Korea + Travel = Cheap!

This blog entry was originally published on the Aclipse Blog, which is produced by current Chungdahm Learning teachers in Korea. The blog features entries on current events around Korea, advice for incoming teachers, and the best spots sightseeing, shopping, and eating. The original entry can be viewed here. It has been edited slightly for content. For more information about Aclipse and Chungdahm Learning, click here. 

As someone who grew up in a landlocked state nearly smack in the middle of the U.S., traveling to another state was normal. But going to another country? Too far and too expensive. In fact, while I've traveled all over the U.S., moving to Korea was the first time I'd ever left my home country. Now that I'm here, the novelty of being able to easily country-hop is still so amazing to me. I can't even count the hours I've spent planning the trips I'll be taking someday. Lucky for you, in all of my planning, I've amassed a huge amount of resources. Like, a lot. So get ready to bookmark websites, because it's about to get real with a whole lot of information.

  

1. Travel within Korea

First, let's look at the traveling you can do within Korea itself. While a weekend trip to another country is definitely possible (and easy!), more often than not, you'll be sticking to domestic destinations. 

I promise, it's much easier to navigate than it looks...

Subway - Taking the subway is often the easiest way to get around, but it's somewhat limited in that it only serves its respective metropolitan area. The Seoul Metro system, for example, is amazing -- so efficient, cheap, and sprawling. With the number of attractions within the greater Seoul area, you'll definitely want to take advantage of this cheap means of travel. But if you need to travel farther away, you'll have to utilize some other methods of transport.

KTX/ITX - One step up from the subway are the high-speed trains. These require you to actually purchase a ticket for your particular destination, but really help reduce overall travel time and eliminate the possibility of being stuck in traffic. The trade-off, of course, is the price: a Korea Train Express, or KTX, ticket all the way down to Busan from Seoul is significantly more expensive than a bus ticket. In addition to the KTX is the Intercity Train Express, or ITX, which travels between Seoul and Chuncheon Station. [Note: see this post about Nami Island for a really great excuse to take the ITX for a weekend trip to Chuncheon!]

For more information: Korail's website with KTX time tables and ticket info/prices, as well as this site with some timeframes for the KTX and this one for the ITX.

Buses - Most metropolitan areas will have a central bus terminal, and from there, you'll be able to purchase tickets for farther distances than what you would travel on a regular old city bus. The local terminal here in Incheon has ticketing machines in addition to a ticket box, so picking up a ticket is relatively easy. Also, look into overnight buses -- you'll be traveling/arriving late, but it's an ideal way to make the most of your weekend time, especially since you'll likely be working until 10pm on Friday nights.

For more information: Kobus has a good website that focuses on the express bus system, including schedules, time tables, and booking.

Car rentals - Renting a car in Korea is possible for us foreigners, and as I've been researching getting my Korean drivers license, here's what I've learned. Short-term residents can drive in Korea with an International Drivers License, but long-term residents should exchange their existing license from their home country for a Korean license. (Don't worry, you get it back when you leave the country.) For proof of long-term residence, you'll need to show your Alien Registration Card, or ARC. Depending on where your license is from, you'll be able to skip most (or all!) of the tests.

Why rent a car? In my opinion, it's fantastically easy to get around Korea without a car. However, there are a handful of destinations on my Korea Bucket List that would be better visited with the freedom of a car simply because they're in more remote area. A taxi could drive me there, yes, but it would be much more convenient to have a rental car. Besides, who doesn't like roadtrips?!

For more information: Seoul Metropolitan Government's site outlines both types of licenses, as well as a little info on care rentals. This website also has helpful info.

Flying - If Jeju is your destination, you might want to fly. From the Seoul area, the flight is quick (about an hour) and can be very, very cheap! A couple discount airlines are: EAStar Jet and Jeju Air.

Byeeee, Korea! 

  

2. Travel to other countries

You'll get a week of vacation time as a teacher for Chungdahm, as well as some long holiday weekends, which are all perfect for planning a trip to another country that's conveniently nearby. The first thing you'll be looking into is most likely going to be airfare. (You can, for the record, take a ferry to Japan from Korea's southeastern ports, but I'm going to focus on flying.) While the usual travel sites are handy, I've discovered that local, Asian airlines are much, much cheaper. Here's a rundown of the airlines I've either used or bookmarked for future trips:

• EAStar Jet - In addition to cheap flights to Jeju, you can catch a plane to Japan, Thailand, or Malaysia. I flew with them to Japan last year and it was great.
• Jin Air - Flies to places like Japan, Thailand, Guam, and the Philippines.
• Cebu Pacific Air - Flies all over the place -- Japan, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Cambodia, the Philippines, Hong Kong... the list goes on.
• Air Busan - If you're in the south, check out this airline with flights to Japan, China, the Philippines, and Taiwan.
• China Eastern - As the name suggests, flights to China.
• T'way Air - Flights to Japan and China, as well as some to Jeju.
• Eva - Flies out of both Incheon International and Gimpo to a whole slew of spots in Southeast Asia as well as Taiwan and China. 
• Peach - From Korea to Osaka, cheap and nonstop. 
• Air Asia - They'll take you to tons of popular destinations: Thailand, Japan, the Philippines, Australia, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore.
  

  

3. Cheap accommodations

Sometimes, staying in a fancy schmancy hotel while traveling is wonderful. You're on vacation, you've got the money, so why not treat yourself? But sometimes, you don't care how luxurious your accommodations will be because all you really need is a place to crash each night before another day of exploring. Whatever your preference, check out these links for information that run the full gamut of accommodations in this corner of the world:

• Hostelworld - I've had huge success with booking through this website. I've only used it for hostels in Seoul and Tokyo so far, but I've been pleased with the user ratings and reviews as well as the overall experience at the hostels. The hostels I've stayed in have been safe, clean, and affordable. 
• Airbnb - This has just recently popped on my radar because of an aunt and uncle who used it on a recent vacation in Europe. Basically, Airbnb allows a host to rent out a room, flat, house, or something bigger to guests because they're out of town/don't use it/etc. So, you're renting a spot for rates cheaper or comparable to a hotel, but with the bonus of the amenities of home. I've heard quite a few glowing reviews of this service from family and friends since I first learned of it, and I'm definitely planning to book through them as soon as possible. How nice would it be to have a private apartment while on vacation?
• Agoda - Basically Hotwire/Priceline/whatever, but the Asia edition. Some great prices on here, so it's definitely worth checking out if you want a regular hotel somewhere. 
• Couchsurfing - I haven't gotten into couchsurfing yet myself, but I have a number of friends who do it all the time and they love it. Free place to crash, new friends to meet, and the chance to get insider information about area from someone who's local.
  

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Of course, the Aclipse blog, which I write for, is another great resource, with tons of entries from years of English teachers, blogging about their various vacations spots like: Jeju, Japan, Thailand, Bali, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Vietnam, and Taiwan. I've always loved to travel, and now that my travel options have exponentially multiplied, I have to say it's one of the amazing benefits of living in this corner of the world.

That, I believe, concludes my attempt to give you all the links. Even with my exhaustive searching, I'm certain I've missed some information, so please, please leave it in the comments below! Lets compile all the resources we can! After all, a five day break for Chuseok is coming up next month...

Do you have any links worth adding? Any feedback on the services/airlines/travel destinations mentioned above? Leave a comment below to add your information to this post!