Korea Love: Our 12-days Manila - Seoul - Jeju - Seoul - Manila: Itinerary, Budget and Some Details

This is the summary of our 12 days in Korea. We enjoyed it.  We brought home thousands of photos.  And we can only feel blessed and grateful for our wonderful experience.  Happy planning!  And we hope that you'll enjoy Korea, as much as we did. Gamsahabnida!

Day 1 - Yoo's Guesthouse, Changdeokgung Palace, Yeuido Park

Details & Photos: http://www.superwomom.net/2014/04/seoul-searching-day-1-of-12-of-our_22.html

1. Incheon airport to Yoo’s Guesthouse (hanok homestay)
Board Airport Bus 6011 (Go down at Changdeokgung Palace)
Bus fare: KW10,000 (P435) for adults; KW8,000 (P348) for child (S is still free)
Yoo's Guesthouse - KW315,000 (P13,702.50) for 3 nights

2.  It would help if you have the name, address and telephone number of your accommodation in Korean.  This will come in handy if you need to ask for directions.

3.  Spring is cold.  Colder than I expected.  It would be best to bring jackets, scarfs, socks even gloves and bonnets. Any piece of clothing that would keep you warm is good.

2. Buy T-money card to ride subway - KW500 (P21.75).  This is cheaper than buying single way tickets to your destination.  We initially loaded our T-money with KW10,000 (P435).

3. Directions to Yeuido Park from Yoo's Guesthouse: Anguk Station (orange/line 3) to Jongno3-ga (purple/line 5)
Go down at Yeuido Station (Exit 4), around 10 minutes walk
Fare: Child - KW1,050 (P45.70), Adult - KW1150 (P50.05), S is still free

4. Yeuido Park is free.

Day 2 - Nami Island

Details & Photos: http://www.superwomom.net/2014/04/seoul-searching-day-1-of-12-of-our.html

1. Directions to Nami Island:
From Jongno3 ga station (dark blue/line 1) go down at Hoegi station (Jongo3 ga to Hoegi)
transfer to Jungang Line (light blue) to Mangu (Hoegi to Mangu)
transfer for the last time to Gyeongchun Line to Gapyeong (Mangu to Gapyeong)
Exit at Gapyeong
Ride a cab to Nami Wharf - KW3500
Buy your tickets
Board a ferry to Nami Island

2. Entrance Fees to Nami:
Regular: KW10,000
Discounted (foreigner): KW8,000
Special: KW4,000
Visitor aged 3-13
Visitors after 6:10 (Dec-Mar)
Visitors after 7:10 (Apr-Nov)
Free Entrance: Child aged 3 and under
*Round-trip ferry fare and tax included

3. Ferry Schedule
Every 30 minutes after first ferry at 7:30 (departure - Gapyeong Wharf)
Every 10-20 minutes between 9:00-18:00
Every 30 minutes until last ferry at 21:45 (departure - Nami Wharf)

4. Shuttle Buses
Insa-dong/Jamsil to Nami Island direct Shuttle bus (Mon-Sun)
Adult fee: KW15,000 (round trip) / KW7,500 (one way)
Child fee: KW13,000 (round trip) / KW6,500 (one way)
*Child: Aged between 24 months to 12 years
 

5. Bus Stop
Seoul Insa-dong - 9:30 (Near the West Gate of Tapgol Park)
Seoul Jamsil - 9:30 (In front of the Lotte Mart near exit number 4, Jamsil Station - green/line 2)
Nami Island - 16:00 (Parking in front of the ticket office)
Reservation: Tel. (02) 753-1247-8 (Naminara Embassy in Seoul)

 

Day 3 - Lotte World 

Details & Photos: http://www.superwomom.net/2014/05/seoul-searching-day-3-of-12-of-our.html

 

1. How to go to Lotte World from Yoo's Guesthouse
Yoo's Guesthouse to Jongno3-ga
Jongno3-ga (purple/line 5) to Euljiro4-ga (transfer to green/line 2)
Euljiiro4-ga (green/line 2) to Jamsil

2. Admission: Daily Passport 
(Free admission and playing facilties to Adventure and Magic Island; game attractions excluded)
Adult - KW44,000
Youth - KW38,000
Child - KW34,000
Infant - KW11,000

Day 4 – KidZania

Details & Photos: http://www.superwomom.net/2014/05/seoul-searching-day-3-of-12-of-our_11.html

1. Yoo's Guesthouse to Dongdaemun Inn

We took a cab (around KW7,500)

2. Dongdaemun Inn to Kidzania

Dongdaemun History and Culture Park to Jamsil (Exit 4)

Walk straight for 5 minutes toward Lotte Mart, 

after which turn left and head toward the outdoor carpark

3. Fare (using a card)

Adult: 1,150 won

Children: 500 won

4. KidZania Hours:

Dayshift: 9:30am to 2:30pm 

Afternoon shift: 2:30pm to 8:30pm 

5. KidZania Fee (Per shift):

Children (ages 3-16): weekdays: 32,000 won / weekends: 35,000 won

Youths & Adults (over 17): weekdays: 16,000 won / weekends: 18,000 won 

 

Day 5 - DMZ, Insadong, Gyeongbukgong Palace, Korean Folk Museum and St. Ignatius House

Details & Photos: http://www.superwomom.net/2014/05/seoul-searching-day-5-of-12-of-our.html

1. The DMZ tour costs KW41,000 for both kids and adults. 
 

2. Ask your tour provider for drop off options. We chose Insadong for it's artsy feel. And it's walking distance to Gyeongbukgong Palace which was the next stop on our itinerary. This was also where we bought our pasalubong. We realized that it's cheaper here compared to other places we've been.
 

