Thanks for the Vid! Nice!

Anyway, I'm going korea for 15 Days (starting 6th of december, yes next week) with my gf(that is studying there and speaks korean)

So..
What are the MUST visit for me?

I'm not planning to rush in and out of that country. Take it slow and sweet.. so yeah. I'll travel follow our mood, so i'd love to pin out few important one.. and some other choices is in *consideration*

I've already pin at Yongpyong skii, Mt.Seoraksan(do u think it's advisable to go at winter time?), Nami island.

I went to Matta fair and the koreans there asked me to visit the state : Chungcheongbuk-do (the national parks)

Seoul - I will visit this place in thruly, as i will stay there 1 week (while my gf having her class in uni)

lastly, I'm planning to shoot lots of photo there.. so nice sceneries are really welcomed

This post has been edited by ycl90: Nov 27 2009, 01:54 AM

I came here to ask a few things before. Now my turn to contribute some infomation (although it'd been almost 6 months since i travelled to korea)

It was my first time travelling alone to a foreign land(malaysia plenty times lah).

Total spending of the whole trip include air ticket : +-RM5500 (I always find malaysia airlines cheaper. I brought to and fro for 1300 when i tavel there, and 1600 for my Gf to come back)
Total days : 15 days

Date : 5/12/2009 - 20/12/2009

Places visited :
Incheon(1 night) > Seoul (1 night) > Yongpyong (1 night) > Seoraksan (3 nights) > Chuncheon + namisland (1 night) > Seoul (7 nights)


Accomodation :
As I'm a student, I'm traveling on budget. My girlfriend is studying in seoul, and hence, she travels with me during that period of time. Travelling on budget means i couldn't afford to spend Rm300 on hotel room per night, looking at the period of days I'm planning to spend in korea. I stay in Motels. Motels could be find in every corner of korea. Its so easy that every time i pop up my Garmin GPS and look for accommodation, i could find them within walking distance. Motels in korea is NORMALLY meant for young couples to seek some fun, and hence the design of rooms are catered for them. YEs, big mirrors, big TVs, nice bathtubs(higher class one). This might not be the case for tourist place like Seoraksan(I had a awesome motel there with kitchen, bath room, and big room). The comfort and cleaniness? Great. No problem with that even in cold winter they had.

Motels normally cost around 30000 - 60000 won. I normally get around 35000 to 45000 during my trip there. I got some really nice price in Seoraksan as it was low season, only 45000 won for big big rooms.

Transportation :
Bus(inter and intra city), Taxi(on some occasion), Subway(often in seoul).
Try to buy the card like touch n go. Its cheaper by 100won when you take bus. It is a must! You can get your credit in the card returned with the machine in most subway stations.
I have my Garmin GPS with me to look for accommodation and laptop to find recommended motels. It is important to me as i did not book any accommodation before hand.
Call their tourist help centre to check for intercity buses, stations and so on. OR ask the locals. Pick the younger people as they could understand english better than the older generations.

Food :
This sections plays a major role in my budget. It is expensive, but at the same time, i find them delicious. I could recall few good food i've tried is Chuncheon's Dakgalbi. If you're really on budget, you might be like me, finding myself most of the time in fast food restaurant(Lotte(must try), Mcdonalds, KFC) for breakfast or lunch They do serve some nice burgers (better than malaysia's one, ecpecially their korean special beef burgers). The fas tfood restaurants are cheaper compare to those tradisional korean food in tourist areas. I fall in love with their soju, i had them every night in the restaurant near my motel and grilling pork for supper(the cheapest grill pork i could find around). It's a MUST to try their grill pork and beef (even though some of them could cost rm100+ per meal in a not-so-high-class restaurant).

Having a kitchen in your room is great, you could cook yourself breakfast with their not-so-cheap Instant noodles.

Oh ya, 7-up in Korea is different.they call it Saida! It taste good though.
I love the 10-story tall ice-cream!! You could find them in most commercial area like Myeongdong and nice 2 eat during winter! It doesn't melt XD Lots of flavours to choose from, a must try.

If you couldn't find cheap food in some area you're travelling on, worry not! Just pay a visit to FamilyMart(7-eleven alike or any convinient store), they sell some delicious Seoul FreshMilk and nice Kimbab!

Reminder : Most korean style restaurants that serve kimchi and so on, the veges are normally free. Dont get shocked if they refuse to serve you after you ordered your food. You need to order a certain amount of food per pax. I was onced given a black long face after i order 1 person's meal as my GF wasn't very hungry

What restaurant to choose? Its up to you really, but I'd avoid those restaurants with aunty outside the restaurant asking you to go in and try their food, and you'd realised there are no people in the restaurant. They normally exist in tourist area, and charge extra ordinary price. Watchout. Good restaurants dont need to pull you in, if they need to, they're probably not good enough.

