Hi, I'm going to Korea this July. Flight and stay all set.

I have three questions here:

Is it better to use credit/debit card or cash? Which will gives better rate?
I checked and found out that bank charge for atm withdrawal. What about credit cards?
If there are cards that don’t charge, would appreciate if you guys could kindly let me know the cards that don’t charge for oversea spending.

Read from some Taiwanese blog posts saying that changing money to USD first in own country and change USD to Korean Won in Korea, the rate will be better. Is it the same case with Malaysia?

Finally, any restaurants that you guys went and would recommend?

I travelled from 4-11 April 2014. The rate I exchanged from MYR to KRW the week before I left was 3.14.

I used credit card on several occasions during the trip and the rate was between 3.16-3.18 (i only got to know about the rate after viewing my cc statements). No extra charges unlike atm withdrawal. No idea about debit card though.

Read from blogs that some grannies in Namdaemun Market offered best exchange rate. However, I didnt see any of them around. Instead, the money changers there were manned by some guys. The exchange rate then was USD 1 = KRW 1040 - 1050.

For my case, it would be better if i exchanged all MYR to KRW in Malaysia cos during my trip the KRW was on the rise...

The best meals I had were at:
1) Chilgabsan at Insadong. we ordered set meal and there were like 12 banchans and all very delicious. http://tirano.egloos.com/1751108

2) Kalguksu at Namdaemun

3) 기억나는집 at Jeju, Seogwipo http://blog.naver.com/PostView.nhn?blogId=...gNo=70095897384
(live abalones in the pot, very fresh, very yummy! i still miss it until today...)

4) 옛날옛적 nearby Sunrise Peak, Jeju http://panuna.tistory.com/2265?_new_tistory=new_title

This post has been edited by kindaichihajime: Apr 25 2014, 04:31 PM

Hi guys, i have bought tickets to Busan this early Sept for 7 days trip. Planning to have 3 days visit to Jeju and another 3 days in Busan. I checked Air Busan domestic air flight to Busan and 2pax cost around RM1k for return. Not as cheap as my original thought...

Is the price reasonable? or wait for promotion price? the seat left not much though...

Any idea?

I booked air busan from seoul to jeju for rm120 one way in6months advance. I guess seoul to jeju route would be cheaper than busan to jeju.

Flying time & distance almost similar regardless of Busan or Incheon. However Busan much more convenient bcos the Domestic terminal is just next to Main terminal & within walking distance. From Incgeon, you need to take the train to Gimpo Airport which is ~30-40Km away

Hi all,

I'm going to seoul next months but i got few question.

1. May i know is there any different if i book online or buy on the spot at seoul station for KTX ticket from seoul to busan 3day pass??

2. And which is the best prepaid with data package in seoul, can i get in incheon airport?

3. Heard from KTO that 1st april 2014 onward that we foreigner can get VAT refund for hotel stay more than 2night but less than 30day. Does this implement for homestay ??

thanks

Any idea on rental of Wifi Egg, and return at different counter?
eg: Rent at Incehon and return at Busan Airport?

Thank you so much for your kind information, kindaichihajime! ^^

Only applicable to participating hotels. You can find the list of participating hotels here.

1. There's no noticeable difference between booking online and on the spot in terms of pricing, but booking it online gives you a peace of mind and all you have to do on the spot is bring the printout of the confirmation page and they will exchange the tickets for you. Less things to do on the spot.

2. Prepaid packages are very similar, but at the airport you get to see LGU+ and Olleh as the most common now. But if you're getting a SIM card, the current law requires you to stay for 3 days first. So it's easier to get an EGG unit

I had tried it and they will accept it. In my case, i rented it in Incheon airport and returned it at Gimhae airport.

The food industry is very competitive in Korea... so any random place you hit there will taste good. I'd tried the random hit several times and it's all better than any korean food restaurants in M'sia. The only difference is the pricing.. heh.. Though some places do have some rarer items, just keep your eyes wide open for those.. =)

That's exactly my situation, entering at Seoul(/ICN) then back KL from Busan (Gimhae)
What model/brand/company did you rent?
Do you still remember the package/pricing?

TQVM.

I rented from Olleh... the price is 8000 total per day... My friend who was travelling with me rented from LGU+ with also a total cost of 8000 per day.... LGU+ have slightly better coverage and speed, but the battery life is awful... remember to bring a power bank with you.. =)

Hi _ChAoS_,

Thanks for your reply. for KTX online booking if for infant below 2year old does it need to book?? and for the SIM card i think i'll getting the SIM card since i'll be in seoul for 2week.

I traveled with all adults, but from what i read from KTO website, infants travel for free... so i guess tickets are not necessary

If you're planning to stay there for a long time, you can get the SIM card, but you're still only able to register and use your SIM card 3 days after arrival... I'm not sure if there are any ways to bypass that...

Alright KR pass booked for 3day passes. So meaning i can use the passes unlimited ride for 3day??
About the SIM card i think it should be same like malaysia prepaid gua...see below
http://www.egsimcard.co.kr/eng/about-eg-sim-card/charges.asp

only to make sure our phone support 2100mhz, which i think iphone5 support 2100mhz.

Yea, you can use it for unlimited times for 3 days, but where to you plan to go around in S.Korea?

SIM card charges are good there, not too expensive, it's only the limitation of the 3-days-stay that put a lot of ppl off. If there's a way around it or you found a carrier that allows use of it, please do let us know here.. =)

I think most Iphones and samsung supports it, we asked them about Sony while we were there and they just say "no no, no Sony"... *sweat*... haha

If you monitor the currency trend for RM closely... you tend to get lower rate somewhere on July - September (due low season maybe). It should be around 2.7 - 2.9 only.

But from November onwards the rate goes slightly up but still below 3.15. And once the winter season is over... the rate keeps on increasing to 3.22 (latest showed in Moneymaster).

I went there last February and changed my RM on January (3.12). That's the lowest that I can get. Yes, still high. Sobs. I used my Citibank credit card for cosmetic purchase and food purchase... turns out that the rate Citibank charge is slightly lower than the rate that I changed at Money Changer. I'm not sure whether is it applied to Citibank credit card only or to all credit cards.

I used Maybank mastercard there for beauty products purchasing too... After conversion, it's lower than what i paid for at money changers