Travel Tuesdays: South Korea 2014 (Part 1)

Hello Philippines! Hello World! Hello my non existent blog readers!

I will never ever be proud to say that I am a blogger due to the fact that my last blog entry was last year. Hehe! But today, I want to take a break from my laziness and share my travel experience all the way from the land of Etude House, KPop and all things cute...SOUTH KOREA!

A lot of websites and blog entries helped me in my "more-than-6-months" of planning. Yes, I am that OC. But I believe it will never hurt (and will save you money) if you did some research on the country of your destination prior to your flight

SOUTH KOREAN VISA
First things first, you need to get a Visa before you can fly to South Korea. Do not be deceived that obtaining a visa is hard. For me, this is my first time to acquire a visa on my own and for my husband because prior to that, it was usually my parents who take care of this process. Or in the case of my Australia business trip, it was the HR of my company. Just remember that as long as you have the COMPLETE requirements, there is no need to worry.

Basic Requirements
a. Duly accomplished application form
b. Passport (must still be valid for at least 6 months)
c. Photocopy of the passport Bio page (Page 2)
d. 1 passport size colored photo

Proof of Financial Support - EMPLOYED
a. Certificate of Employment (Must be original; and must have the contact number and address of employer, and date of issue)
b. Original Personal Bank Certificate (NOT bank statement)
c. Photocopy of ITR (Income Tax Return) or Form 2316

Proof of Financial Support - SELF EMPLOYED
a. Photocopy of Business registration form from DTI or SEC
b. Photocopy of Business permit or Mayor’s permit
c. Photocopy of ITR
d. Original Personal Bank Certificate

Submit at South Korea Embassy
Address : 122 Upper McKinley Road, McKinley Town Center, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig city 1634, Philippines
Contact number : (63-2) 856-9210

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ACCOMMODATION

Okay, this is a VERY VERY crucial stage of planning for me. I have an "above average" standard when it comes to accommodation . Some people will overlook this for the reason they will not be spending a lot of time in the room because they will always be out exploring the city. But for me, after a long day of activities, I want to reward my tired body (and feet!) to a comfortable bed and a clean bathroom. It doesn't always have to be in a five star hotel for you to experience this, but do research on it and always canvass before clicking the "RESERVATION" button.

I always trust TripAdvisor every time I look for hotels to stay. I also compare direct prices from hotel websites and Agoda before I book just to check if I can get the room I want for a lower value.

Photo courtesy of TripAdvisor

During our South Korea trip, we stayed at Metro Hotel in Myeongdong area...and let me tell you, this is the best decision ever! Not only is it clean and spotless but this is centrally located:

-2 min. walk from Airport Limousine Bus Stop (very important specially if you have a lot of luggage with you)
-2 min. walk from subway train exit (at the end of the day and after all the walking you did, you will appreciate that the subway is very near your hotel)
-hotel is above Myeongdong shopping district so just go down the elevator and you are ready to shop till you drop and there are also a lot of restaurants/fast food chains to choose from.

Photo courtesy of TripAdvisor

Photo courtesy of TripAdvisor

You know the best part is with Metro Hotel? It is really an affordable hotel! You will never find nearby hotels with the same good value. :)

*Metro Hotel is voted #9 out of 384 hotels in Seoul*


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ITINERARY

It is best that when you travel, you have a planned itinerary with you. Not only will it maximize your vacation time but it will also save you money in ways you will never expect. Some blogs you may have read have a jampacked itinerary. But my advice is...this will depend on the people you're travelling with. If you are travelling with kids or  senior citizens, I suggest you have a rest period in between one or two tourist spots you visit. In my case, I am only travelling with my husband but I still prefer a relax itinerary just because we don't want to always be in a hurry to go to another place.

Day 1 (arrived at night)
Arrival at Incheon International Airport
Check in at Metro Hotel

Day 2
Gyeongbokgung Palace
Explore Insadong
Buy Nami Island bus tickets at Insadong office
Explore Myeongdong at night

Day 3
Everland (it is best to allot one whole day for this as the theme park is big and travel time going there takes 1-2 hours already)

Day 4
Nami Island (allot one whole day for this also as the island is big)

Day 5
Myeongdong Cathedral for Sunday Mass
Bukchon Hanok Village
Hanbok Experience (traditional Korean outfit)

Day 6
Lotte Mart
Ewha Women's Univesity (a must visit for girl's shopping on a budget!)

Day 7
Departure from Incheon to Manila

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Stay tuned for my South Korea 2014 (Part 2)...as I will give essential travel tips for you on what to wear and what to bring for your trip!