3 days 2 nights in Busan - I

Two Weeks Vacation in South Korea - Part IV

Part III: Two weeks Vacation in South Korea - Part III  
Part IV: Two Weeks Vacation in South Korea - Part IV
Part V: Two Weeks Vacation in South Korea - Part V

Itinerary to South Korea
 

Day 4: Seoul - Busan

Incheon International Airport 

Our parents should arrive this morning at 8:20 AM via Air Asia but the night before the flight that should depart at 1 AM delay for 3 hours. They ended arrive at 11:20 AM. Therefore, we had a chance to eat breakfast at the hotel since we did not have to leave early to the airport to pick them up. We decided to take metro to the airport since we wanted to experience it. After breakfast, we walked to Yeongdeungpo station. 

Direction:
1. Take line 1 (blue line) from Yeongdeungpo station to Singil (2 stops)
2. Take line 5 (purple line) from Singil to Gimpo International Airport (13 stops)
3. Take AREX from Gimpo International Airport to Incheon Internation Airport (5 stops)

Alternative Direction:
1. Take line 1 (blue line) from Yeongdeungpo station to Seoul station (7 stops)
2. Take AREX from Seoul station to Incheon International Airport (10 stops)

Note: For the airport railroad, make sure choose the right train that go to Incheon International Airport. We chose the wrong one and had to exit Unseo and caught the next one. It really did not matter anyway since it did not make you wait longer. After 90 minutes or so, we arrived at the Incheon International Airport. 

Tips: I will suggest to take Airport Limousine Bus rather than metro to the airport if you have lots of luggage especially on the weekend. I will explain it later when we were on the way to catch KTX from Seoul Station to Busan. 

 AREX at Gimpo International Airport (Credit @ Seoul Man)

Underground Walk Way from Transportation Center to Check-In Counter

From the airport, we took airport bus limousine 6008 to Courtyard Seoul Times Square hotel with my parents and 3 luggage. Remember to use 1,000 won coupon from the coupon website links on Part I. When we arrived at the hotel, my mom would like to take a shower before we went to Busan. We bought night snack food in front of the Times Square so my parents could fill their stomach since they had not eaten all night long. Four of us have a total of 8 luggage, 4 were 28", 3 were 26", and 1 was 20". We decided to take 2 28" and 1 26" to Busan and Jeju Island. The rest we request the concierge at the hotel to keep it until we went back to Seoul. That was the great thing about Courtyard Seoul Times Square. They also let us to check out at 4 PM as complimentary for a gold elite member.

Yeongduengpo Underground Shopping Center

We then walked to Yeongdeungpo station to Seoul station to catch KTX to Busan. That day was a Saturday, and how regret of me to pick that day to go to Busan. The underground shopping and the metro were full of people and packed compare to the week day. It was unbelievable. That's the reason I mentioned not to take a metro to go to the airport with lots of luggage. Also, they were lots of stairs at the underground. Some station did not have elevator at all, only stairs and stairs. 

My dad was wearing sandal at time while taking one of the luggage. On the way out from times square to underground shopping, there was revolving door. My dad got in to one of the empty door with the luggage and an unknown pregnant woman also got in the spot where my dad got in. Both of them stuck and the revolving door did not stop revolving. My dad sandal stuck at the revolving door and he could not take out his foot from the sandal. One good thing about South Korea was that everyone directly help my dad and couple men tried hold the door so that the door did not nip my father's foot. The security came and turn off the revolving door. What a stupid  mistake, we should just take a door next to it. A lesson to remember.

Underground Shopping during the Weekend

Underground Shopping during the Weekday

Subway during the Weekend (not as bad as during rush hours on weekday) Credit @ Larry Suen

Stair and Stairs (Credit @ Sarah Kuszelewick)

Direction:
1. Take line 1 (blue line) from Yeongdeungpo station to Seoul station (7 stops)

Seoul Station

We finally arrived at Seoul Station. This time we could take an elevator. What a relieved. Then, we head up to where the KTX were. I had to change my KTX ticket due to my parents' flight delay. Luckily, they allowed me to change the time of the departure. Since we have time before the departure, we bought food since all of us were hungry. I just bought mayak-gimbap for me. My parents and sister bought teriyaki with rice and noodles at one of the shop. After that we departed from Seoul Station Terminal 8 to Busan Station. It took approximately 2 hour and 40 min.
  

KTX tickets to Busan Station

Food Counter at Seoul Station

Seoul Station (Credit @ wikimedia)

Seoul Station (Credit @ Kevin Revolinski)

Seoul Station (Credit @Explore Metro)

Seoul Station (Credit @문인종)

My mom and sister at the KTX train

Busan Station

It was a good experience to ride KTX to Busan. Even the economy class chairs were very comfortable. I would take the KTX again in the future. My rate for KTX is 4.5/5. 0.5 off due to the WiFi. There is a free WiFi inside the train but it kept disconnected. We ended up using our KT WiFi Egg. 

KTX arriving at Busan Station

Mom and I inside Busan Station

My parents and I outside Busan Station

Since it late already, my parents requested not to take a metro but a cab instead to our hotel. They had not had enough slept due to the delay on the flight in the morning and both of them could not sleep at the airplane. Therefore, we walked to where the taxis were parked. In there, one of the ahjussi told us to use CRV taxi type. There was no indication that the CRV car was actually a Taxi nor it had the meter. Therefore, we asked the ahjussi, how much to go to our hotel at Park Hyatt at Haeundae. He charged us 30,000 won. I guessed it was not bad. 

The Haeundae view from taxi

Gwangali & Haeundae Maps

We finally arrived at our hotel at Park Hyatt Busan. This is one of the best hotel that I had ever visited. As a diamond member, the room was upgraded to the suites. We stayed here for two nights.

Fountain in front of Park Hyatt Busan

Gumsubokguk

After checked-in, we decided to have dinner. For the dinner, my sister would like to try "Fugu/Puffer/Blow Fish/bok-eo". There was one road section at Haeundae that had couple restaurants that served this fugu fish. Fugu fish is poisonous due to its tetrodotoxin so that it must be prepared very carefully to remove the toxic parts and not contaminated the meat. One popular restaurant that served this fish was Gumsubokguk. Since they were very popular, they opened a branch in Seoul. We took a taxi from the hotel to get there and cost us around 6,000 won since it was very close.

Fugu/Puffer/Blow Fish/bok-eo

Gumsubokguk Restaurant in Busan

In front of Gumsubokguk Restaurant

 Fugu Fish Dishes at Gumsubokguk Restaurant

I would rate this restaurant 5/5. The fried fish and fish soup were great and we liked it. I liked the last one too but my mom and sister thought the smell are so strong on that dishes. For 4 people, 3 dishes were too much for us. Also, the food were on the pricey side but it was nice to try it and I would recommend people to try it. 

Haeundae Beach

From the restaurant, we were to full and decided to walk to Haeundae Beach. The beach is amazing at night. I would rate it 5/5. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Haeundae Beach at Night

Gwanggali Beach

From there we were taking a cab to Gwangalli beach where we could see the diamond bridge. The rate is about 6,000 won. The beach was fabulous. I would rate it 5/5.

Diamond Bridge at Gwangalli Beach

After that we went back to the hotel. Since it was a Saturday night and where most of the bars located, it was a little difficult to catch a cab since there were lots of people also were waiting for the cab.

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

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