Great info ! Thank you Seng007.

In Thailand, we can easily charter a private car or van with driver for 2000 to 3000 bath excluding petrol for one whole day, do you reckon such service in easily available in Seoul ?

This post has been edited by aeiou228: Aug 10 2010, 08:40 AM

aeiou,

Wah u do luv nami island...Winter Sonata probably poisoned you kaw kaw haha. Anyway, the travel agent link shared by Seng007 here: http://www.seoulcitytour.net/English/eng_menu_02_05.html
pretty interesting although on the high side ~RM260/pax min..walau ehhh

Do share when you can find cheaper options..

anyone got garmin map for korea?

Mr. Seng, Do u go sokcho near mount seoraksan? How u think this small town?

Seng 007...Thank you very much!!
I'm more relieved now cause keep hearing everyone saying Korea is super expensive.

ya i'd better learn some basic korean or else i'll surely get lost there...will refer to this thread for interesting and cheap places in Korea =)

Well, such service I am not really sure about it. I think it might be available, do ask the car rental agents if they have such a service. I think they should have contacts. As far as I know, for Jeju Island, to charter a cab for a day would be 100,000 won inclusive of petrol. Not sure how much would it cost in Seoul though.

Actually, it is expensive after thinking of the street food can cost an avg 7000won or RM20/bowl!! comparing this to avg HK wanton noodle at HK$15 or ~RM7

However hotels can be as low as US$38 which is a relief..phewwss & nice hearing that hostel can get as low as US$30 for private ensuite.

You are welcome. It is expensive, but it's not as expensive as we thought. I've lived there for 4 months and I find it reasonably priced. At times, I find the expenses are lower than Singapore (I lived in Singapore for 3 years). =) So if u've been to Singapore and find the prices ok, it's likely u will find Korea a cheaper place to go to =).

U can cover a few places like this to make it interesting :
1. Seoul (A lot of attractions + Theme Park + City life)
2. Gyeongju (A city with a lot of history and culture)
3. Jeonju (Best bibimbap in whole Korea, else rather boring)
4. Busan (They have the largest spring spa in Asia + cheap seafood + sashimi!!)
5. Jeju (Big island with a lot of Museums.........else, nothing much)

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Added on August 10, 2010, 11:45 amStreet food does not cost 7000 won. Example: A plate of rice cake (Dokbokki) will cost 1,000 won (RM3). With additional fish cakes + eggs = 2,000 (RM6) won. 3 fried squids at 1,000 won (RM6).

This post has been edited by Seng007: Aug 10 2010, 11:45 AM

for a 5 days' tour, should i just go around seoul, or i still have time to visit other places like recommended by seng007 above?

Sorry, I haven't been to North East part of Korea... so I can't comment much on the cities. However, according to my local friends, there's ntg much/interesting in North East Coastal Areas...

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Added on August 10, 2010, 11:47 amI would suggest u to go just around Seoul. It's too rush for u to even cover Seoul + Busan

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Added on August 10, 2010, 11:52 amKorean can be self learnt. These are a few websites I find useful :

http://language.snu.ac.kr/site/kr/klec/cli...orean/index.jsp
http://korean.sogang.ac.kr/


They were given by my tutor when I was taking Korean Lessons in Singapore.

This post has been edited by Seng007: Aug 10 2010, 11:52 AM

thanks seng007.

for local transportation, i read that there are those t-card where we can get some saving. but can the card be used for all the buses and subway in seoul? or it's only limited to some only?

OK tnx, earlier forumers was quoting 6000-7000won for a simple st food..pheww..

6,000 - 7,000 won can get u quite a good meal in a restaurant already..

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Added on August 10, 2010, 12:02 pmYes, it's a T-money card. The card itself can be used on all the buses and subways in Seoul only. The saving is 100 won per trip for buses and subway. However, the card itself will cost 2,500 won. Which means, in order to breakeven, u need to take 25 times of subways + buses to make it back. However, it's convenient as u do not have to pay everytime u board a bus/subway, just nid to tap the card. It works like Ez-link in Singapore.

This post has been edited by Seng007: Aug 10 2010, 12:02 PM

wow... 25 times. then maybe no saving already. but can the card be used for 2 person? or each of us need our own card?

Yes, each of u will need to use ur own card. But u can actually save a lot of time by purchasing the card. Imagine u have to queue at the ticketing machine to get the ticket before u depart. It's very troublesome. Moreover sometimes u might nid to change ur destination when u are in the subway. So for convenience sake, better to buy that card. =)

I think all those Asian MRT cards are worth it..I used the Taipei easycard wth refundable deposit (not sure this T-card) & it was so convenient wth the discounted fare thrown-in. All-in, I only spent ~ RM60/pax on most of my 6D5N stays in Taipei last yr wth their easycard system..can even used to take their train service to Keelung & also their bus services...Worth every $$...no need taxi haha

ya, you got a point there. may i know where can i get the cards?

also from airport to city, there are a few means of tarnsportation: bus, train, etc. may i know which 1 is more convenient? found that the limo bus is not cheap, around 15k won per pax.

For the card, u may get it in any subway station. It's at the ticketing office.

Limo bus is the most convenient but more expensive. Limo bus to Seoul city costs around 7000 won only. For cheapest, go for subway but it will take u quite some time to reach city.

This post has been edited by Seng007: Aug 10 2010, 02:22 PM

Not sure these 2 maps good or not
http://mapcenter.cgpsmapper.com/maplist.ph...=119&rgn=&cat=2

BTW, do PM me if you can find one

Otherwise, I probably DL ovimaps dy.

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Added on August 10, 2010, 2:25 pmI read, the train servicing Incheon & Gimpo to be opened end of this year..Hope is early Dec so can go direct from airport to the city Confirmed Dec 2010
This post has been edited by stimix: Aug 10 2010, 02:25 PM

Hi seng , can u elaborate more how you go to the muju resort and do you remember ur travel expenses and charges of the rental equipment or if u can maybe u can include yongpyeong ski resort too. So, i will have two option to choose.

if i'm not mistaken from my google info for Yongpyeong ski

Lift+gondola (daytime) = 71000 won
Ski Rental (daytime) = 26000 won
Ski wear (daytime) = 25000 won (is it a must or optional to wear)?
shuttle bus (round trip) = 28000 won

and if i check at grace travel they offer yongpyong package for daily tour include Round Transportation, English Speaking Guide, Ski gear & gloves Rental at 125, 000 won but without ski wear and i didn't know if this package include the lift rental too. But, for budget planning around 150,000 won. which should i decide??

but for Muju ski i only get this info without any info for ski rental and the shuttle bus ..

Lift (daytime) = 63000 won


I've been planning for backpacker traveler so it would be fun if i can go there by myself without need to apply any package with agencies. Like what u told for how to go to nami island the info very much useful to me for my travel planner.

Thank u so much for the info..can u tell me why is it will be very troublesome journey..maybe i need to prepare anything..