FIRST SEOUL TRAVEL BLOG #4

GUIDE for your Seoul TRAVEL upon ARRIVAL:

Here we go, our flights we booked from AirAsia Departure from NAIA was 7am and arrival would around 11am in Seoul.

I was just waiting for my dear friend early in the morning.

I don't think I should still say this, but we all know the rule for international and peak season flights here in Manila or anywhere in the world when traveling to always be at the airport at least 2-3 hours before check in your flight.

It was a long 4 hours flight, if I were you either you sleep (like what I did) or download your fave movies or mobile game in your phone.

I will not get into detail with AirAsia's aircraft hahahahhahahahahaha

let's not.

Upon arrival you ride a train to incheon airport.
Tip: just follow the crowd (I'm useless)

don't forget to fill up your arrival card (Because I did~)

So now, you will be in incheon airport. okay this one was so funny.

Immigration in Incheon intl airport was nice okay, but I would rather have their machine speaking in English rather in Tagalog when giving instructions.

they make you put your fingerprint from your left and right hand then takes a photo of you, then off you go to get your luggage. (again instructions were in Tagalog, first time in my life I was listening intently to her instructions because I'm not used to it)

Done with being checked by their immigration officers~

I can't move on the Tagalog speaking Korean lady audio (nice technology though)

Add caption

now we wait for our luggage, mine took so long and i don't know why...just look for your flight to go to the right conveyor.

This is the fun part going out of Incheon Airport!

But before you even go ahead to the Airport Bus to Seoul, buy yourself T-Money it's like our Beepcard but of course better~

Fun part with T-Money, you can avail it anywhere like any convenience store plus you get to choose designs.

A Pokemon fan? go to a 7/11 they'll have it for you.

Add caption

Got myself a Pikachu~ I like Pikachu also Pikachu reminds me of Mark Tuan from GOT7 <3

 

Around Apgujeong by this time all I see was the promotional banners for GOT7 sml huhuhu

This is called the "Luxury Road" why? well see Prada right there, this already the neighborhood we're in Apgujeong 

20 minutes walk from our place going to Apgujeong Rodeo Station, you'll pass by K-Star Road and see this cuties representing your fave k-pop groups ^^

So on our first day, we went to Hongdae and tried tons of Street food the ones you watch on Youtube yes that one. I'll save our train experience on my next post for now will leave this here.

FIRST SEOUL TRAVEL BLOG #3

GUIDE for your Seoul TRAVEL Accommodations &Tickets:

This one is for travelers like me who's stingy af.

BOOKING TICKETS:

this one is short and bittersweet, AirAsia and Cebu Pacific usually has their promo tickets all you have to do is be faster than hose travel agencies when booking lol.

sometime you're able to book return ticket for only Php5,000-8,000 for Cebu Pac.

But if you're stingy and is not good at booking promo flights like me AirAsia is the way, it's not the best aircraft to be honest, but hey they don't delay. cons they only have one flight per day so yeah...you can always get a separate return ticket from Cebu Pac just add a little bit more.

AirAsia with no promos total would be roughly around Php 8,000-13,000 that's with your return ticket, similar to Cebu Pac but it can reach up to 20k with the return ticket tho but better aircraft sometimes with delays *facepalms*

but the point here is you successfully flying to Seoul and if you have the budget then choosing any airline is not a problem.


ACCOMMODATIONS:

 Accommodation for those who wants to feel like you're actually living in Seoul or just comfortable being a backpacker.

I would go for Airbnb and Booking.com for accommodations.

Airbnb is more of renting an actual home in Seoul while Booking.com you can find backpacker style places to stay.

they also have apps that you can download in your phone and it's easier to book too!

 Booking.com's Website:

Booking.com

what's nice about booking.com is that you can book and no charges will be made yet and you may cancel booking 7 days to 3 days upon arrival. there will be a note on the place that you would like to book.

Airbnb's site:

Airbnb- I personally like Airbnb because, I'm the type who would want to feel like you're one of the locals. if you prefer this too then Airbnb is for you.

I'll share the place where I stayed, if you're into Hallyu or Korean Wave for short a Kpop fan.

Suggested places to stay in are Apgujeong, Cheongdamdong or Gangnam in general.

You will be nearby SM Ent, JYP and FNC plus Cube.

if you're a JYP artist fan (2PM, 2AM, GOT7, Wonder Girls, 15&, Twice,Baek Ah Yeon, JYP himself)

then staying with Ms. Kim is the way she's very kind and motherly. her place is at Cheongdamdong and just a few minutes away (10mins) from JYP, FNC and SM Ent around 15mins walking distance.

