Seoul city Tour

A few websites to help you to plan a tour in Seoul's city centre.


1. http://www.seoulcitytour.net/English/
This one has many options, but they will make you to visit Ginsen center no matter! Make sure to go through this website rather than through other similar ones you find through google searches. This is most helpful for English speakers.

2. http://seoultrolley.co.kr/eng/

HY's favorite tour!
An affordable price and the starting point of this bus tour is close to our hotel. We can walk or you can take a metro, just one station!

You can decide the route and purchase a ticket. Then you can basically get on & off during the service hours wherever you want throughout the route.

You do not need to reserve this tour in advance. You can just stop by there and purchase a one day pass (or purchase a pass just for your route)!

Prices vary by route.
($8 - $15, always taxes are included, English service is available).
Tel: 02-318-0345 



Hope this info is helpful for you!!

:)

HY

JSA & DMZ Tour

We would like to plan the tour for JSA and DMZ while you are staying in Korea, Seoul.

Departure will most likely be Friday, Sep/06, 8:30 am near hotel Vavien II.
(8:30-5:30pm, lunch will be served).

Approximate price: CAD $100. (tax included)

Official website: http://www.dmztours.com/seoul_dmz_tours.htm

(if you are interested in going on the Sep/06 tour, please do not book by yourself. Let us know that you are interested and we will try to organize for the group. Most likely Trevor will accompany people on that day so that he is out of my hair while I prepare for the wedding the next day! If you are planning to have the tour any other days, feel free to book your tour)

Information regarding JSA
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joint_Security_Area

and DMZ
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korean_Demilitarized_Zone


The Korean peninsula is roughly divided in half by the 38th parallel north. JSA & DMZ is what remains of the cold war in my country. The specific tour that we would like to take people on allows people from certain countries, including Canada, to go to places that South Korean citizens cannot go. It should be pretty interesting.

I have heard that many of you are interested in the DMZ tour, so it would help to know the approximate number of people who want to go on that Friday, so I can arrange this tour while I am in Korea.


Please email to us,
sayyestotrev@gmail.com

if you are planning to attend the Friday Tour.


HY

Vavien II booking.

http://www.booking.com/hotel/kr/vabien-suite2.en.html?label=social_sharecenter_facebook&checkin=2013-09-06&checkout=2013-09-07


For people wanting a double bed option rather than two single bed,
here is the link you can book a room for it.

The same price with expedia.

Hope this is helpful for you.

HY

Note with respect to a concern raised about hotel room locations

Some people have raised a concern about being able to be located on the same floor of the hotel with others given that we have asked people to book through Expedia or other travel websites. Hwayoung will be in Seoul as of August 1st and will be in contact with the hotel management at Vabien Suites II to ensure that the wedding group is placed in the same part of the hotel. If you wish to be beside specific people, simply email us to let us know. We are maintaining a list of those who have booked at the hotel so it won't be a problem.

Accommodations in Seoul for the Wedding

Accommodations in Seoul for the Wedding

We’ve figured out what we believe to be the best plan for accommodations for those in Seoul for the wedding. We’ve identified three places in close proximity to one another. We have booked ourselves into one of them, Vabien Suites II. It is reasonably priced and will serve as the "home base" for our group of out of towners. The other two options are intended to give people just that – options. One is a little more expensive and the other even a little more expensive (though this seems to vary depending on when you run the search. Descriptions to follow for each so find the one that best suits you and your needs. As mentioned, we'll be at Vabien Suites II and to the extent that we have a shuttle to and from the wedding ceremony and/or reception, it will be from there. I've included links to Expedia for two of them and another booking site for the other. You may also want to go through trip advisor, which will check for deals at other websites. In each case, availability should not be an issue but let us know if you encounter any problems with your bookings. If going with Vabien Suites II and you get a higher rate than CAD90-100 per night, less us know and we'll try to work something out directly with the hotel. Note that there is not a block of rooms set aside for the wedding party. It isn't common in Korea like here so it has proven to be more trouble than its worth to try to sort out. Please just go through something like Expedia.

We have booked at room at Vabien Suites II and will be there (the few hours we don’t have other engagements!!!!) on the day of and days around the wedding.

Obviously, feel free to do your own research and find a different place you like more!

1. Vabien Suites II

The standard rooms here tend to either have one queen size bed or two single beds (which appear to be the size of double beds). It is located adjacent to Seodaemun subway station and just 2 km (1.5 miles) from Seoul Station, and City Hall. Namdaemun markets and Gyeongbokgung Palace are within a few kilometres. The hotel has a shuttle bus to downtown Seoul, a fitness center and golf practice system, sauna and steam rooms, and complimentary use of computers with high-speed Internet access. All guestrooms are equipped with state-of-the-art video security, desks with complimentary (high-speed) Internet access, televisions with cable/satellite service and DVD/CD players, and fully equipped kitchenettes.

