Travel Tips: How To Pick An Accomodation in Korea

Whenever you go travelling, accommodation play an important part in your journey even though you spend most of your day time outside and only come back to hotel during the night. So, while you are cracking your head in searching a place to stay in Seoul, perhaps my latest blog post can give you an idea on where to stay.

Price
The hotels price in South Korea is quite high compared to Malaysia, which cost around RM170/night for a 2 person room. So most of the travellers will choose to accommodate at Guesthouse or Hostel, where the price will be slightly lower at around RM60 per person. Some of the guesthouses(abbreviated as GH) provide breakfast at the price you paid, but some are not. So, be noted on that.

Room
Since we are staying at the GH,so the room size is not big like hotel room. However, we still have space to walk around when we open up our luggage. 4 is a good number to go travel around because most of the GH in Korea will have dorms to meet the budget travellers’ need. So, if you are travel with 3 other friends, you can stay in a 4 beds dormitory room(with or without attached bathroom), with a cheaper price and everyone have their own bed. If the GH that you picked to stay at have a common area, then you have the chance to meet friends come from different places, which I think is cool.

Location

The very complicated spider web like subway links in Seoul

Places in Seoul are well connected with subways(which consists of nine subway links),so I would say pick a GH near to those subway stations is the rule of thumb. And, from what I experienced, the most convenient places to stay are the GH/hostel/hoetl that near to Jong-no-3-ga station, Euljiro-3-ga station, Euljiro-4-ga station and ChungMuro station. As these stations are the meeting points of 2 or 3 subway links which link to most of the tourist spots, so you can walk lesser and save time to transfer from station to station.

Recommendation
You can book your hotel by running through the review scores in those hotel booking websites(eg Agoda, Hostelstay, Booking.com etc etc)and Tripadvisor or read travel posts from forum or blogs. Now everyone can fly and everyone can travel, so everyone will share their travel experiences on forums/blog, so just appreciate the precious experience that they shared out. 

MY’s experience:

When I was in Seoul, I stayed in Myeong Dong Hostel and Hong Guest House. For Jeju Island, we stayed in HK Jeju I which located at Jeju City(Jeju-do divided into 2 parts: Jeju City and Seowigpo City).
I will elaborate more on the 3 hostels that I stayed in Korea.

That’s all for today. Thanks for reading.

Seoul: Tosokchon Ginseng Chicken 土俗村参鸡汤

Tosokchon, a restaurant specialising in Korean Ginseng Chicken Soup(Samgyetang) is quite well-known throughout Seoul and was frequently visited by Former President Roh Moo-hyun. Well, m33iyin visited the restaurant after my trip to GyeongBok Gung. So, lets the story of Tosokchon Samgyetang begins.

Kimchi is a must on the dining tables in Korea, and they are served complementary with your meals.
Tosokchon served the customers with Radish Kimchi and Cabbage Kimchi.
Kimchi in Korea are more spicy than those I ate in Malaysia.

Ginseng that fermented into alcohol.
Yummy yummy.
It taste strong at the first sip, then when it goes down your esophagus(:-D) you can feel a little bit warm.
Eventually, you will get the cooling soothing effect after the drink.

Haemul Pajeon, pancake with prawns and onion.
Personally think that this is not so worth with the price we paid(15000 Won)

Tadaa…the Samgyetang(参鸡汤).
I ordered the Chicken Stew with Ginseng,15000 Won.

With the price we paid, we get to eat a whole chicken that stuffed with glutinous rice,ginseng, gingko nuts, garlic and etc. The broth is thick and creamy as it is made of about 30 different types of medicinal herbs and grains.The meat is soft and I love their glutionous rice.
Well, I just simply love Korean Rice.

In shorts, I would say Tosokchon Samgyetang is just as famous as the chicken rice ball in Jonker Street.
So, it is one of the must go place for those who want to taste the Samgyetang in Seoul.

