Korean Job Discussion Forums

Jizzo T. Clown · Joined: 27 Mar 2006 Location: at my wit's end

I have about three weeks off pretty soon and I'm also very thrifty. Wink

So I was wondering if anyone could recommend a good holiday for under 500k won? In or out of country would be fine!

btw, I'm down for anything different, boats/ferries, trains, buses, whatever.

Thanks in advance!

--JTC
(in Songtan)

ttompatz · Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Location: Kwangju, South Korea

Jizzo T. Clown · Joined: 27 Mar 2006 Location: at my wit's end

Cheers for that. OK...

What if I kept it 7-10 days? Rural Korea, temples, etc...? Possible?

sojourner1 · Posted: Wed Jun 13, 2007 2:49 am Post subject:

Yea, I think you can do a vacation in Korea for 500,000 Won since you're already here. A tour that involves something like Kyeongju, Gangwando province, and Seoul might be a winner. Trains, buses, taxis, tourist attractions such as palaces, hostels like Seoul Backpackers near Insadong, and many motels are very cheap so you can squeek by on very little. I would say about 40,000 to 60,000 won a day on average can get you along.

That slow boat to China thing sounds interesting, though I know you will pay expensive Western prices for rooms and other things as it is well known that the Chinese charge foreigners much more for everything than for Asian people. Expect China to cost 100,000 or more Won per day despite being a cheap economy. I always wanted to go to China, but now I am not so hip on communist who con, scam, and overcharge foreigners. Korea is so nice and honest compared to them, according to a few who have been teaching in Korea for many years.

VanIslander · Posted: Wed Jun 13, 2007 3:25 am Post subject:

Buy a supercheap tent and head for Geoje Island and pitch your tent on some of these beaches:

http://english.geoje.go.kr/03/04.jsp

Skip sleeping bags, the sand underneath the tent is soft enough (except at the one pebble beach). The bus to the island's biggest community Gohyeon (Kohyun) is about 25,000 won from Seoul's nambu terminal. Local buses on the island go along the coastal roadway and cost 1000 won. Hike, swim, take a couple of ferry to see smaller nice islands and rock cliff formations. You could even buy a used pedal bike on the island for 30,000 won and cycle around some gorgeous vistas on the east coast.

Good luck whatever.

Harpeau · Joined: 01 Feb 2003 Location: Coquitlam, BC

I agree with VI and camping~ except sand is not so soft. Get a blow up flotation device with your tent & sleeping bag. Deok-jeok Do rocks as well.

jimmiethefish · Joined: 12 Feb 2007 Location: pusan

I'm heading over to China on the boat early July.

If you want to do the boat trip to Tianjin and go to Beijing, it starts at 115,000 each way for cattle class. (www.jinchon.co.kr and it's in Korean) I'm not sure how much for the train to Beijing but it should be cheap and less than a shuttle. Shared dorms in a hostel start from about five bucks a night and you should be able to negotiate a lower rate for a longer stay. For food and drink, stay away from Western style places/bars as they know how to charge Western prices. I guess you could manage it if were thrifty.

An alternative is Qingdao. I've heard it has really good beaches and there used to be a ferry from Incheon so presume there still is but don't know anything else about it.

If you decide to go, you need to book/get tickets ASAP as boats and hostels are filling up fast for that time.

Here's a related thread.

http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?t=58007

Have fun

alinkorea · Joined: 02 May 2005

You can fly into Beijing for around 300.000 (cheapest is whypaymore.co.kr)
Qingdao is even cheaper. If you're going to Beijing don't do the ferry/train option. Time consuming, and organising Chinese transport is a real pain unless you speak the lingo