Travel Guide South Korea

What does this mean? Of course more savings for your trip! ^^

The FREE shuttle bus from Seoul to Gangwon-do runs from December 5th, 2010 to February 25th 2011 especially for you winter fans! The shuttle bus offers wireless internet, personal earphones and DVD video system.

Note: No shuttle service on Monday and first come first serve basis.


The route:
Seoul to Gangwon-do
Gwanghamun 08:00 --> Gangwon-do (Yongpyeong Resort) 11:30 --> Gangwon-do (Alpensia Resort) 11:45 --> Gangwon-do (Gangneung Jungang Market) 13:00

Gangwon-do to Seoul
Gangwon-do (Gangneung Jungang Market) 17:00 --> Gangwon-do (Alpensia Resort) 18:00 --> Gangwon-do (Yongpyeong Resort) 18:25 --> Gwanghamun 21:45



For booking: Visit Korea Year website
Check out KNTO link for ski resorts in Gangwon-do.

Those who are visiting Korea between January and February 2011, a welcome kit awaits you at Incheon International Airport and Gimpo Airport Korea Tourism Booth!! The welcome dates will be announced sometime soon and keep yourself updated at Visit Year Korea website here.

Grab one if you gonna travel during that time.^^

The welcome kit will vary from one of these:

• Souvenir Packaging Kits
• 1330 Wet Tissue
• T-Money
• Cosmetics Sample Kit
• Casino Coupon
• Currency Exchange Discount Coupon
• Korean Wave Star Postcards (I want Lee Jun Ki or So Ji Sub!! ^^)

You have to print the coupon from Visit Korea Year before you reach either airports.

• Hanskin - 5%
• The Face Shop - 5 to 10%
• Tony Moly - 5%
• Missha - 10% 
• Nature Republic - 10%
• Innisfree - 10%
• Etude House - 5 to 10%

• Holly's Coffee -10% on beverages excluding bottled drinks at Myeongdong and Insadong
• O'sulloc Tea House -10% at Myeongdong and Taepyeong

• Omuto Tomato - Fusion Omurice; all items 10% except alcoholic beverages at Myeongdong
• Rotiboy - One free bun / coffee with purchases of 6 or more buns at Myeongdong
• Sunshine Kebabs - Free coke with purchase of kebab at City Hall
• Under The Sea - 10% at Myeongdong
• Dunkin Donuts - 10% at Myeongdong, Jonggak, Jongno, COEX
• Cheong Kwan Jang - 5% for root of ginseng and 10% off other products at Myeongdong, Euljiro
• Todai - Free wine for 2 people dining at Myeongdong
• Yeon Ta Bal - Service menu at Apgujeong
• Red Mango - 10% all items at multiple branches
• Cacao Green - 10% all items at Myeongdong
• Dong Hae Byel Gwan - Complimentary alcoholic drink 'Hwa Yo' at multiple branches

Multi Shop

• ABC Mart - 5,000 won discount on all purchase at Myeongdong

Others

• The Foot Shop - 10% discount all items at Gwanghamun and Jongno
• Lotte World Shooting Range - two shootings at one round, another round for second at Jamsil

Terms and Conditions:

1. Only those with a coupon will receive discounts
2. Present your coupon at the counter before paying
3. One coupon per person
4. Only one coupon per purchase
5. Please check if the store is a member store for discount
6. Discounts are for foreign tourists only

Note: Please check the map in each link for participating stores. Not all stores are participating.


Source: Visit Korea Year

How to get there
By Subway - Take Line #3 to Sinsa Stn. Exit #4, or to Nonhyeon Stn. Exit #6,7, then take a transit bus.
Or you can stop at Apgujeong Subway Station and take your time to walk.

Nearby attractions
Apgujeong Rodeo Street

Check out my post on 7 Must See Bridges of Han River (Hangang).

Pictures: Courtesy of Hanim, Nyna, Iris and Fiza.

Nanta Official Website: http://nanta.i-pmc.co.kr/en/index.asp
Ticket Price: ranging from 60,000 to 40,000 won
Discount: 10% for member, 20% for WWOOFERs (bring your WWOOF card for verification)
Check out the website for coupon and booking.
Theater Location: Myeongdong, Gangnam, Jeju Island and Gangbuk Jeong Dong

 

When I went to Phoenix Ski Resort in December 2009, I thought that the slopes were way too dangerous for kids and children below 7 years old to enjoy with their family. Not only that; to learn skiing or snowboarding at the ski resort will need you to rake out another 50,000 -100,000 won per coaching session. You could never be an expert in one day! Believe me..

So for those who have always wanted to experience winter, building snow man and playing snow balls but have no time or rather on a tight budget to run up the ski resorts for ski or snowboard activities, there are always other options. Hurray!!^^

Lets go snow sledding, guys!!

