Korean Air Skypass - ICN Transit Tours

Hi all, I'm a complete newbie to these forums and in fact, will be flying Korean for the first time in a couple of weeks. I have some time to kill while in Korea and have been checking some of the transit tours. It looks like I have enough time to go to "Lotte Mart" and I was interested in hearing from anyone who's been there. Is it worth going to? It seems like it might be pretty close to the airport so are things still "airport prices"?

Thanks in advance for any responses.

Do you mean Lotte Mart or Lotte World? Lotte Mart is kind of like a department store with a grocery attached. Lotte World is more of an amusement park. How much time do you have at ICN?

There's a thread in the OZ forum about transit tours. I'm using some lame computer at the domestic lounge at GMP now, and it's not allowing me to copy and paste the link. The title of the thread is "free day tour with ICN layover".

It sounds like you're talking about the free shopping tour. I thought it was at the Lotte Department Store, but perhaps you're right and it's just at the Lotte Mart, which is just a sort of superstore, nothing at all special about it. I think the free shopping tour had a few different activities at the shopping area. But definitely no Lotte World.

Prices would probably just be normal prices paid by all Korean consumers. Nothing really special in my opinion.

If you just want to go shopping on your own, I believe there's a Lotte Mart and other shopping at Gimpo airport, which is easily accessible by train or bus, though if you do it on your own, you'll have to pay the minimal transportation costs to/from GMP. I'm not sure, but perhaps this is the same shopping area that the free tour uses.

If you have enough time, I'd personally recommend going to Namdaemun market, Insa-dong, or similar more traditional shopping/eating areas, which would be a bit more interesting than just a department store or superstore which would be similar to that in just about any country.

nme7, thanks for your kind reply. I believe it's just Lotte Mart and not Lotte World. We have 7 hours BUT we're travelling with two 4 year olds so moving around with them slows us down so we were looking at a tour that takes just 2 or 3 hours. Would you recommend Lotte World? Any recommendations of tours that would be good for kids would be grately appreciated.

A_Lee thanks for your helpful post. I found that forum page. Hmm, sounds like Lotte Mart might not be so interesting. Will look into the places you recommended. Still looking for places that would amuse 2 4-year olds, that's the difficult part!

With 4 year olds, they might actually enjoy staying at ICN the most. There are quite a few 'cultural experience' things you can do at ICN, all free, and the kids would probably enjoy them.

With a 7 hour transit, you wouldn't want to go all the way to Lotte World, its probably about a 60km, (90-120 minute drive) from ICN. Depending on your arrival date if I have class or not, I can show you around if you do end up coming into Seoul

Thanks for that info SirJman. Didn't realize it was such a long haul into Seoul. Got a long flight (well flights) so might just stick to staying at ICN. Checked out that "cultural experience" stuff and I think my daughters will enjoy it. Thanks for all your help!

I recall seeing a free temple tour, to a Buddhist temple fairly close to the airport. I don't remember who it is though that runs that tour. Just check with the various operators though and see if you can find it if that interests you. I think the tour is only 2 hours, so perhaps good for you, traveling with young children.

Depending on how long your layover is Lotte World Is possible.
Past weekend I had 10 hours layover, which i took the limousine bus to a city 15 minutes from the Lotte World, spent 5 hours there and was able to return 2 hours before my flight.

Well, certainly any tour which involved going inside Lotte World, rather than just to the Lotte Department Store and area next to Lotte World, would be a paid tour, if such a tour even exists.

For anyone wanting to visit Lotte World, and if no tours exist, there is a KAL limousine bus that goes directly there, stopping at the Lotte World Hotel. So a DIY tour of Lotte World ought to be quite easy.