Would like to share my experience and research I did before and during my Korea trip. Hope it is useful to you too.
Before the trip
1. Air Asia flight from K.L. to Incheon RM1200 for 2 person, included meals & luggage.
- but really don't like AA meals >.<
2. Always update the news, events and offer from local KTO website.
KTO Malaysia
- We redeemed the T-money card from Korea Plaza, there was 4,000KRW in the card which ready to use.
T-money Coupon
3. Draft itinerary in order to reserve for domestic flights, guesthouse, train and etc in advance.
4. I found Busan Air fare is competitive. Different dates will have different promotion. I managed to get the airfare from Gimpo (Seoul) to Jeju in KRW42,310 (RM121) and Jeju to Busan KRW32,410 (RM93) included fuel surcharge (4,000KRW) & airport charges(13,200KRW). Air Busan airfare is included 15kg luggage per person as mentioned by their official.
Air Busan
- There are also others domestic flight to compare the price as following, maybe can get the cheaper one.
Eastarjet
Korean Air
5. U may experience to travel in between Korea by others transportation, not compulsory by flight. Depend on your preference, time constrain, and budget.
- By ship
> Normally ppl take night ship to save cost for accommodation. U can reserve in advance a cabin if want privacy. I cancel my plan to take ship cause the price I get is not much different compare with the flight + accommodation and flight still the faster to reach my destination.
Korea Ship
- By KTX
> KTX is a inter-city high speed train. It is comfortable. Ticket only can be reserve 1 months in advance. Different date and different times in different price for normal tickets. They offer few type of tickets for foreigner as well. I found a discount coupon but cant print out, maybe they already cancel it.
KTX
KTX Discount Coupon
During the trip
1. Buy a T-money card from AREX counter or card machine.
2. From Incheon Airport to Seoul City
> AREX is Airport transit train from Incheon to Seoul Station. There are 2 type of AREX, Express and Regular train. Express train is direct line in between Incheon and Seoul Station only and cost 13,300 KRW. Is very much expensive than regular train which is only cost 3,700 KRW(By T-money). Express train is roughly save 10-15mins from Incheon to Seoul but the fare is in big different.
AREX
> Or another common way is by Airport Limousine 13,000KRW. But gotto be aware of the serious traffic congestion during the rush hour.
3. Travel around by subway/bus/taxi
> In Seoul, not suggest to take bus due to avoid traffic jam and I think subway still the faster & cheaper. If u are 4 pax in a group, taxi will be cheaper than subway for some short distance.
Anyway, I still take bus to visit Namsan Tower. By bus we enjoyed the day & night scenery all the way of up & down of Namsan.
* Local circulation bus 02 or 05: Take bus from Chungmuro Station (subway lines 3 or 4), exit #2 or Dongguk University Station (subway line 3), exit #6
* Local circulation bus 03: Take bus from Itaewon Station (subway line 6), exit #4 or Hangangjin Station (subway line 6), exit #2
> In Jeju Island, there are no subway, only bus or taxi. To save cost better stay near to the Bus Terminal in Jeju Island. U can always ask help from the guest house's staff to write those places u plan to visit in Hangul, then show to the taxi or bus driver to make sure going to the right place. Jeju Island is hard to get a taxi at some view point, normally you need to call for taxi or wait for luck ^^. Or if u are lucky, there is an information counter, don't be shy to ask for call. They will pass u the phone and let u call yourself cause they don't understand u.
> In Busan, first choice subway. Bear in mind that, Taxi will ignore u for a short distance drive.
*There are also free shuttle bus in between Seoul, Busan and Gyeongju. Details as following link.
FOC Shuttle Bus
Tips:
1. Always save the links you found in any website. Its always happened that the link system error or page missing once they update their news. Print out or pdf the coupon or voucher once you are interested, you won't regret to do this.
2. Place a visit Korea Tourism Office in Korea, they will provide u different events, discount tickets, coupons and etc. KTO Staffs normally can speak in Japanese, Mandarin, English & Korean. They are friendly and helpful.
> We got free VIP tickets for Korea In Motion Festival at Cheongyecheon, Seoul. The show included performance of Nanta, Pop Dance, Korea Opera, U-kiss, Super junior etc...Its worth cause the ticket for Nanta already cost from 40,000RKWto 60,000KRW.
>They also provide Korean traditional wear for you to take photo free of charge.
3. U can always call (area code) +1330 for any inquiries during your trip in Korea. For example, Seoul 02-1330, Jeju 064-1330, Busan 051-1330. If u not rent a mobile phone, u can make a free call from your guest house or information center and regular charge by using public phone.
4. Balance of T-money can be refund at GS2 Store, Ground Floor in Incheon Airport.
5. It is not easy to communicate with different Korean cause we don't know Hangul, when they don't know English. Print this out, it is helpful especially in a restaurant without picture or English menu.
Hangul
6. There are few links to share for discount coupons.
Discount Coupons
Korea In Motion