Korean Children's Center Snow Sledding Field at Gwangjin, Seoul-si

Official website: http://www.sselmaejang.com/ - (Only in Korean)

Operating Date and Hours: Dec 18, 2009 – Feb 21, 2010; 9:30am - 5:00pm

Rental fee: 8,000 won

How to go: Children's Grand Park Subway Station (어린이대공원역) , Line 7, Exit 2. Walk about three minutes towards Children's Grand Park.

From Myeongdong to Children's Grand Park Subway Station
30 minutes, 10 stops, 9.5km
Fare: 900 won with T-Money, 1000 won by cash
Transit: Dongdaemun History and Culture Station, Konkuk University Station


Korean Folk Village Snow Sledding Field at Yongin, Gyeonggi-do

Operating Date and Hours: Dec 20, 2009 – Late Feb, 2010

Rental fee: Adult 12,000 won/Teenager 9,000/Child 8,000

How to go:
1-By subway
Get off at Suwon Subway Station, Line No.1
There is a Suwon business office across the street on the left side of Suwon Station.
Take a free shuttle bus in front of the office after purchasing the admission ticket or pass.
(Every hour from 10:30~14:30/30~40 min ride)

2-By Bus
Take bus No. 1560 or 5500-1 at Gangnam Subway Station, Line 2,Exit 6

There are various types of sleds available, including tube sleds.
Official Website: http://eng.seoulland.co.kr/eng/index.html - (Available in English)

Operating Date and Hours: Dec 20, 2009 – Late Feb, 2010; 10:00 - 17:00

Rental Fee:
Admission + Sledding Hill : Adult 18,000won, Teenager 15,000won, Children 13,000won
(After entering) Sledding Hill : 3,000 won
All-Pass Users : Free Sledding Hill

How to go:
Seoul Grand Park Subway Station, Line 4, Exit 4.
Walk straight ahead for about 15 minute to Seoul Land
Check transportation map here.

From Myeongdong to Seoul Grand Park Station
29 minutes, 13 stops, 16.9km
Fare: 1,100 won with T-Money, 1,200 won by cash
Transit: No



Everland Snow Buster at Yongin, Gyeonggi-do



Official Website: http://www.everland.com/MultiLanguage/english/index.html - (Available in English)

Operating Date and Hours: Mid Dec, 2009 – Early Feb, 2010 ; 9:30am - 5:30pm

Rental Fee:
Monch Infant Sled, Jungfrau Sled, Finsteraarhorn sled, Bobsled are included in the admission fee.
Eiger Skisled : Adults & children-5,000 won(Free of charge for all-pass ticket users and members)
Shoe Rental : 2,000 won
Adult Day 28,000 / Night 24,000
Child Day 21,000 / Night 18,000
Adult : Above 12 years old

How to go:
Take bus No.5002 at Gangnam Subway Station (Line 2) to Everland
Note: From Myeongdong to Gangnam Station - 35 minutes and from Gangnam to Everland - about 1 hour
More info about transportation to Everland here.

There are five grand palaces in Seoul during Joseon Dynasty.




Gyeongbuk Palace - translates in English as "Palace of Shining Happiness." located in northern Seoul, South Korea. the main and largest palace of the Five Grand Palaces built by the Joseon Dynasty. originally constructed in 1394 by King Taejo, the first king and founder of the Joseon Dynasty. houses the National Folk Museum of Korea and the National Palace Museum of Korea. (Source: Wikipedia)

Official Website: http://www.royalpalace.go.kr/html/eng/main/main.jsp

Operating Hours:
March ~ October 09:00-18:00
November ~ February 09:00-17:00
English Guided Tour: 11:00, 13:30, 15:30
Closed every Tuesday

Admission fee: 3,000 won (Adult)

How to go:
1. From Exit No. 5 of Gyeongbokgung Subway Station (Seoul Subway Line No.3), walk 5 minutes.
2. From Exit No. 2 of Ganghwamun Subway Station (Seoul Subway Line No.5), walk 5 minutes.

Source: KNTO


Changdeok Palace - the second palace after Gyeongbokgung. The literal meaning of Changdeokgung(昌德宮) is "Palace of Prospering Virtue". referred to as the East Palace(東闕, Donggwol). was the site of the royal court and the seat of government until 1872. added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1997. Portions of the palace were used to film the hugely popular Korean Drama Dae Jang Geum. (Source: Wikipedia)

Official Website: http://eng.cdg.go.kr/main/main.htm



Deoksu Palace - was originally the residence of Prince Wolsan, the older brother of King Seongjong. This residence became a royal 'palace' during the Seven-Year War after all of the other palaces were burned in 1592 during the Japanese invasions of the Seven-Year War. (Source: Wikipedia)

Official website: http://www.deoksugung.go.kr/eng/index.asp

The other two grand palaces in Seoul that I haven't been to are: