South Korea Hotel Reviews
There are many historical sites in Incheon and Seoul. It is far more of a tourist destination than it advertises itself as. The windmill restaurant in Incheon (very close to the hotel) offers excellent service and very good food at good prices. The Galbi restaurants in Seoul are really worth a visit and the The Korean War museum had us returning 3 times!
We were in Seoul for four days during the week and were surprised at how easy it was to get around by local taxi. There were many around, easily hailed and quite cheap. The dreaded traffic jams were not obvious or they were good at avoiding them. We never did get to go on the subway.
The subway is relatively close by (7mins walk) and the hotel is right on Insadong''s heart. It''s nice to walk around the area except when it rains. Then getting to nearby tourist destinations is tricky. Taxis won''t take you because its too close and there''s no shade walking there so you get soaked. The Korail is much more affordable than the taxis though. Most Koreans in the shops speak basic english but if you need to find out a place, bring a map and show it to them, they pointed out to me all three times that I asked. Lots of korean restaurants in Insadong but if you are looking for more international fare at decent rates, go to Myeung dong.
Korea House is well worth a visit. We ordered the best menu, got a private room for two, SUPERB food and then the show in the theatre. 120 quid for two - not bad.
Gyeong-ju is a fantastic area! We rented bicycles and spent two days exploring the historic Shilla and Buddhist sites in the region, often using the bike paths that circulate for miles and miles along the highways. The endless rice fields were another beautiful riding area. We also hiked a lot, ate well (but not in our hotel!) and had a lot of fun in the city in the evenings. Staying near the lake was nice - quieter at night, and right on the bus route into town.
We only took one tour and that is the submarine tour. There are 3 of them but we just took the one that the hotel recommended which is good, fun, interesting and value for money. Commentary is all in Korean so do be prepared to feel left out in that aspect. The rest of the sights and attractions we did on our own, some by taxi or on foot which are close to the Hyatt Hotel. We rented a large cab for all 4 of us from 9am to 5pm and mapped out the places we wanted to visit and the driver did the rest. We managed to cover only all that was interesting to us, instead of a tour which would have cost much more and visiting alot of places that we did not want to go. For those who are willing to fork out some money this would probably be the best way to see alot within a day. Foodwise, where we are staying we are subjected to eateries within Hyatt or the other nearby hotels and a few restaurants around the area, which are all either very expensive or not value for money as the cuisine isn''t that good. You''d have to be adventurous and take a taxi to some better known restaurants about 20 minutes away to have really great bulgogi and black pork meat (the speciality: the pigs are black not the meat) - prices are then much more reasonable and the food good.
Destination to hotel was quite straightforward, abt 80 minutes from the Incheon International Airport, we took the subway to Lotte World and Everland although the latter was a bit of a hassle, having have to take a bus there, wasted abt 1-1/2 hrs. Italian Restaurant at Galleria Shopping Centre was excellent, Hyundai Department Store is a must go. Hard Rock Cafe is a little bit too far away from where we stay so we took the cab there. Most of the time, we got around the city using the subway, very convenient. The system was excellent.
Places we visited include the waterfalls, submarine ride and Halim park which offers gardens, caves, restaurants and a bird park. You can catch a buffet cum fountain show at the Lotte Hotel. Taxis are easily available and the people are generally very friendly.
For the transportation we used airport shuttle buses, taxis, metros and Seoul City Tour buses. We had railway passes - 3 day saver pass (great value for money) for trip to the south and we spent 2 days in Gyeongju. There we rented a car for sightseeing trip to Gulguksa, Tongdosa and Bulgkusa temples, Seokgulam Grotto and Underwater tomb of king Munmu. Next day we rented bikes to see sights in Gyeongju. We spent 2 nights in the Hyundai hotel on the lake near Gyeongju. That hotel was great - real 5 star hotel and we paid only 120 Canadian dollars (less than for 2 star hotel in Seoul). On the way back we slept in the New Airport hotel near new Seoul airport. The room was great. It had all gadgets you can imagine, from big flat screen TV, computer, Jacuzzi tub, Jacuzzi shower, fax machine, water purifier, and ultra violet device for disinfection. Koreans were very friendly and we haven''t had any problems. We really enjoyed being in Korea.
We visited Insadong which is good for souvenirs. Itaewon where a lot of foreigners hang out and Meyondong which had loads of street food stalls and stalls selling all kinds of different things. Many selling poor knock offs of brands like Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Hermes and so on. Jewellery, socks, bags, belts, wallets, cell phone trinkets, pyjamas, shoes etc etc. Of course there are a lot of regular stores there too. The best bargain we came across was glasses. They were very resonably priced. We walked there from the hotel but you can catch the subway too. It costs about $1 and was 3 stops away. Taxis are cheap too.