Currently, through Expedia there is a sale on for rooms at this hotel that is very reasonable.

Rates are approximately CAD95 per night, including all taxes.

The hotel is in close proximity to 24-hour convenience style stores and all rooms have kitchenettes. This may be important for those looking for simple meals. It is also extremely close to a subway station, making it easy to get around Seoul and back to your hotel. Breakfast is available at the hotel but is not included in the room price.

It is also close to an Outback Steakhouse – which I’m told in Korea is actually pretty good! For those a little concerned about what they’ll be eating everyday in Seoul, this is the type of place to keep in mind just in case!

To book through Expedia, click on this link:

http://www.expedia.ca/Seoul-Hotels-Vabien-Suites-II-Serviced-Residence.h1442455.Hotel-Information?chkin=04%2F09%2F2013&chkout=07%2F09%2F2013&rm1=a2&hwrqCacheKey=bab8c857-f1b3-4e2a-8502-dfbe59eded1fHWRQ1372131492984&c=7dcc8db4-1474-4362-b32d-d16b22a9be40&&hashTag=default&rfrr=-30461

One issue with going through Expedia is that things are not always refundable (though the one I booked is up until the day before I arrive - cost $3 a day extra for that).

For ratings and reviews on Vabien Suites II, see the link below to trip advisor:

http://www.tripadvisor.ca/Hotel_Review-g294197-d598299-Reviews-Vabien_Suites_II_Serviced_Residence-Seoul.html

 2. Vabien Suites I

Slightly more upcale and potentially a better option for those with kids or who want a multiple bedroom suite. It is located approximately 100 metres from Vaben Suites II.

Its amenities include a restaurant, Vabien, a health club, complimentary wireless Internet access and complimentary high-speed (wired) Internet access. Breakfast is also available at the hotel but is not included in the price. Kitchenettes include microwaves, cutlery and utensils, refrigerators and stovetops.

There are not currently any deals on Expedia such that the multi-room suites that include a queen size bed and two single beds run a little over CAD200. It may be wise to wait a little bit to book to see if a deal becomes available. Again, availability should not be an issue.

Link to Expedia:
http://www.expedia.ca/Seoul-Hotels-Vabien-Suite-1-Serviced-Residence.h5089289.Hotel-Information?chkin=04%2F09%2F2013&chkout=07%2F09%2F2013&rm1=a2:c0:c3&hwrqCacheKey=bab8c857-f1b3-4e2a-8502-dfbe59eded1fHWRQ1372131965312#

Link to trip advisor
http://www.tripadvisor.ca/Hotel_Review-g294197-d655897-Reviews-Vabien_Suite_I_Serviced_Residence-Seoul.html

3. Fraser Place
This is the 3rd option. It is a little bit of a walk away from the other two, maybe 10 or 15 minutes. This place may work for those with kids or for a group of people who want to stay together in an "apartment" style hotel. The description of amenities is:

Ideal for extended stays in Seoul, this all-suite hotel is 0.2 km (0.1 mi) from the Namdaemun Market and within 0.6 km (0.4 mi) of the Seoul Museum of Art and Deoksugung Palace. Seoul Station is 9 minutes away. Fraser Place Central Seoul features an indoor pool, a spa tub, and a fitness center with sauna and steam-room facilities. A brasserie, open all day, offers indoor and seasonal outdoor dining. A spacious suite includes a gourmet kitchen, 2 LCD TVs, a DVD/CD player, a washer/dryer, and 2 bathrooms. Living rooms come with sofa beds. Wired (high-speed) Internet access is complimentary.

Right now, there isn’t anything available through Expedia. There is another website, see the link below, with rooms available ranging in price from USD113 to around USD200. It gives information on the maximum number of adults allowed in the room and other useful information. NOTE: Korea is the same as here, you can get away with more people in the room than you register if you feel comfortable doing so.

http://www.agoda.com/asia/south_korea/seoul/fraser_place_central_seoul_residence.html?asq=bs17wTmKLORqTfZUfjFABuEBmGLFAoChyuzdVlnoC17DoR6FrWJq8LIzgIJ7FMtK5LmC99aESpVXDvjDTzMM8f9pK07lLHSlia04j%2bwUzNtfjZDyz8Ym%2f3BbDgRPB0c7ikhAFVsrpBOOf27L1p6mEgF%2bRAxxHTWCmAJiQDx8MwkjZ93V4AuSnPuYPXdw%2fxW%2f611dx184UwC0QDpf8Nu7MPfGCWI5LRvlpuD%2fI41Bgx%2boAya%2bk2YmcnvvkPnZW4CJva5mNYj9o35%2b970I0pj3dQ%3d%3d

This one really seems to have the best additional amenities such as the fitness center and restaurant and the swimming pool. Good things to keep the kids occupied as well!