Shopping :
I'm not a great shopper, but I do know some stuff that is cheaper than malaysia.
Facial products like stated, but many doesn't not know that camera bags, photographic accesories are very cheap in korea compare to malaysia, easily 50% cheaper. I got my KATA camera bag there. Not to forget, sanyo eneloop rechargeable batteries are 30-50% cheaper than malaysia, depends on ur bargaining skill. They could be easiliy found in Namdaemun, or other shopping area.

Note, becareful with electronics in korea, especially those technology complex. Their price is slightly more expensive, although you can bargain. Unless you know the real price, you're gonna be like a goat going into the tiger's cave. Same thing applies to foreigner in malaysia going lowyat, isnt?


Must do :
1) River cruisse in Hanyang river, korea
2) Watch korean stage performers (I watched JUMP and Nanta) They cost more than rm100 per person. I prefer Nanta, but it costed me Almost RM200 for VIP seat. But I never regret watching it, its very lively, a MUST TRY!
3) Namiseom island, cycling with ur loved one and take some nice pictures!
4) Try the 6 hours trail in Seoraksan. The scenery is breath taking (even though it's not yet covered in snow!) I will update this post to put in all the names. I forgotten.
5) Ski during winter! It's tiring, but fun! Make sure you have coach to teach you. It's fun, really.
6) Palaces. It's not the authentic one, but its good to know some history of korea. Most of the palaces in korea are rebuilt in the modern days, unlike china. I spent 2 days alone on their palaces, taking pictures and enjoying their history trails.
7) Shop for souvenirs in Insadong. The price of souvenirs in insadong MIGHT be slightly more expensive, but you get varieties. Insadong is more like a art street. You might find these souvenirs in Namdaemun too, slightly, only slightly cheaper. When I say Slightly, it probably means RM1 different for 5 sets of souvenirs.


Last words,
Seoul's subway map isn't that hard to understand. It's fun to figure it out and very swiftly, you can wander around Seoul like I did. Did I mention I spend 7 days in Seoul? Subways fares, when accumulated, is'nt cheap at all!(cost me close to RM200)

If you have any problem, just ring their tourism help centre. They speak good english and very helpful.


Edited on 5th June. I'll add on the details of every places later. Gonna check through the pictures

This post has been edited by ycl90: Jun 5 2010, 03:22 AM

Yes, includes the goodies i brought. Nevertheless, i only brought a few stuff from korea, cost not most than RM800.

Since u're exchange student in Busan, i kinda know you too! Internets' crazy nowadays

Exchange rate. in malaysia is probably Rm1 = 360 +- 5 won. But if you go money exchanger in malaysia, expect slightly lower.

2000 won, possible! Add a 200 you might get a fastfood set meal. The grill pork I had every night was.. 1500 per 100 gram of sliced pork, and you can just take all you can for the vege. But normally per person, you have to order 200gram la, if not you will see the face of the tauke change. They give you free food and vege, if you don order until a certain amount per pax, they would not welcome you at some restaurant. I personally experienced some resturant whom refused to serve us cause i order only one person's meal. My gf wasnt hungry, o well. experience

Laundry service's available, but you might get some hard time looking for one. I spent 1 hour + to 2 hours alone, looking for dobis. Went into church, and other places, they just dont understand me! My gf wasn't with me that time, but good experience. As for dry cleaning, the shop name writes "COMPUTER XXXXXX" something, which i find it kinda funny. Got my gf's coat dry cleaned because of soft drinks spill over it.

Anyway, in winter, I'm quite sure you will not need it. Even for 2 weeks, you can just wear ur clothes few times, as you don't really sweat. You might only need to change ur long john after all.

Air asia is going to korea SOON, few news has been made. Nevertheless, hope you'll enjoy your trip. Always bring more money you plan to spend, anything emergency it will help you. Bring it in RM if you dont plan to spend, change only when you want to.(note that malaysia ringgit is not widely accepted, but banks should do it right. I know Japan YEN and USD was easily accepted, they even have these money changer on the streets like Namdaemun.)

I think seoul should be fine. My gf's able to change in seoul, maybe she's using a foreign friendly bank.

I strongly agree with huiyin, I got 35000 won normally for accomodation, thats I'm not staying in tourist conjested area.

@nejin
If I'm gonna budget myself, 1 day for food, I'm gonna spend at least RM50. When you go travelling, you can save on 1 meal, and spend on the other two! You're travelling to a place which you might not even go back for second time, save on what you could, but not to an extend you dont enjoy the local cultures and people and foods.

Let me remind abit.. erm

They dont allow 3 person per room in motels.

Yes they can recognise you, motels are generally smaller in size. So, yeah.

2 person max, per room, generally