3. From Insadong we walked to Gyeongbukgong Palace. 
Adress: 22, Sajik-ro 9-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul (If you're taking the subway, go down at Gyeongbukgong Station on the orange line)
Closed: Every Tuesday
Operating Hours: 9:00am to 6pm (Last Admission is 1 hour before closing)Admission Fee: KW3,000 (adults); KW1,500 (kids)
Ceremony Time: changing of the guards or exiting of the guards10am, 1pm, 3pm, 4pm (exiting of the guards)
 

4. Admission to the Korean Folk Museum and the Children's Museum is included in the Gyeongbukgong Palace ticket. Both are also inside the Palace grounds.
 

5. Direction to St. Ignatius House in Sogang University
From Gyeongbukgong Station (orange line), we went to Eulji-ro 3 (sam)-ga. We transferred to the green line for Sinchon. Walk to Sogang University (around 7-10 minutes). Enter Sogang University. It's a five minute uphill climb to the chapel.

 

Day 6 - Touchdown Jeju Island

Details & Photos: http://www.superwomom.net/2014/05/seoul-searching-day-6-of-12-of-our.html

1. Dongdaemun History and Culture Park to Gimpo Airport

Fare (Adult): 1,250 won

Fare (Children): 550 won

2. Gimpo Airport to Jeju through Eastar Jet (other airlines we considered are: Jeju Air and Jin Air).  It would be better if you book your flight in advance.  Flights are cheaper if booked ahead of time.

3. It's really best to drive.  Just get an international driving license.  We paid P1,500 for Ramir's at the Automobile Association of the Philippines - http://www.aaphilippines.org/  

4.  We were able to get around because of the Korean GPS.  The key to getting from one place to another is the phone number of your destination.  If you know this, you wouldn't get lost.  Just key in the phone number and the GPS would navigate for you.  It is so precise that it would inform you even of humps, speed detectors and cameras.

 

Day 7 - Jeju Island's Seongsan Ilchulbong, Seopjikoji, Ichul Land, Jeju Folk Village, Jeongbang Falls and Cheonjiyeon Falls

Details & Photos: http://www.superwomom.net/2014/06/seoul-searching-day-7-of-12-of-our.html

1. Seongsan Ilchulbong (Sunrise Peak)
284-12, Ilchul-ro, Seongsan-eup, Seogwipo-si, Jeju-do
+82-64-710-7923, +82-64-783-0959
Entrance Fee: KW2,000 (Adults), KW1,000 (Children)

2. Seopjikoji
261, Seopjikoji-ro, Seongsan-eup, Seogwipo-si, Jeju-do
+82-64-782-2810
Entrance: Free

3. Ichul Land
1010, Samdal-ri, Seongsan-eup, Seogwipo-Si, Jeju-do
+82-64-784-2080
Entrance Fee: KW4,500 (Adults), KW2,500 (Children)

4. Jeju Folk Village
631-34, Minsokhaean-ro, Pyoseon-myeon, Seogwipo-si, Jeju-do
+82-64-787-4501
Entrance Fee: KW8,000 (Adults), KW4,000 (Children)

5. Jeongbang Falls
37, Chilsimni-ro214beon-gil, Seogwipo-si, Jeju-do
+82-64-760-6341, +82-64-733-1530
Entrance Fee: KW2,000 (Adults), KW1,000 (Children)

6. Cheonjiyeon Falls
666-7, Cheonji-dong, Seogwipo-si, Jeju-do
+82-64-733-1528
Entrance Fee: KW2,000 (Adults), KW1,000 (Children)

7.  You may call their travel hotline at 1330 anytime, anywhere.  They were very accommodating.  We called the travel hotline to verify all the telephone numbers so we can input them in the GPS.  This way, we were able to go to our destinations without getting lost.

