First trip to Seoul - therefore noob questions!
Aug 5, 2012, 12:01 pm
#31
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Friends who've explore more of Asia downplayed Seoul as too bland and boring and not as exciting as Bangkok or Vietnam but I liked it and it was really my cup of tea and would go back in a heartbeat.
Aug 6, 2012, 3:52 pm
#32
Join Date: Jun 2007
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If you can delay your trip for a week or two, the last weekend of September is a major national holiday and Seoul will be deserted. That should make your visit a lot more pleasant. If you decide to come around then, I live and work in the Suburbs and might take a trip up to Seoul as the high-end hotels will be discounting like crazy to fill their rooms so I could show you around if you want.
ALSO: avoid Subway line 2 between Sadang and Gangnam like the plague during rush hour.
ALSO: avoid Subway line 2 between Sadang and Gangnam like the plague during rush hour.
Aug 6, 2012, 6:18 pm
#33
Join Date: Jul 2012
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If you can delay your trip for a week or two, the last weekend of September is a major national holiday and Seoul will be deserted. That should make your visit a lot more pleasant. If you decide to come around then, I live and work in the Suburbs and might take a trip up to Seoul as the high-end hotels will be discounting like crazy to fill their rooms so I could show you around if you want.
ALSO: avoid Subway line 2 between Sadang and Gangnam like the plague during rush hour.
ALSO: avoid Subway line 2 between Sadang and Gangnam like the plague during rush hour.
Aug 6, 2012, 8:08 pm
#34
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Checked for an accommodation in Seoul from 30 sept - 3 oct. but nowhere to see heavily discounted rates among high-end hotels or am i looking at wrong sites? Is it still too early to get the discounts and should wait till early sept. Can you direct me where I can find cheap accommodation for high-end hotels?
Aug 7, 2012, 4:51 pm
#35
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 4,639
Checked for an accommodation in Seoul from 30 sept - 3 oct. but nowhere to see heavily discounted rates among high-end hotels or am i looking at wrong sites? Is it still too early to get the discounts and should wait till early sept. Can you direct me where I can find cheap accommodation for high-end hotels?
Either that the so called chuseok packages are totally overrated.
Last edited by stupidhead; Aug 7, 2012 at 5:02 pm
Aug 13, 2012, 7:15 pm
#36
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Just wanted to add a "me too" to the helpfulness of this post. The Korea forum was created at the perfect time for me, I'm in the process of doing research on things to do for a two-day (three night) stopover in Seoul mid-November. If there is anything of specific interest during that time (specifically, Nov. 13-14), I'd love to hear about it!
Aug 14, 2012, 6:50 am
#38
Join Date: Jan 2010
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If you can delay your trip for a week or two, the last weekend of September is a major national holiday and Seoul will be deserted. That should make your visit a lot more pleasant. If you decide to come around then, I live and work in the Suburbs and might take a trip up to Seoul as the high-end hotels will be discounting like crazy to fill their rooms so I could show you around if you want.
ALSO: avoid Subway line 2 between Sadang and Gangnam like the plague during rush hour.
ALSO: avoid Subway line 2 between Sadang and Gangnam like the plague during rush hour.
If you have to travel that weekend, use the train or plane. Traffic is terrible.
Aug 15, 2012, 3:22 pm
#40
Join Date: Aug 2012
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Seoul Noob Also
Not to thread jack but I'll be in Seoul for the first time also Sept 4th- Sept 10th, if anyone wants to meet up as a group of bumbling foreigners I'm down to, drinks on me lol! (doing a mini tour of asia so will be in shanghai/beijing etc beforehand and last leg is Seoul) And also no idea of where to stay yet
Aug 16, 2012, 11:04 am
#41
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My best advise, book it right now!
Aug 16, 2012, 11:09 am
#42
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Completely agree. I thought there'd be more of a language barrier but many signs in English including on the subway where the announcements of upcoming stations were also in English. The people I encountered were also quite willing to assist and I enjoyed those interactions.
Friends who've explore more of Asia downplayed Seoul as too bland and boring and not as exciting as Bangkok or Vietnam but I liked it and it was really my cup of tea and would go back in a heartbeat.
Friends who've explore more of Asia downplayed Seoul as too bland and boring and not as exciting as Bangkok or Vietnam but I liked it and it was really my cup of tea and would go back in a heartbeat.
Also, most people in the early 20s are probably somewhat fluent in English. American pop culture is big in Korea and most people at this age also go to academies to learn English (hakwons). So beware when you want to talk behind someone's back in English thinking they won't understand, especially around college areas and Gangnam.
Aug 21, 2012, 3:34 am
#43
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 12
You mean last week of September 2012 is bad to visit Seoul??
This is bad for me coz, I have already book flight and hotel for visiting Seoul from 30 Sept to 03 October 2012.
As it would be also a golden week holiday in China, there would also be huge Chinese coming into Seoul.
Btw, staying in Lotte City Hotel Mapo.
Is it good in terms of street food, shopping and also tour??
This is bad for me coz, I have already book flight and hotel for visiting Seoul from 30 Sept to 03 October 2012.
As it would be also a golden week holiday in China, there would also be huge Chinese coming into Seoul.
Btw, staying in Lotte City Hotel Mapo.
Is it good in terms of street food, shopping and also tour??
Aug 23, 2012, 1:55 pm
#44
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If you do plan to travel, I would book ASAP. Most train and plane tickets will sell out quick, if they haven't already. Half the population of South Korea live in the Seoul metro area (about 22 million or so) and many of them will be trying to go to their hometowns.
My best advise, book it right now!
My best advise, book it right now!
Aug 23, 2012, 1:59 pm
#45
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The (Milllenium) Hilton is top quality and centrally located north of the river near Namdaemun but sits on the slopes of Namsan and isn't convenient to the subway. If you're ok with taking taxis to+from the hotel it's not a bad choice. The Conrad is in Yeouido which is far from both COEX and tourist sites.