- Important points
- Choosing wings
- Morning freshness hotels
- Transport subtleties
- Nightingales are not fed with fables
- Useful details
- Perfect travel to South Korea
What does the average Russian tourist know about the Republic of Korea? Firstly, the country of morning freshness is located in the very far east and travel to South Korea is a long and not cheap enterprise. Secondly, technical progress has reached unprecedented heights here, even at the household level, and in any hotel the guest is waiting for the latest scientific developments in the field of ordinary everyday devices and appliances. In addition, the traveler has ponds full of blooming lotuses, ancient pagodas and palaces of the once mighty emperors, ski resorts with perfectly groomed slopes, clean beaches, national parks, special cuisine and oriental exotic, artfully intertwined with the modern achievements of progressive mankind.
Important points
- A Russian tourist traveling to Korea for no more than 60 days does not need a visa.
- In the country of morning freshness, few people speak English, and therefore, for walks in the province and non-tourist areas, it is worth inviting an interpreter guide.
Choosing wings
The way from Moscow to Korea is long and the journey takes 9 hours in case of a direct flight and much longer if you fly with connections:
- Aeroflot offers daily travel from Moscow to Seoul for about $ 500.
- A cheaper ticket for the MIAT Mongolian Airlines flight. With a transfer in Ulaanbaatar, passengers can be in the capital of South Korea in 11 hours and $ 400.
- The Chinese air carrier China Eastern Airlines delivers everyone from Russia to the Korean capital in 14 hours and $ 470.
Aeroflot, S7 and Korean airlines fly from Vladivostok to Incheon International Airport of South Korea. The price of the issue is from $ 250. Travel time is about 2 hours.
Morning freshness hotels
South Korean hotels are subject to a national classification system that has nothing to do with international concepts of "stardom". The coolest hotels are super luxe and the cheapest are third class. Young people prefer to stay in hostels similar to Western ones, and fans of Eastern exoticism spend the night in guest houses equipped in the style of traditional Korean dwellings.
Super luxe hotels are quite expensive and a night in such a hotel in Seoul will cost $ 120 and more. The price will include the opportunity to use the fitness center, free Wi-Fi, parking, and the rooms will delight guests with comfortable furniture, toiletries, a safe, a minibar and a private bathroom.
A day in a hostel hotel in a dormitory room in Seoul will cost from $ 20, and for a separate room you will have to pay $ 30 and more.
Another popular way of living in the country of morning freshness among budget travelers is condominiums. They are located close to ski slopes, national parks or beaches and are apartment buildings. The cost of renting a condominium starts at $ 25 and depends on the level of service and the area of the apartment.
In the beach resort of Jeju, there are luxurious apartments and simple hotels. The keys to a room in a super hotel will be given to guests for $ 120, and it will be possible to spend the night in an apartment easier for $ 70.
Transport subtleties
The Republic of Korea, small in size, has excellent transport links and you can get to any part of the country by rail or road. Several types of trains allow you to choose a bullet train or an express train, but passenger trains are not recommended for tourists due to their slowness and low comfort. For foreigners traveling in South Korea, there is a special type of train tickets. They are called KR Pass and allow you to travel on all types of trains.
The bus schedule includes many daily intercity services in all directions. Buses in Korea are air conditioned, clean and comfortable, and luxury express trains have audio and video systems in every seat.
It is advisable to book tickets for intercity transport in advance, especially if the trip is to take place during school holidays, on holidays or just on weekends.
Public transport in cities is represented by buses, taxis and metro in large metropolitan areas. The most convenient way to get around is by taxi, equipped with devices for simultaneous translation from Korean into the main languages of the world. These cars have KT Powertel or Kind Call signs. The average price of a trip around the city in the Republic of Korea is $ 3 -5 $.
In the metro, the names of stations are duplicated in English, and therefore the subway also does not cause problems with movement for foreigners.
Tmoney transport cards are sold in many chain stores with a corresponding mark at the entrance. Their price starts from $ 2, 5 and these passes allow you to save up to 10% of the cost of travel and pay less when transferring from one type of transport to another. The cards are rechargeable, you can deposit cash in special machines at the points of sale of travel cards.
Nightingales are not fed with fables
Korean cuisine is one of the most exotic in the world and seafood, fish, vegetables and rice are found in large quantities on the table of the inhabitants of the republic. One of the most popular dishes worth trying on a trip to South Korea is rice dumplings in a hot sauce called ttopokki. The price of a huge portion, which is enough for two, is about $ 10.
Chicken fried on charcoal with the addition of various vegetables will also seem delicious to Western tourists. The dish is called ttakkalbi and is usually prepared in street markets in Korean cities. The cost of one portion is from $ 9.
Also in Korea it is worth trying buckwheat noodles or pancakes ($ 5), loach soup "chuothan" ($ 9) and fresh fish "hwe" (from $ 10 to $ 20).
Useful details
- Serious, stable traffic jams in big cities and not very convenient road signs in English are good enough reasons to give up the idea of renting a car when traveling in South Korea. It is worth renting a car only if you are going to the province and have a reliable navigator.
- Taking advantage of the Temple Stay program, you can stay in a Buddhist monastery and participate in special rituals, including the traditional eastern tea ceremony.
- Taking a ride on the Heran tourist train, you will get great pleasure watching the scenery outside your window in an atmosphere of special comfort. Tourist railway programs are designed for 2 and 3 days, and the ticket price starts from $ 700. For this money, passengers get a seat in a comfortable compartment with a private bathroom, three meals a day and excursions to attractions on the route.
- The National Tourism Organization of Korea has set up a hotline for foreigners. If you find yourself in a difficult situation during a tour to South Korea, you can call 1330 for advice in English.
Perfect travel to South Korea
The climate of the Korean Peninsula is of the monsoon type. On the territory of the country, all four seasons are quite clearly expressed. The best periods for a trip: spring and the first half of autumn, if you are planning an excursion; winter if your goal is South Korean ski resorts and summer if you are looking for a beach holiday.
In Seoul, the rainiest months are July and August, while the beach resort of Jeju has the most rainfall in May, July and September.