 

Day 8 - Jeju Island's Saeyongyo Bridge, Cheonjeyeon Falls, Yeomiji Botanical Garden, O'Sulloc's Tea Plantation, Jeju Glass Castle, Hallim Park

Details & Photos: http://www.superwomom.net/2014/06/seoul-searching-day-8-of-12-of-our.html

1. Saeyongyo Bridge

Seohong-dong, Seogwipo-si, Jeju-do

+82-64-760-3471 

Entrance Fee: Free

2. Cheonjeyeon Falls
Jeju Special Self-Governing Province Seogwipo-si Saekdal-dong 3381-1
+82-64-738-1529
Entrance Fee: KW2,500 (Adults), KW1,350 (Children)

3. Yeomiji Botanical Garden
93, Jungmungwangwang-ro, Seogwipo-si, Jeju-do
+82-64-735-1100
Entrance Fee: KW9,000 (Adults), KW5,000 (Children)

4. O'Sulloc's Tea Plantation
425, Sinhwayeoksa-ro, Andeok-myeon, Seogwipo-si, Jeju-do
+82-64-794-5312
Entrance Fee: Free

5. Jeju Glass Castle
462, Nokchabunjae-ro, Hangyeong-myeon, Jeju-si, Jeju-do
+82-64-772-7777
Entrance Fee: KW9,000 (Adults), KW7,000 (Children)

6. Cheonjiyeon Falls
300, Hallim-ro, Hallim-eup, Jeju-si, Jeju-do 

+82-64-796-0001 to 04
Entrance Fee: KW9,000 (Adults), KW5,000 (Children)

 

Day 9 - Korean Tourism Organization and Cheonggyecheon Stream

Details & Photos: http://www.superwomom.net/2014/08/seoul-searching-day-9-of-12-of-our.html

1. Going to Korean Tourism Organization (KTO)

Take Subway Line 2 (green), go down at Euljiro 1-ga Station, exit 2.

Go straight for 5 minutes (approx. 2 or 3 blocks). Turn left down the last side street before Cheonggyecheon.  The KTO building is the second building on the left.

2. The Hanbok and Origami are free of charge.

Period: January–December 2014 on the third week every month (Mon–Sat)

To participate: Register on the day of your visit (no participation fee)

Foreign language services available:

Tel: +82-2-729-9497-9 (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese)

Hanbok Experience

Time: 09:30-17:30 (last registration at 17:20)

Number of Participants: 2-5 individuals

Duration: 10-15 min

- Participants will wear hanbok on top of their clothes, so refrain from wearing a shirt with a turtleneck or a high collar.

Arts and Crafts (Origami Hanbok)

Time: 09:30, 10:00, 10:30, 11:00, 11:30, 13:30, 14:00, 14:30, 15:00, 15:30, 16:00, 16:30

Number of participants: 4-6 individuals

Duration: 5-15 min

3.  Cheonggyecheon Stream and the Cheonggye Plaza is a short walk from KTO.

Day 10 – Everland
Details & Photos: http://www.superwomom.net/2014/08/seoul-searching-day-9-of-12-of-our_26.html

 

1. Everland Resort is at 199, Everland-ro, Pogok-eup, Cheoin-gu, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do

2. Going by bus to Everland Resort

Take Subway Line 2 (green). Go down at Gangnam Station, take exit 10

Walk to Ride Bus 5002 to Everland (this stop is near Krispy Kreme and Who.a.u Clothing shop)

Approximate time from Gangnam to Everland: 40-50 minutes

Bus fare (one way): KW2,000 

3. Going by train to Everland Resort

Take Subway Bundang Line to Giheung Station

From Giheung Station, transfer to Yongin-Everline, go down at Jeondae Everland Station (last stop), take exit 3.

Everline operation hours: 5:30-23:30

4.  There's a free shuttle from Everland Station and Everland bus stop to Everland Resort

5. Everland Resort Entrance fees:

KW46,000 adult, KW3600 child

6. Everland Resort Operating Hours (Spring): 9:30am to 22:00

Day 11 and 12 – Nanta, Myeongdong, N Seoul Tower (and back to Incheon Airport)
Details & Photos: http://www.superwomom.net/2014/08/seoul-searching-day-10-of-12-of-our.html

1. Cookin' Nanta Show

Address: UNESCO Building 3F, 50-14, Myeongdong 2 Ga, Jung Gu, Seoul

Time: Monday to Friday, Sunday and Holiday - 17:00, 20:00, Saturday - 14:00, 17:00, 20:00

Price: Premium - KW70,000 / VIP - KW60,000 / S - KW50,000 / A - KW40,000

They give out a 30% discount for their Saturday, 2pm show (Website booking only).

Their theater is not that big, so even if you get the lowest-priced ticket, it's still a good view.  But the performance is also interactive, if you want to get a chance to participate, you may want to get a premium ticket.

2. N Seoul Cable Car

After coming out of the exit 3 of Myeong-dong Station (line 4),

Wait for a shuttle service to bring you to the boarding place of the cable car.

Operating Hours: 10:00-23:00

Adult Return Ticket: KW8,500

Child Return Ticket: KW5,500

Adult One Way: KW6,000

Child One Way: KW3,000

3. Bus No. 6001 Airport Limousine Bus Service

Incheon International Airport (6A/12B exit) from/to Toyoko-inn Hotel 　　

Fare: KW14,000 (adult), KW10,000 (child)
Bus Time: First - 5:30 / Last - 22:40 

Interval Time: 30 Mins.

Korea indeed is one happy place.  Good luck on your own Korea adventure.