Travelling to Seoul, South Korea for the first time, as corny as it may sound, was indeed a dream come true for us. It was an epic and memorable experience that we'll treasure for the rest of our lives. LOL!
With more people like us planning for their own epic Seoul, South Korea trip, we've listed some tips that you can consider.
Save addresses in Korean. This comes handy in case you get lost. We were lost the moment we set foot in Seoul. LOL! We arrived in Seoul late that subway's closed and we only have the directions in taking the subway; good thing we printed the address of our guesthouse in Korean and just showed it to the taxi driver.
Check for discounts online and print coupons to save. We saved ₩2000 on our Petite France trip by printing coupon from http://vkc.or.kr/en/special-offers/discount-coupons/. If you're going to Everland or Grevin Seoul Museum, purchase tickets beforehand at Klook for discounts. There are other offers as well so you can check their site for their promotions.
Wear comfortable shoes. Trust me, there are lots of walking so wear your most comfortable shoes.
Squeeze in sunscreen, moisturizer and lip balm in your baggage to defend yourself against the sun. It is chilly but it is sunny as well. Our skin tends to dry out when exposed to cold air so do not forget to moisturize.
Change money in Insadong or Hongdae. We found good rates there - Php 1 = ₩23. If possible, do not change money in Nami Island Php 1 = ₩21 (same rate in the airport). I heard that you can convert Php to Dollar then to Won to get better rate but we have not tried this one.
Food is for sharing. If you don't mind sharing food then consider sharing as meals are good for two. The first time we dine out, we ordered two servings of meat and yes, we were too full to eat it all. However, better check first if restaurants allow sharing because some restaurants require one order per person.
Download Subway Korea app. This is a life-saver since you'll be using the subway frequently and their subway system is huge!
Choose guesthouses near the subway to save time and energy. Ours is just 8 minutes away from City Hall Station Exit 7 so we really saved time and energy. It's also good to choose guesthouses near the tourist spots but those guesthouses can be pricey. Ours is near the Gyeongbokgung Palace, Namsan Tower, Insadong, Bukchon Hanok Village, Namdaemun Market, Grevin Seoul Museum and Myeongdong that we only walk to go to these places.
Purchase T-money card. You'll save ₩100 every trip. Plus you can use it almost everywhere - taxi, bus and convenient stores. Plus you avoid the hassle of purchasing single journey ticket everytime you use the subway.
Get yourself a decent sleep. 7 days (for us) can be so tiring so rest.
Enjoy and share your experience to us! ❤If you've already been to Seoul, please feel free to add tips that worked for you in the comment section below.