Seoul is a sprawling city. But it has a very extensive and efficient subway system that could take one to most places in the city. If you get lost there is always the taxi, which though expensive, offers good and honest service. Language is a problem as very few Koreans speak English but their helpfulness and honesty put one at ease and more than make up for the inconvenience. Myeongdong, Namdaemum, Namsan Mountain, Gyongbookgung are the usual places tourist would want to visit but the Korean War Memorial is a must if one wishes to learn about the history of the Japanese colonisation, the second world war and the korean war. Only then would one understand why the Koreans are so united and nationalistic and truly proud of their achievements. For the national servicement, the Memorail also showcases the differnet types of weapons, missiles and war machinery that are used in modern warfare. And the entrance fee is only 3000 won,excellent value for money. One place that one can miss is the Korean Folk Villlage which survives only because of the free entry given to school children and there are hordes of them around whcih can be quite disturbing with all the noise they make. It showcases the traditional Korean lifestyle and villages of yonders past. Seoraksan mountain near Sokcho which is 4 hours by bus from Seoul is an interesting place as the cable car ride up to the mountain plus the climb to reach the top is quite refrshing. One can stay at one of the condominiums nearby for US$60 and travel to nearby Sokcho by taxi for food.
We took the KTX high speed train back and forth from Seoul and Busan. It is a very nice way to travel, especially if you want to see the countryside. It is important to know that the trains can sell out, especially on Friday night. However, just as importantly, the tickets can be sold back and the "sold out" status changes moment by moment. The traveller''s information people -- while very polite -- did not really explain this to us. So, when we discovered how to read the board we had to do it on our own. The first time I tried it I only had a minute and didn''t quite make the train. Then I had to pay 30% to get the rest of the cost of the ticket back. (I could have argued, I suppose, but the language barrier was too great to overcome at that point.) The second time I had an entire 5 minutes, ran to the train and got on just before it left. Unfortunately, I didn''t realize how the seating worked -- they are assigned -- so I ended up getting on at least half the train length away from my car. I eventually made it, however. The staff was very polite and suggested that rather than dragging my suitcase all the way to my car that I store my suitcase in a closer car. I wouldn''t even have considered it if I was in a different country, but South Korea is very nice that way.
I love to go to Seoul coz of the quality of their goods. It''s not exactly cheap but you''re paying for the quality. Myeongdong area is a bit on the higher end but a very good location to stay in - 1 subway stop away for namdaemun market & 2 stops away from dongdaemun market. Based on my experiences, I found namdaemun cheaper than the 2 places I''ve mentioned but smaller. People there are probably insomniacs =) their shops are open till 5am! Just a tip- it''s a bit cheaper to shop at nite.
Seoul is a safe, interesting city to travel to with many things available to the visitor from cultural sights and museums to sporting events and shopping areas. Public transportation is cheap and easy to follow if you know where you want to go. If not, a city tour can give you an overview about what is available in the city. I''ve always found the people to be friendly and helpful if you have difficulty. The country of South Korea is a beautiful land with rocky mountains, beautiful seashores and a rich history. I think it is one of the hidden treasures of Asia.
The hotel is in a terrific location and the Airport Limousine Bus 602 will drop you not far from the hotel...just keep walking a look for the gate. The hotel is incredibly accessible to shops, restaurants and the wonderfully efficient and easy to understand subways. We caught a subway (line 1 just across from the hotel) to Gyeongbokgung Palace. The following link shows a brief video, www.seoulsearching.com. Handy Hint: You use the subway underpasses to cross "under" all of the main streets and this is both fun and good for you (interesting shops and loads of stairs). Second Hint: Wear comfy shoes (and waterproof) shoes if going in Spring/rain - lots of steps abound and puddles. Third Hint: Look out for cars and motorbikes -They don''t want to hit you but the "Seoul" system seems to rely on everyone giving way when necessary. Fourth Hint: Do take a small umbrella or rainjacket in April. Fifth Hint: Do try the wonderful Korean food. Everything we had was excellent and spicy.
If you want to see Seoul and experience the Korean culture in one day; you may want to check out the Modern Seoul Tour and the Korea House Dinner and Show sponsored by Grace Travels. It was a great experience!
The local tours, both the east and west island ones, are well organized. However, it emphasizes a little bit more on entertainment and less on culture. I think the Jeju National Museum is impressive and should included in the tours. I also personally would like the Tea Museum be included in the west island tour. There are plenty of restaurants around the hotel and the Food Street is close by. I enjoyed the variety of Korean food, but would only hope that there are other quality restaurant of other culutres, such as Chinese, Japanese, French and Italian, around apart from that offered by the hotel.
The tour at Changdukgong and Piwoen is excellent. I also enjoyed the tour to Jogesa and Bongeunsa Temples and a relax tea session in a traditional tea house. The half-day out of town excursion to the Korean Folk Village proved to be a rewarding contrast to the city life.
Korean restaurant in the hotel is very good but a little expensive. Fridays, Outback and Bennigans are close within a few blocks of the hotel if you need a flavor of the US.
The new Incheon airport is very easy to get around. The KAL limosine bus is 12,00 won but the airport shuttle is only 7,00 won. KAL has better seats. Itaewon can be a good place to get suits made. I have had many made there. Myeong Dong is a very good place for ties. It is connected to the Lotte hotel/department tour.