I'll link her Airbnb in case you would like to stay at her place, she will even cook you breakfast but we were in a hurry always so we only had breakfast when we were about to depart back home.
Ms. Lee's Apartment in Airbnb: http://abnb.me/EVmg/iHHbUKDiwC

Her place was only around Php 6,000.00 for 3 nights and 4 days. Apgujeong Station was just 15-20mins away walking distance ( I have short legs so 20mins for me)

You like clubbing? there's a club outside her apartment like when you go to the Luxury road.
( we didn't go clubbing maybe next time *winks* )

FIRST SEOUL TRAVEL BLOG #2

TIPS & APPS for your Seoul TRAVEL before Arrival:

Okay this blog is called Trial and Error for a reason, Sharing my tips from my errors encountered in Seoul ( yes you may laugh at me )

Internet/Data Mobile Connection:

If you're a first time traveler ALONE in a country, this is what you would want to secure first right?

(when I say alone no guardians or parents just my friend)

well I didn't ... fml... 

My friend Mitze here relied on to me for this Seoul trip... Why you ask? because I'm the one who's into Korean culture and pop culture...

I hate her (no kidding love this buddy of mine so much!)

that's Mitze...the one holding the camera, whose face is so close to the camera, the girl behind her well that's me. right there. teaser photo on Day 1.

back to the mobile data connection tip, as I was saying I didn't prepare at all. first of this trip was sudden (I might write one maybe after this blog entries of our trip, yes I go backwards)

I'm a Globe subscriber Prepaid, if you don't want to apply for an "Egg" Pocket wifi in Korea and prefer using your local service provider. Globe and Smart actually offers roaming.

Since I'm a Globe subscriber let's go with Globe on this one.

link on their roaming offers: http://www.globe.com.ph/international/roaming/roam-surf-promos

okay, so for this one they have these for 3-5 days package unlimited Data Roaming Plan

making your life easier coz I love you guys even tho i don't even know you.

Their partner in Korea for this one is SKT. (I personally used SKT during our stay in Korea and I must say connection was really good guys)

if you see this logo...that's the one~ you'll practically see this all over the place actually.

Next option would be the "Egg" Pocket wifi which you can reserve prior to your trip via online, you can google that and there are numerous results. SKT and Olleh has this service.

sharing one link: http://pocketwifikorea.com/

if you didn't reserve prior your trip, don't worry you can always rent on the spot in the airport upon arrival: 

SKT and Olleh are there so no worries. you will only be needing these for deposit:

1. Credit Card (yes, credit card)

You'll leave this and pay the rental fee and you will get back when you'll depart back home.

2. Pay the Deposit of 150 USD -200 USD

shocker right? yes we were shocked too but they'll return this to your once you returned their "Egg"

the cost for the "Egg" is actually not bad it's around the same cost for the roaming but here at least you get unlimited connection anywhere in Seoul plus you can share it with friends in the trip you guys can chip in with the cost.

Friendly advise: bring friends along and share costs *laughs so loud* 

these two are from different service providers, but at least you'll have an idea how they look and they don't look anything like an "Egg" *laughs*

in my case if you do not have anything of the above prepared, I gotchu guys.

In case you don't have anything of these two options prepared and you're already out there in Seoul on the bus shuttle going to Seoul and is about to cry (ME) 

In Seoul there are free wifi everywhere BUT we can't rely on those, I connected to CBTL outside where we went down from the airport bus shuttle to our place coz I have to contact the host where we are staying. (that's a different story for Accommodation)

after we settled in. we looked for options on how to get internet connection on the road.

what we learned:

 As soon as you get out of the airport, renting a wifi egg being a foreigner is impossible. you can only rent or have a plan if you're a foreigner residing in Korea.

Can you imagine me in tears right that time? anyway thank goodness after so much searching and inquiring to all nearby service providers in our area, we went to SKT they have tons of outlets in our area. This one has a personnel who was kind enough to accommodate us.

Previous outlets were all "No" and won't entertain us because we are foreigners. but this one was such an angel (I guess she felt our desperation then)

She actually contacted service for foreigners, this helped us so much! 

so you can actually buy a sim from them and have a plan, they'll do everything for you.

We got a 1 month plan with 5GB worth of data it cost around Php 1,800.00

(hey it wasn't that bad, we split the bill)

They processed the rest, I just provided my passport details and my passport itself, made payment and that's it!

I wasn't able to get the branch for that if you're in Apgujeong but I still remember the way.

but if you explore all outlets there and get into a sweet personnel that's her and you're in the right place if the store is near a convenience store.

