Alright, so South Korea. Been wanting to go for ages, you know, K-dramas, the food, all that buzz. Finally decided to just do it.
Getting Started – The Idea Phase
First thing I did was just general browsing. When’s a good time to go? Avoided the super hot summer and freezing winter, aimed for spring. Checked visa stuff – luckily, for my passport, it was pretty straightforward for a tourist trip, just needed the K-ETA sorted online beforehand. Easy peasy.
Figuring Out Where to Go and For How Long
Then I started thinking, where exactly? Seoul is a given, right? Had to see the palaces, Myeongdong, maybe Gangnam just to say I did. But I didn’t want to just stay in one city. Busan sounded cool, coastal city vibe. Decided on roughly 10 days – enough time to see a couple of places without rushing like crazy. Sketched out a rough plan: fly into Seoul, spend maybe 5 days there, take the KTX train down to Busan for 3 days, then back to Seoul for the last day or two before flying out.
Booking the Big Stuff – Flights and Beds
Okay, plan roughed out, time to book. Flights were the usual game – checked a few comparison sites, looked at airline websites directly. Found a decent deal flying into Incheon (ICN). Nailed that down first. Then, accommodation. For Seoul, I wanted somewhere central and easy to get around from. Looked at hotels near Myeongdong and Insadong. Found a place with good reviews, decent price, booked it. For Busan, I wanted something near Haeundae Beach. Found a smaller hotel, looked alright, booked that too.
The Nitty-Gritty Prep Work
With flights and hotels sorted, I moved onto the practical bits.
- Money: Figured I’d need some cash (Korean Won) for smaller shops and street food. Exchanged some beforehand, planned to use my card for bigger stuff and withdraw more from ATMs there if needed.
- Phone/Internet: Essential. Didn’t want crazy roaming charges. Looked into getting a local SIM card versus a pocket Wi-Fi egg. Decided on a pocket Wi-Fi device I could pick up at the airport. Seemed easiest for multiple devices. Booked that online too.
- Getting Around: Read up on the T-Money card for subways and buses. Planned to buy one as soon as I landed.
- Language: My Korean is basically zero. Learned a few absolute basics – hello (annyeonghaseyo), thank you (kamsahamnida), sorry (joesonghamnida), how much (eolmayeyo). Downloaded a translation app too, just in case.
- Packing: Comfy shoes were top of the list – knew I’d be doing a lot of walking. Power adapter, portable charger, the usual travel meds. Packed layers because spring weather can be tricky.
- Insurance: Always get travel insurance. Just booked a standard policy online. Better safe than sorry.
Hitting the Ground Running – The Trip Itself
Landed at Incheon. First mission: pick up the pocket Wi-Fi, grab that T-Money card and load it up. Found the airport train (AREX) into Seoul, pretty straightforward. Checked into the hotel. The T-Money card was brilliant, used it everywhere – subway, buses, even in some taxis and convenience stores. Super convenient.
Seoul was hectic, in a good way. Did the palace hopping (Gyeongbokgung was massive), wandered through Bukchon Hanok Village, ate loads in Myeongdong (street food heaven!), checked out the vibe in Hongdae. Used Naver Maps app for directions, worked way better than Google Maps there.
Took the KTX train to Busan. Fast, comfy, easy booking online beforehand. Busan felt more relaxed. Hit Haeundae Beach, explored Gamcheon Culture Village (super colourful), ate amazing seafood at Jagalchi Market. Again, T-Money card was clutch for getting around.
Food was definitely a highlight everywhere. Tried everything I could – Korean BBQ, bibimbap, kimchi jjigae, tteokbokki, fried chicken (chimaek!). Pointing and using the basic phrases usually worked fine.
Looking Back – Final Thoughts
Overall, an awesome trip. The planning paid off, made things pretty smooth. Having the Wi-Fi egg and T-Money card from the get-go was super helpful. Learning those few basic Korean phrases definitely earned some smiles too. If I did it again? Maybe explore a bit more off the beaten path, perhaps Jeju Island if I had more time. But for a first proper visit, hitting Seoul and Busan was a solid choice. Definitely needed those comfy shoes!