Korean Weddings - What to expect

Korean Weddings?!

Many of the people planning to make the trip to Seoul in September for our wedding have asked questions about the differences between a Western wedding and a Korean one. As you would expect, there are many differences between what is common in Canada and what is common in Korea. Watch the video at the link below from two people who started out in Korea teaching English and who have become professional bloggers still living there. Actually, a lot of the stuff on their website is worth checking out!

http://www.eatyourkimchi.com/what-are-weddings-like-in-korea/

Something to be clear about. Our wedding ceremony will be a little different. The best way to describe it in English is to say that we are going to do a "Korean King Wedding" for our ceremony.
Google the keywords "King wedding or Royal wedding in Korea" that and you will find a youtube video to see what it will be like. Or simply click on this link:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WUpvfVSTkHA

This is something that will be a unique experience for everyone, including HwaYoung! If any of my friends want to help carry me in??? Let me know! King and Queen for a day...

THIS WILL HAPPEN QUICKLY! The whole ceremony will be about 30 minutes tops. 

*DON'T BE LATE OR YOU WILL MISS IT!*

You will see after this ceremony as people make there way to the lunch area something I want to point out. The normal procedure for what follows goes like this. The guests will give an envelope (their wedding gift) and for that they will get their "meal ticket".

  Don't feel pressured by this!! 

Those giving out the tickets will be instructed that this is not necessary for the guests from Canada so you will be able to eat without having to give an envelope!! Those who wish may of course do so, we just don't want people to be caught unaware! This is very normal in Korea but obviously may be very surprising for those from Canada used to seeing a box for envelopes at the reception or a table for gifts and envelopes.

As I get more questions and learn more myself about things that may not be common in North America, I will update the blog to let you know!

Biggest thing to remember, you are our guests and we are thrilled to have you there. 

Don't sweat the cultural differences, just enjoy them!!!

Jjimjilbang (Public bath houses/saunas/spa) in Seoul

Public bath houses in Korea




One very Korean experience to be had during your time in Seoul is a trip to one of the many Jjimjilbangs.  As described on Wikipedia, a Jjimjilbang (찜질방) is a large, gender-segregated public bathhouse in Korea, furnished with hot tubs, showers, Korean traditional kiln saunas and massage tables. Jjimjil is derived from the words meaning heated bath. However, in other areas of the building or on other floors there are unisex areas, usually with a snack bar, ondol-heated floor for lounging and sleeping, wide-screen TVs, exercise rooms, ice rooms, heated salt rooms, PC bang, noraebang, and sleeping quarters with either bunk beds or sleeping mats. For the most part, these facilities are open 24-hours a day and Koreans are often spending the night there. 

This is one of, if not the most popular way for Koreans to relax and get rid of the stresses of daily life. It is very common for families to visit these spas together as well as groups of friends. Hwayoung's dad very much wanted to take me to one of these during my trip to Korea three years ago. At the time, I was a little hesitant to do so. There were two reasons. For one, the language barrier between us made doing things on our own difficult. Secondly, well, there is one aspect to these places that is a little foreign for most Westerners...

Those willing and wishing to experience a Jjimjilbang while in Korea should be prepared for one thing - nudity. 

While gender-segregated in such areas, patrons will inevitably be, more often than not, presented to you au natural. Fair warning. While in many areas you can choose to wear a bathing suit, many around you won't. Also, there will be areas where it is either considered strange to wear clothing or where it isn't even permitted!

For most areas, you will strip down in the locker room and put on the shorts and shirts given to you by the establishment:




With that said, there are bath houses that are generally considered to be slightly more tailored for foreigners to enjoy. A very famous one located in Seoul is called Dragon Hill Spa.

http://www.dragonhillspa.co.kr/hill/eng.html

With an entrance fee of about 10 bucks, this can be a great place to visit. That covers use of all jacuzzis, pools, saunas, showers and lockers. Everything else, like food and drinks, massages and other treatments, the arcade and cinema, are extra. See the link below to a blog with a great description of the author's experience at Dragon Hill.

http://bloodriceandnoodles.blogspot.ca/2011/03/dragon-hill-spa-our-first-jjimjilbang.html

Here is the link to trip advisor to see what others have written about Dragon Hill:

http://www.tripadvisor.ca/Attraction_Review-g294197-d1641304-Reviews-Dragonhill_Spa_Resort-Seoul.html

For those that may want to go a little (or a lot) more high-end, another well known Jjimjilbang (Spa) is the Banyan Tree Club & Spa.

http://www.banyantree.com/en/seoul/

Another link, from CNN Travel shows what it considers the top 3 options for Jjimjilbangs:

http://travel.cnn.com/seoul/play/seouls-3-best-korean-style-spas-803323

I can't tell you my own experience at a Jjimjilbang because I've never actually gone. I expect to change this in September and very much encourage you to to the same!