Itinerary to South Korea

Two Weeks Vacation in South Korea - Part I

Part I: Two Weeks Vacation in South Korea - Part I
Part II: Two Weeks Vacation in South Korea - Part II
Part III: Two weeks Vacation in South Korea - Part III

After I started watching Korean TV shows and drama back in 2010, I went crazy with everything about South Korea. I decided to visit South Korea - Seoul, Busan, and Gangwon-Do in 2014. I went with my sister who flew from Texas and my parents who flew from Indonesia, while I flew from New York. Since we traveled by ourselves, I had to do the research 6 months ago before the departure day. My sister and I flew there 2 days earlier than my parents. I created the itinerary so that we did not forget to visit the destination points.

 

 

Do not forget to look for coupons before you went there. I printed all the coupons so that it is readily available. This is the lists of website where you can print the coupons:

1.  http://www.visakorea.com/index.shtml (Click the "Visa special offers for foreign travelers to Korea" - this coupon is available every year beginning April 1st to March 31 the next year)
2. http://www.vkc.or.kr/en/benefit/coupon.asp
3. http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/index.kto (This website give lots of information about South Korea and where I collected information about tour, phone number of destinations, and how to get there information)
4. http://www.utravelnote.com/note/coupon/cprint.php?c_seq=190 (Japanese website, if you do not understand Japanese like I do, use google chrome to translate it)
5. http://www.koreagaja.com/ (Chinese website, if you do not understand Chinese like I do, use google chrome to translate it)
6. http://www.konest.com/  (Japanese website, if you do not understand Japanese like I do, use google chrome to translate it)
7. http://www.seoulnavi.com/coupon/coupon_list.php (Japanese website, if you do not understand Japanese like I do, use google chrome to translate it)
8. https://rsvweb.airbusan.com/content/common/flynjoy/flyNFun/ (As long as you flight with Air Busan, you can use the coupons. They offer the coupons in couples cities such as Seoul, Busan, and Jeju Island)

 The Itinerary:

1. Three Nights in Seoul - Suwon   Day 1 - Day 2 - Day 3 - Day 4 
2. Two Nights in Busan  Day 4 - Day 5 - Day 6 
3. Three Nights in Jeju Island Day 6 - Day 7 - Day 8 - Day 9
4. Three Nights in Seoul Day 9 - Day 10 - Day 11 
5. Two Nights in Gangwon-Do Day 12 - Day 13 
6. Four Nights in Seoul

May 13, 2014 - Finally the day arrived and fly via United with points: PWM - EWR - NRT - ICN (26 hours)

The View from Plane Newark to Narita

Narita International Airport - Japan

After 14 hours flight, I arrived at Narita International Airport. I went to United Lounge to get a shower and food. The lounge is very nice but very busy.

Credit @ One Thousand Places

 

Next, time to fly to the destination point, Incheon Airport in South Korea via Asiana Airlines. As always, the food and service that offered is better than United Airlines.

Dinner offered in Asiana Airlines flight from Narita to Incheon

Day 1: Seoul

 

Incheon International Airport - South Korea

After 3 hours flight, I finally arrived in Incheon Airport, South Korea.

Credit @ Design Building

When I arrived, my sister had already waited for me for 6 hours. She actually went to Jimjilbang at the airport while wait for me. I changed money thru Hana Bank and rent KT WiFi router before went to our hotel. (Both Hana Bank and KT WiFi had coupon from one of the coupon link website) 

TIPS: DO NOT CHANGE MONEY AT THE AIRPORT SINCE IT HAS POOR CURRENCY EXCHANGE RATE. USE ATM or EXCHANGE AT MYEONGDONG.

Credit @ Mike.Lee

I also bought one SIM card with a data plan at one of the convenience store at the airport since the battery of KT Olleh WiFi only last for couple hours. Also, I brought a power bank during my trip and I used it almost every day.

 

Yeongdeungpo-gu - Seoul

We then went to 1st floor Gate 6A. Then, wait at 12B to take a bus 6008 to our hotel, Courtyard Seoul Times Square Courtyard Seoul Times Square Review. We arrived around 10 PM (14 stops to Times Square) with four 28" luggage and one 26" inside one of the 28" luggage. Then, we checked-in and had dinner, night street food at the side building of the hotel. Note: 1,000 won off Coupon is available from Konest or Utravelnot

TIPS: IT IS EASIER TO TAKE BUS WITH FOUR BIG LUGGAGE THAN SUBWAY SINCE YOU HAVE TO CHANGE LINES COUPLE TIMES AND SOME OF THE SUBWAY STATION DO NOT HAVE ELEVATOR OR ESCALATOR LIKE THE ONE IN YEONGDEUNGPO STATION.

Credit @ Marriott.com

Credit @ Halfdazed

 Continue to Part II: Two Weeks Vacation in South Korea - Part II