 (will share it next time when I get back)

MUST HAVE APPS:

You don't have to download but if you need a guide for your trip places to go "Visit Korea" will be helpful. "Subway" didn't really use it. "KakaoMetro" this one was very useful! (A MUST) "Naver Map" if you can read and type of hangul this will be useful.

But I have to be honest here, I used google map. It was actually very useful I even reached SM Ent because of it.

KakaoMetro - this was suggested by my friend who constantly travels to Seoul.

Visit Korea- this one is if you want to plan on places to go they'll suggest good ones for you. 

Naver Map- This one is when you can read and type hangul. it's quite useful going somewhere that google map can't identify.

Currency- this one was quite accurate for me when it come's to currency exchange rates.

excuse my locksecreen but if you know him we're bffs now, the "C" app right there that's how it will look in itunes or google play (not sure with google play)

this is how it will look like in the app itself, i like it coz it's simple and clean, you can add and delete currencies.

FIRST SEOUL TRAVEL BLOG #1

APPLICATION:

First Step in going to Seoul of course getting your Korea Visa from the Korea Embassy!

for now let's go start and go thru with the boring step hahahahahahahaha ^^

(it's actually quite easy, you can download the application form from their sites and I suggest you fill it up in your computer to avoid erasures and also if info is not available out 'N/A')

Application Form Link:

http://embassy_philippines.mofa.go.kr/english/as/embassy_philippines/visa/download/index.jsp 

(when you plan on applying check on their updated form also updated requirements are listed on the site)

these were the requirements I submitted from my recent application last February 2017 Employed.

 Application Form:

2. 1 piece of Passport size colored picture (Please attach on the application form)
3. Original Passport (should be valid for more than 6months)
4. Photocopy of Passport Bio-page (page 2)
5. Original & Photocopy of valid visa/s and arrival stamps to OECD member countries for the past 5 years (If applicable only)
6. Original Certificate of Employment
   (must include applicant's position, date hired, compensation, office address, HR landline number(cell-phone number is not allowed), HR e-mail address)
7. Original Personal Bank Certificate
   (must include account type, current balance, account opening date, ADB)
8. Bank Statement
   (original or certified true copy of bank statements/passbook for the last 3 months)
9. ITR(Income Tax Return) or Form 2316 Copy
10. Copy of PRC Card or IBP Card (If applicable only)
* If personally invited by Korean
. Invitation Letter
. Photocopy of invitor's Passport or Identification Card
(authentication not required)

• * If invited by Company in Korea
  . Invitation Letter
  . Photocopy of Korean Company Business Permit
  (authentication not required)
  * Frequent travellers who have travelled as tourist to OECD member countries within 5 years are exempted from submitting ITR.
  ■ Processing Time:
    3 working days (for those who have been to OECD member countries within 5 years as tourist)
    5 working days (for those who have not been to OECD member countries within 5 years)
  
  ■ Visa Fee: 59 days (or less) stay in Korea -- GRATIS
                     60 to 90 days stay in Korea -- PHP1,800.00

note: all your requirements must be arranged in order. (yes they're strict about this) 

Q&A

1.What if I don't have an ITR?

if you don't have an ITR, don't worry there are ways. formally compose a letter address it to the Korea Embassy and state your reason why you weren't able to provide one.

for myself, my current employer hasn't been in business for 1 year yet, so they were unable to provide me an ITR but I used my previous ITR from my previous employer.

as for my friend who traveled with me, she didn't provide an ITR but still she got an approved visa.

2. How much should be in my Personal Bank Account?

Actually they don't indicate a minimum amount in your bank account, the amount will depend on your duration in your trip. our trip was good for 3 nights and 4 days. I only had around Php 25,000.00 in my bank account that time and my statement wasn't really the best but I still got approved.

3. How long will I have to wait for my Visa?

You'll have to wait 5 Days if you haven't gone to any OECD countries for the past 5 years.

3 days if you already been to any OECD countries.

there's also a site you can check out if you can't wait any longer it's mostly accurate all you have to do is input your Passport number and other personal details. I got this from another blogger when I longer couldn't wait to know the result of my application (excited and was nervous)

when putting in your Name start with your surname the first name.

here's the link: https://www.visa.go.kr/

This is the home page just click the "Check Application Status" in the left side.

Once you filled up all info you'll get to see the results below.

I'll update on my next post my ticket booking and how I used Airbnb for the first time in my Seoul Travel.

My happiness seeing the Visa in person I felt more secured other than the online one but at least proven that the side works.

Feel free to ask in the comments below for more detailed answers~

What I discovered in applying, it all depends on which consular you get. Pure Luck~ don't feel down if you do get rejected you can always reapply after 6 months (?) that's what I've heard.