouse giggling looking at the drama BTW, the name of the shop is T A Store.

I also exprience good service in Myeongdong when I bought mask and cosmetic stuff. In Ehwa University, they sales man from the shop also very helpful and speak fluent English. In Dongdaemun, the unni manning the shop was very friendly and joke around with us even though she didn't speak English. We were like chicken and duck and finally gave me good discount after I told her, unni is pretty and nice. I will come again to this shop

Yes, you may add a little bit of money and stay in another hotel. However, I think, Namdaemun area guesthouse is not bad. Most Malaysian stay in this area too. Hongdae area is another one you can give a 2nd thought.

Dongdaemun close at 11pm but not all shop are open for normal customer. Most are open for wholesaler. So you need to double check. I only went there twice but during day time not nite time.

BTW, don't buy any clothing in Namdaemun. Overprice and not good quality. In Namdaemun, I found 1 white blouse I like and the seller sell for KRW25,000. She didn't want to give discount, not even KRW1000. So we left. In Dongdaemun, I found the same white blouse for KRW25,000 with better quality. The lady give me KRW5000 discount. Namdaemun is like Petaling Street. The only good about this market is souvenir and good quality brooch,bangles,bracelet and others accessories.

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Added on April 29, 2012, 11:46 amWhat do you mean by weekly subway?

This post has been edited by Listiani: Apr 29 2012, 11:50 AM

Meaning that staying near to Myeongdong is still a good choice... maybe everyone experienced different situation in seoul =P
By the way... are there many motels or Inns around in the town itself? I mean in shoplot kinds, and near to the subway station?
As I know mostly Guesthouse like Namsan is centered in sorta residential area? correct me.

From what I observed, guesthouses mostly located uphill or slightly behind the main road/subway. Hotels like Sejong, Sky Park, Pacific, Prince are the one right at the main road. I don't how much the hotel cost but my guess, much higher than the guesthouses. Even if you book with Resident EO guesthouse or Seoul Tower Ville Guesthouse, the situation is the same. Walking up hill dragging our luggage from the main subway/road. That's why on my next visit, I will just stay in normal hotel instead of guesthouse. However,that's only my personal opinion. Maybe customer who stay in Dongdaemun, Hongdae or other area experience better situation.

yeah.. that's exactly what am i picturing now, dragging luggage uphill and walking in quiet roads...

Hope someone can recommend any nice motels/inns (RM200+-) which is in the town city itself, like those situated right in the center of bukit bintang and near to subway... wonder got such a deal or not

I doubt you can get hotel with RM200 plus in Seoul. Similarly to Hong Kong, Seoul is an expensive city.

BTW, tips for shoppping in Korea. Pls ask how much is the item before you decide to buy. The seller doing tricky tactic. What they display not neccessarily the price of the item. The display price sometimes is only for certain item. For example, they hang different colours and range of handbag together and put the price let say KRW30,000. Then big 30% discount next to the price. When you pick one of the bag, they will tell you that beg is not valid for the discount. The discount is only for 1 range type of bag only. Happened to me once and from that moment, I will ask how much is the price before I decide to buy it. What I found very funny was, how can they display the whole range of bag with 1 signage on 30% when the discount is only for 1 stupid type of handbag?

In Migliore, I saw rack of tops (probably around 20-30 tops in a row) with signage price is KRW8000 per top. I picked 1 top among all and asked how much. Turn out the price is KRW10,000. Sometimes they put another spagetti strap inside the top on the display and put the price as KRW6900. Turn out that they sell it separately. The top and spagetti strap. So you must add in the price for the spagetti strap inside. The outside top is KRW6900 and the spagetti strap is another KRW5000. So pls double chk the price before you decide to buy.

Me! 13th till 20th

Me too! 13~21 May!

waahh so manyy~
care to share your itinerary here?
still finalizing mine

Something like this?

i will be there 18 - 23 !

O ya, just for some general information.

I went to Midvalley to exchange Korean Won last Saturday.

The rate now is around 1000won = RM2.8

I got RM3000 = 1072000 Won in total.

This post has been edited by kongkkm: May 1 2012, 11:22 AM

Is that a good rate?

Not really, I told the guy if I exchange RM10000( including my friends), the best rate he can give me is 1000 Won = RM2.78.

Because I go and change alone, the rate still RM2.8 for 1000 Won.

Which mean total loss of 10000 Won.

will be going there for second time this 15-21 september..anybody going there on the same period?

last year ..it was spring..tulips were everywhere..

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Added on April 30, 2012, 12:02 pmlove shopping for skin care products and cosmetic over there, you will get many sampler and trial product that you can try out! plus..it is much cheaper than here..
ie skin food product, some are more than rm20 cheaper..


This post has been edited by naTea: Apr 30 2012, 12:02 PM

Totally agree on the skincare thingy. I love the paper mask that they sell there.... Lots of freebies which is great....

Also not forgetting their cotton pad for facial use... really good quality for such a low price.....

awesome!!
where are you guys staying? ^^

For Soeul, we stay at Bangrang Hostel.

For Jeju, we stay at Hkjeju.

Both are around RM50-60 night/person.

Is that your flight at 13 May also 11pm?

Oh ~ we'll only be in seoul so its namsan guest house all the way haha
Yes! 11pm ! ^^