Nah, see, lots of people are queuing up to take their lunch at Tosokchon.

Direction to get there

First, take a ride to Gyeongbokgung Station and head towards Exit 2. Then walk straight until you reach a Family Mart, then turn left. It’s about a 5-minute walk from the station. Ask for directions from workers around the area, they will definitely know where it is.

Once you saw the Family Mart, turn left and you will see this traditional hanok style building in front of you.

Tips from m33iyin

a) Do avoid the lunch/dinner time, so you can avoid the long queue.

b) Since GyeongBok gung is near to the GyeongBok station, you can fill your tummy with samgyetang before/after your journey to the palace.

c) A bowl of samgyetang is very full for a girl that have big appetite like me.

d) Last but not least, enjoy your meal!!

P/S: 15000 Won is equal to around RM42, depends on your exchange rate.

My Itinerary to South Korea

Most of my best and good friends knew that I visited South Korea last month, and some of them asked me how was the trip. I would say, South Korea is a nice place that worth to visit!!! AAaawww, I miss my trip. Ok, I shall slowly update my blog site with my South Korea trip posts from today, so that you will know why I am so in love with the Kimchi Land.

 

*I anticipated for this trip for monthsss,

and I was so so excited when the custom officer put this stamp in my passport*

I proudly announce that, the itinerary of my trip is the first chapter of my South Korea trip posts.


15 June 2012
Took the 11pm flight to Incheon Airport, Seoul. I would say, is so difficult to sleep in sitting position. The journey took about 6-7 hours.


16 June 2012
Checked into MyeongDong Hostel at MyeongDong. Without further delayed, we went to Gyeongbokgung and National Folk Museum of Korea.
Took our lunch at Tosokchon Chicken Ginseng and rest at hostel.
Had a evening walk to Seoul City Hall Square, Gwang Hwa Mun Square, The Story of King Sejong Exhibition Hall, Cheongyecheon.


17 June 2012
Flew to Jeju-do at 7am local time. Say hello to our tour guide.
Went to Yong duam, Manjanggul Cave, SeongSan Ilchubong, Sopjikoji, Jeju Folk Village.
We walked around the hotel area at night.


18 June 2012
Went to Teddy Bear Museum, Trick Art Museum, Jusangjeolli Cliffs, CheongJeYeon Waterfall, Mount Songak, O’sulloc Green Tea field, Glass Castle, Hallim Park.
We walked around the hotel area at night.


19 June 2012
Took the 8am flight back to Gimpo Airport, Seoul. Checked in to Hong Guest House at Dong Dae Mun.
We were so tired after the long hour trip in Jeju do, so we just have a brief walk around Dong Dae Mun. Then we had a nap at the guest house. We went to Banpo Bridge for the rainbow water show at night.


20 June 2012
We went out early in the morning(around 10am) so we can fully utilize our day. We went to Insadong and bought some souveniers for our friends. Then, we went to Myeong Dong for our Nanta Show date(My dear friends, this is epic weeeiiiii~~~) and shopped for cosmetic products (I am so broke now~~) After that, we went to N Seoul Tower.


21 June 2012
Went to Bukchon Hanok Village, then took a brief walk from Cheong Wa Dae to Sam Cheong Dong. Visited ChangDeokGung and its Secret Garden. Went to Edae aka Ewha Women University before we heading back to Guest House. Then, we shopping at Migliore, Doota, and aPM at night time until 1am.


22 June 2012
Have our final shop at the Dong Dae Mun area then took the 5pm flight back to Malaysia.

So, this is my itinerary. I saw lots of nice places that worth to visit but due to several reasons I missed the chance to visit them. (So sad, anyway, I know I will step into the KimChi Land soon!!)
If you wish to get some details for my Korea trip, do email/facebook pm me and I will try my best to help you.
I will slowly update the pictures that we took at those tourist spots, and turn my experience and feeling into words at here!! Stay Tune!!!