TRAVEL TIPS

1. Plan your Trip with Sygic Travel (formerly Tripomatic)

I love this app. It makes travel planning so much easier. Sygic Travel allows you to plot points of interest on a map, including your hotel, so you can see exactly how far you need to travel between points. It shows you where each attraction is on a map so you can visit them in the right order and save travel time. With pocket wifi, it turns your mobile phone into a GPS tracking device so people with a poor sense of direction (like me) never get lost again. Pretty sweet right? Check out my post on the Sygic Travel app for more information.

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2. Rent a Pocket Wifi Device

A constant wifi connection is a must when traveling these days. You’ll need it to do research, convert currencies, use ride-sharing apps, navigate with GPS, etc. We never go anywhere now without renting a pocket wifi device first.

We rented a 4G pocket wifi device from Klook for KRW 2,900 per day. It was fast and we never lost our connection, not even in the subway or in remote areas like highway buses and the mountains. The battery life was excellent too. I’d switch it on at around 8AM and it would last until about 5PM. I suggest bringing a powerbank if you plan on staying out for most of the day. We rent a pocket wifi device whenever we travel and this was one of the best we’ve used so far.

 

3. Get an Integrated Palace Ticket

If you want to visit as many palaces as you can in Seoul, then you should definitely get an integrated palace ticket. Entrance to all four major palaces — Changdeokgung (including Huwon), Changgyeonggung, Deoksugung, Gyeongbokgung — and Jongmyo Shrine will normally cost you a total of KRW 17,000 for adults. With the integrated palace ticket, you’ll have access to all five for just KRW 10,000. It’s valid for 3 months from the date of purchase.

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4. Check for Discount Passes

There are many websites that offer discount passes to tours and services. One of my favorites is Klook. I’ve been a customer and an affiliate for two years and I absolutely love their site. They offer deals in many cities around the world, including Seoul. If you’re looking for deals on tours, shows, theme parks, airport transfers, etc, then you may want to search through this list of Seoul attractions on Klook. You’ll often find interesting activities that you wouldn’t normally think of yourself, so it’s definitely worth a look. Here’s a list of some of Klook’s most popular deals in Seoul

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5. Get Travel Insurance

To be honest, it was only recently when we started buying travel insurance. Back when we traveled just once or twice a year, travel insurance felt like an added expense, one we didn’t need. But now that we travel more, I understand how important it is to have it. Fact is, you never know what can happen. It’s one of those things that you hope you never have to use, but if you do wind up needing it, then you’ll be thanking the gods that you had it (or cursing them if you didn’t).

Though I do find it more necessary now, it’s still up to you if you think you need it. A 3-day trip to Osaka just shopping and eating may not really call for insurance but if you plan on doing more active things like bungee jumping, kayaking, or even going on a city bike tour, then I’d say travel insurance is a must. We went skiing on this trip so we did get travel insurance.

We buy travel insurance from World Nomads because every long-term traveler I know recommends it. From the sound of it, they’re the best in the industry by a mile. Not only do they provide a high coverage limit for medical expenses (up to USD 5 million with the Standard package), they also cover things like trip delays, missed flight connections, theft/loss of passport and luggage, etc. Follow the link or use the widget below to learn more and get a free travel insurance quote from World Nomads. It’s super quick and easy.

 

Travel Insurance. Simple & Flexible.

Which countries or regions are you traveling to?        

e.g. Thailand, Vietnam

 

What's your country of residence?

e.g. United States (USA)

 

Start date

14th Dec 18

 

End date

20th Dec 18

 

Get a Price

 

6. Bring the Right Power Adapter

Electrical outlets in South Korea are round so plugs are typically Type C or Type F. Be sure to bring the right power adapters for your devices. Electrical voltage is 220/230V.

7. Wear Comfortable Shoes

You’l be doing a lot of walking in Seoul so be sure to wear comfortable shoes. You’ll probably be taking them off a lot too at temples and restaurants, so try to wear shoes that are comfortable but easy enough to slip on and off.