Best way to Four Seasons
May 17, 2019, 10:13 pm
#1
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Location: Portland, OR
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Best way to Four Seasons
My wife and I will be going to Seoul in a couple weeks and this will be our first time in Korea. Is the best way to the hotel via the Airport Express train? What's also the best pocket wifi company to rent from?
May 17, 2019, 10:18 pm
#2
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I assume you're landing at ICN and not the "domestic" airport, so my advice would be to start by checking whether your hotel is on one of the airport bus routes (generally operated by "luxury" buses with seats that resemble old domestic FC recliners on legacy USA airlines) and if so, whether the schedule looks like it would work for you.
If you don't care much about the cost, you could ask your hotel's concierge to arrange for a car service to meet you at the airport and bring you to the hotel upon arrival (and perhaps also in reverse for your departure from Seoul as hotel arranged transfers tend to be slightly cheaper when booked as a RT).
If you don't care much about the cost, you could ask your hotel's concierge to arrange for a car service to meet you at the airport and bring you to the hotel upon arrival (and perhaps also in reverse for your departure from Seoul as hotel arranged transfers tend to be slightly cheaper when booked as a RT).
May 18, 2019, 11:37 am
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Portland, OR
Programs: DL gold, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold
Posts: 305
I assume you're landing at ICN and not the "domestic" airport, so my advice would be to start by checking whether your hotel is on one of the airport bus routes (generally operated by "luxury" buses with seats that resemble old domestic FC recliners on legacy USA airlines) and if so, whether the schedule looks like it would work for you.
If you don't care much about the cost, you could ask your hotel's concierge to arrange for a car service to meet you at the airport and bring you to the hotel upon arrival (and perhaps also in reverse for your departure from Seoul as hotel arranged transfers tend to be slightly cheaper when booked as a RT).
If you don't care much about the cost, you could ask your hotel's concierge to arrange for a car service to meet you at the airport and bring you to the hotel upon arrival (and perhaps also in reverse for your departure from Seoul as hotel arranged transfers tend to be slightly cheaper when booked as a RT).
I did see about a car service and it's 180000W so a pretty significant difference. I might do it because this is our first time in Korea.
I
May 18, 2019, 11:38 am
#4
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Location: Portland, OR
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Also since we're coming from Japan do people recommend Yen to Won? Is Korea a heavy cash society like Japan? My plan is to carry the equivalent of $200 US a day in Korean won.
May 19, 2019, 3:48 am
#5
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Korea
Programs: KE Skypass Morning Calm Member, OZ Club
Posts: 2,352
Gimpo is not "the domestic airport" as they have flights to Japan, China, and Taiwan daily from an international terminal. Very much so a real international airport haha. Much better to access and use IMO.
For WiFi Router - use KT HOME | KOREA TELECOM . They have excellent English service and support in case of any issues (which shouldn't happen). You can prepay, reserve at nice discount and pick up easily at airport.
You absolutely do not need to overpay that HUGE price for car pick up. Even if you took a taxi from the taxi line at the airport, you would pay 60-70$ max for the taxi.
The bus itself is very comfortable, more so than a taxi IMO - bags go under the bus by the staff, English announcements, hard to make a mistake.
You can exchange your yen in Korea no problem. You can use your credit card essentially everywhere here EXCEPT to buy and charge your T Money transit card, at local markets, and at the tiny street newsstands. Taxis take them, can buy bus tickets, all restaurants, etc.
For WiFi Router - use KT HOME | KOREA TELECOM . They have excellent English service and support in case of any issues (which shouldn't happen). You can prepay, reserve at nice discount and pick up easily at airport.
You absolutely do not need to overpay that HUGE price for car pick up. Even if you took a taxi from the taxi line at the airport, you would pay 60-70$ max for the taxi.
The bus itself is very comfortable, more so than a taxi IMO - bags go under the bus by the staff, English announcements, hard to make a mistake.
You can exchange your yen in Korea no problem. You can use your credit card essentially everywhere here EXCEPT to buy and charge your T Money transit card, at local markets, and at the tiny street newsstands. Taxis take them, can buy bus tickets, all restaurants, etc.
May 20, 2019, 11:12 am
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Portland, OR
Programs: DL gold, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold
Posts: 305
Gimpo is not "the domestic airport" as they have flights to Japan, China, and Taiwan daily from an international terminal. Very much so a real international airport haha. Much better to access and use IMO.
For WiFi Router - use KT HOME KOREA TELECOM . They have excellent English service and support in case of any issues (which shouldn't happen). You can prepay, reserve at nice discount and pick up easily at airport.
You absolutely do not need to overpay that HUGE price for car pick up. Even if you took a taxi from the taxi line at the airport, you would pay 60-70$ max for the taxi.
The bus itself is very comfortable, more so than a taxi IMO - bags go under the bus by the staff, English announcements, hard to make a mistake.
You can exchange your yen in Korea no problem. You can use your credit card essentially everywhere here EXCEPT to buy and charge your T Money transit card, at local markets, and at the tiny street newsstands. Taxis take them, can buy bus tickets, all restaurants, etc.
For WiFi Router - use KT HOME KOREA TELECOM . They have excellent English service and support in case of any issues (which shouldn't happen). You can prepay, reserve at nice discount and pick up easily at airport.
You absolutely do not need to overpay that HUGE price for car pick up. Even if you took a taxi from the taxi line at the airport, you would pay 60-70$ max for the taxi.
The bus itself is very comfortable, more so than a taxi IMO - bags go under the bus by the staff, English announcements, hard to make a mistake.
You can exchange your yen in Korea no problem. You can use your credit card essentially everywhere here EXCEPT to buy and charge your T Money transit card, at local markets, and at the tiny street newsstands. Taxis take them, can buy bus tickets, all restaurants, etc.
I think we're going to do the limo bus to the station and walk over to the hotel.
I appreciate the tip on the credit cards. It seems so different from Japan where everything is either cash or using the Suica cards. From your experience is Korea more Visa/MC heavy vs Amex?
May 20, 2019, 3:52 pm
#7
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Washington, DC
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And probably less - just don't get the big "international" taxi or whatever it's called. Unless it's rush hour I've paid more like $45-50 for that taxi ride (to Four Seasons). Taxi takes credit card.
May 20, 2019, 7:24 pm
#8
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Korea
Programs: KE Skypass Morning Calm Member, OZ Club
Posts: 2,352
Thank you very much for all the tips.
I think we're going to do the limo bus to the station and walk over to the hotel.
I appreciate the tip on the credit cards. It seems so different from Japan where everything is either cash or using the Suica cards. From your experience is Korea more Visa/MC heavy vs Amex?
I think we're going to do the limo bus to the station and walk over to the hotel.
I appreciate the tip on the credit cards. It seems so different from Japan where everything is either cash or using the Suica cards. From your experience is Korea more Visa/MC heavy vs Amex?