I have always wanted to write up on my Seoul trip for quite some time but I couldn't find a way to start it. Seoul (South Korea to be exact) has been one of my dream place to visit and what not I traveled and fulfilled my dream trip with my friend. Koreans are very friendly and need not afraid in asking help from them where sign language is very useful despite the languages barrier.
Planning
Started 2 months before the actual travelling date where both of us were busy in the beginning of the year (I just started working and my friend was away for training). We started with finding accommodations in Seoul and my friend was in charged for the bookings. Done with accommodations, we listed down the places that we wished to visit, things we wished to do and food we wished to try out in Seoul. Based on the lists, I summarized it and arranged the schedule. Be mindful that you cant follow 100% according to your initial plan.
1. SK Telecom roaming
2. KT Olleh
3. LG U+
Facilities:
Shared bathroom, free wifi, shared kitchen, free towel, luggage storage
Getting there:
Get off at Sangsu station (subway station line no. 6- BROWN line) . Get out from exit no. 1 (where there are like hundred steps of stairs), turn 180 degrees, walk straight before turning into a junction on your left. Walk straight and turn into second junction on your left. Walk straight again and turn into 2nd junction on your left. The guesthouse is located at the end of the junction.
[2] Namsam 3 Guesthouse
There are several Namsam Guesthouses located in Myeongdong where Namsam 2, 3 and 4 located down hill (nearer to subway station) and Namsam 1 & 5 located up hill (nearer to Namsam tower). I would recommend to stay in the guesthouse that is nearer to subway station (unless you REALLY loves to walk). There are so many good reviews on this guesthouse so google up on this guesthouse is not an issue.
Facilities:
Private bathroom, free wifi, shared kitchen, breakfast (bread and ramen cup), shared lounge, free hanbok, weighting scale, free towel, luggage storage
Getting there:
Get off at Myeongdong station (subway station line no. 4- BLUE line). Get out from Exit no. 3 and face Facific hotel. Go straight on the right side (way to Namsam tower) and it's located on the left side of the road.
I miss Seoul.... errr... i mean my friend and I miss Seoul. We planned our dream
trip as much as we wanted to explore Seoul. Our heart raced when we
realized we were heading to Seoul for real. Excitement continued when I
lost my ipad on the plane and I managed to find it back. Thanks to my
travel partner for walking extra miles and we coolly cancelled one of
our itinerary. Adventure continued when I dragged my friend to try a
height adventure and we both made it. Tried an extreme spicy tteokbokki
hot pot and we successfully swallowed it. Experienced jimjilbang where
we missed the junction and walked extra miles and got into our own
trouble when we got a culture shock. Koreans are very helpful, kind and
friendly throughout our stay in Seoul. An uncle told us where to get the
t-money card with his limited English vocab, an aunty helped us during
our Petite France trip and a young man that helped me to carry my
luggage in the airport when a genius pressed the escalator emergency
button and we were stuck at the middle feeling so helpless with the
heavy luggage. Lotsa koreans thought we are koreans and spoke korean to
us but thanks to our limited korean vocabulary (dramas and running man),
we barely understood the messages that they were trying to tell us. I got
warned for speaking banmal (which is impolite to elders) a few times
because I didn't say "yo" when I ended a sentence. As much as we planned
and as much as we coolly changed/ cancelled some of our itineraries, we
both were super duper satisfied with our adventures. I went to the
places I wanted to visit, she went to the places she wanted to visit and
we went to the places that we wanted to visit. Sightseeing and shopping
spree are both equal for our trip all thanks to our randomness and
flexibility. Too many dramas and the script is rather too long which i
don't even know where is the beginning and where is the ending. Seoul, i
(we) definitely will be coming back for you.
Transportation
Getting around in Seoul is convenient with public transport. During our trip, we solely relied on subway and express bus (when we visited Danyang). For subway, buy the T-money card (2500 won that is non-refundable) at the convenience store (eg. 7-11, GS25, family mart, etc) and reload it at the subway stations.
Stay Connected
The easiest way to rent (pick up/ return) a wifi egg is in airport itself. There are a few selections you can choose:1. SK Telecom roaming
2. KT Olleh
3. LG U+
Accommodation
[1] Vin Guesthouse
Shared bathroom, free wifi, shared kitchen, free towel, luggage storage
Getting there:
Get off at Sangsu station (subway station line no. 6- BROWN line) . Get out from exit no. 1 (where there are like hundred steps of stairs), turn 180 degrees, walk straight before turning into a junction on your left. Walk straight and turn into second junction on your left. Walk straight again and turn into 2nd junction on your left. The guesthouse is located at the end of the junction.
[2] Namsam 3 Guesthouse
There are several Namsam Guesthouses located in Myeongdong where Namsam 2, 3 and 4 located down hill (nearer to subway station) and Namsam 1 & 5 located up hill (nearer to Namsam tower). I would recommend to stay in the guesthouse that is nearer to subway station (unless you REALLY loves to walk). There are so many good reviews on this guesthouse so google up on this guesthouse is not an issue.
Private bathroom, free wifi, shared kitchen, breakfast (bread and ramen cup), shared lounge, free hanbok, weighting scale, free towel, luggage storage
Getting there:
Get off at Myeongdong station (subway station line no. 4- BLUE line). Get out from Exit no. 3 and face Facific hotel. Go straight on the right side (way to Namsam tower) and it's located on the left side of the road.
Itineraries
Day [1]- Hongdae
- Hello Kitty Cafe
- Everland
- Jimjilbang
- Paragliding
- Danyang Market
- Noryangjin Fish Market
- Banpo Bridge Rainbow Show
- Ehwa Womans University
- Myeongdong Tourist Information Centre
- Myeongdong Cathedral
- Shopping in Myeongdong
- Namsam Tower
- Petite France
- Nami Island
- Dongdaemun
- Shopping in Myeongdong
- Gyeongbukgong
- National Folk Museum
- Cheongwadae
- Angel in Us Cafe
- Gwanghwamun Square
- Cheonggyecheon Stream
- Changdeokgung Palace
- Huwon
- Bukchon Hanok Village
- Shopping in Myeongdong
- Yeouido Flower Festival
- Sungkyunkwan University
- Shopping in Express Bus Terminal
- Lotte World Jamsil
- Check out & Flying off
