Korea Trip 2019
Hi guys! My friend and I decided to head over to two countries for over a period of 2 months to take a break before starting our full-time job! Here are some ideas for whoever that is out there who wishes to experiment living abroad for 2 months! We have a tight budget to abide by. Hence, our trip might not be the most comfortable, but it will still nevertheless be the best experience for us.
First things first, choose the countries that you would like to visit. As safety is a concern, we have decided to visit Korea and Taiwan for our 2-month long vacation. Do your research on flights because NOV-DEC can be a challenge to get cheap tickets, especially if you are on a budget. Look through sky-scanner and then book the flights either through them or if not, through the flight companies directly.
*Quick-tip*
Layover flights are cheaper options so if you have time to spare like we do, do consider these options as they are most definitely budget-friendly.
Layover flights are cheaper options so if you have time to spare like we do, do consider these options as they are most definitely budget-friendly.
Here is an overview of the route that we will be taking.
Singapore -> KL (layover) -> South Korea -> Taiwan -> Singapore
Here's a reference for the flights that we took!
Here's a reference for the flights that we took!
We reached Incheon Airport Terminal 1 at 10:45 PM (9:45 PM in SG) and most of the operations in the airport have ceased by then. We knew we were going to stay at the airport for the first night so our Airbnb stay will only start on the next day. Do take the brochures (MRT track lines, location guides) at the airport! It will come in handy in some ways!
Our first stop in South Korea is Sokcho, which is a city in the far northeast of Gangwon-do province. This city offers a series of beautiful landscapes - Sokcho Beach, Seoraksan Mountain, Abai Village and many more!
Bus Tickets from Incheon Airport -> Sokcho Express Bus Terminal
If you have a credit card, you can just buy the bus tickets straight from the electronic ticket machine located within the arrival hall.
Alternatively, you can purchase the tickets straight from the ticket booth located outside of the arrival hall (located directly outside of the airport). Do note that they only open at 5.40am.
There are different timings that you can choose from. It is a one-way ticket that costs 34,000won per pax from Incheon Airport to Sokcho Express Bus Terminal.
You can just select and pay using a credit card via the electronic ticket machine. However, if you do not have a credit card, you can wait till the counter opens to purchase your ticket (refer to the ticket below).
The bus came before 7.30am at platform 13A. The seats are quite comfortable. The entire duration will take about 2-3 hours. There will be one-stop about one hour into the journey for passengers to have toilet break or to grab some snacks at the rest stop.
There will be stops nearing to the end of the journey for some passengers to alight. However, all the automated voice is in Korean and there is no English translation for it. We have to keep our eyes peeled for any signs outside that state Sokcho Express Bus Terminal. However, the driver said something in Korean that we could not comprehend, and all the passengers started alighting after that, so we followed suit. However, we realised that he drove us to the Sokcho Intercity Bus Terminal instead of Sokcho Express Bus Terminal.
Sokcho Map. You can find out the famous spots to go in Sokcho!
We had to travel from Sokcho Intercity Bus Terminal to our Airbnb location. You can either choose to take a bus there or walk there.
1st Airbnb Location - Sokcho
For more defaults regarding this Airbnb apartment, click here!
Dates: 7 November - 13 November 2019
Total costs: SGD 373.77 (for a total of 7 nights)
Total cost/night: SGD 53.40
Sunrise from apartment
Sokcho Beach is just a stone throw away!
Review on 1st Airbnb:
Ratings: 8.5/10
Comments: The place is clean and has all the basic amenities that you require during the stay. There is a water dispenser within the apartment itself (beside the sink), so there will be drinkable water (both hot and cold) throughout your stay. There is also a microwave available. The host also provides toiletries which include soap, shampoo, toothpaste, etc.
If you lack of anything, you can easily get supplies too. There are plenty of convenient stores located around the building. There is one right next to the building! The location of the apartment is also easily accessible from Sokcho Express Bus Terminal (about 5-10 minutes walk) and also the Sokcho Beach. In addition, it is also pretty convenient to travel to Seoraksan Mountain (Seoraksan National Park) as there is a bus stop nearby (stay tune for another post!).
2nd Airbnb Location - Seoul
For more details regarding this Airbnb apartment, click here!
Dates: 13 November - 4 December 2019
Total costs: SGD 816.89 (for a total of 21 nights)
Total costs/night: SGD 38.90
Review on 2nd Airbnb:
Ratings: 6/10
Comments: The place is decently equipped with basic cooking amenities for longer stays but the living experience was not as good as what we were expecting, especially after the stay in Sokcho. There is a slight odour lingering within the kitchen premises and the ventilation is not that good as well. The place is located on the ground floor and there are chances that insects might intrude so do keep the space clean and throw the trash everyday.
However, one thing great about this stay is that the host is quick to respond to our queries.
*If you don't mind the odour and insects/pests, this is a pretty ok accommodation, considering the price and the location (5-10 minutes walk from Amsa Station (Line 8)). Otherwise, we would suggest that you spend slightly more for another location*
Bus Tickets from COEX City Airport Terminal -> Incheon Airport
There are several ways that you can travel to the Airport from the Airbnb.
1. By getting a cab
2. By train (transferring a few lines)
3. By train then by coach
We chose the last option as we figured its the most cost saving and less tiring way. We had heavy luggages and the changing of lines will be very tiring for us. We will have to figure out where are the lifts for the different stations for us to change the lines and with the crowd as well. In addition, it was not easy to decipher the station map as some maps just doesn't make any sense to us.
We chanced upon COEX City Airport Terminal when we were at the Starfield Coex Mall (where the instagrammable library is located at) - at Samseong Station (Line 2). Apparently, there are several City Airport Terminals located within Seoul itself.
So what are these City Airport Terminals for?
Here are some of the services provided:
1. Check-in services by 16 tenant airlines
2. Non-stop Limousine bus to Incheon Airport (Terminal 1&2)
3. Luggage Packing Shop
4. Currency Exchange
5. Storage Locker
Inside contain useful information such as the bus routes, the timings etc.
Instagrammable library (left) and COEX City Airport Check-in area (right).
You will have to follow the signs in the mall and walk towards the COEX City Airport Terminal.
If your flight is one of the 16 tenant airlines, you are able to check-in on the spot. However, if your flight is not one of the tenant airlines, you can take the escalator up to the next floor to purchase your bus tickets to the Airport (which is what we did).
Holly's Coffee is located beside the departure area (where you queue for the limousine bus). Just head inside the departure area to purchase your bus tickets.
You can purchase your bus tickets through the electronic machine. They accepts cash if you do not have a credit card. You can select the date, the time and the airport (Terminal 1/2) through the machine.
From COEX City Airport Terminal to Incheon Terminal 1:
Fees: 15,000won per pax
Duration: 65-85 minutes (Non-stop service)
Airport Limousine Bus
Things to take note!
1. You can actually board the earlier timing (provided if there are spare seats in the bus). We approached the lady at the counter (beside the electronic machines) to ask if we could board the earlier bus timing since there were not many passengers boarding. She helped us to change our timings and allowed us to board the bus.
2. There are actually a lot of people who stay overnight at the Incheon Airport. So if you have a flight early next morning, and would like to save some money on accommodation, you can actually head down to the Airport earlier and camp overnight. The convenient stores in the Airport will still be open so feel free to grab some late night snacks if you're feeling hungry!
Hope you guys find these useful!
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