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IncognitoHFX
Joined: 06 May 2007
Location: Yeongtong, Suwon
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 Posted: Tue Jul 17, 2007 8:40 pm Post subject: KTX train to Busan |
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I'm thinking about going to Busan for a little (weekend) vacation soon.
How much does a KTX ride to Busan cost from Seoul Station?
How often does the train run? Does it run at night, if I decide to go Friday after work?
How long does the trip take? I've heard two hours, I've heard five hours. Not sure which, but wikipedia said two (apparently the train is kind of fast).
If I plan on spending a night there (probably), where is a good Jinjilbang?
How are the beaches this time of year, presuming the weather is nice when I go?
What else is fun to do in Busan?
Thanks.
Last edited by IncognitoHFX on Tue Jul 17, 2007 9:02 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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the eye
Joined: 29 Jan 2004
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| Posted: Tue Jul 17, 2007 8:47 pm Post subject: |
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That would be KTX. KTF is a telecom company.
It costs 48,000 and takes just over 3 hours.
Some trains may take more time as they make a couple more stops than usual.
As for the beaches, crowded is an understatement. Piles of garbage is also an understatement if you go on holidays or weekends.
train schedule....
http://www.istp-18.org/_new/download/KTX_timetable.pdf |
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seoulsucker
Joined: 05 Mar 2006
Location: The Land of the Hesitant Cutoff
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| Posted: Tue Jul 17, 2007 8:48 pm Post subject: |
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KTX has several trains running to Busan throughout the day. Depending on how late you get off, you shouldn't have a problem finding a seat. However, you should definitely book in advance.
I believe the trip takes about 2.5 to 3 hours with a couple of stops, but there might be an express that runs straight there at 2 hours flat.
The beaches are PACKED. Obnoxiously so at Haeundae, but that's kind of where the party is at night. Tons of people drinking, playing games, etc.
No idea about the jimjilbang. I stayed in the Marriot when I went. Pricey, but right on the beach with a great breakast.
It's fun, but don't expect a relaxing day at the beach.
Oh, and to clarify, it's 48,000 ONE WAY, right? |
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Bibbitybop
Joined: 22 Feb 2006
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Tue Jul 17, 2007 10:03 pm Post subject: Re: KTX train to Busan |
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| IncognitoHFX wrote: |
I'm thinking about going to Busan for a little (weekend) vacation soon.
How much does a KTX ride to Busan cost from Seoul Station?
How often does the train run? Does it run at night, if I decide to go Friday after work?
How long does the trip take? I've heard two hours, I've heard five hours. Not sure which, but wikipedia said two (apparently the train is kind of fast).
If I plan on spending a night there (probably), where is a good Jinjilbang?
How are the beaches this time of year, presuming the weather is nice when I go?
What else is fun to do in Busan?
Thanks. |
about 48,000 each way. about 3 hours each way.
why jimjilbang? Rent a hotel on the beach for 35,000 a night! I recommend Sante Fe Hotel if you can find it.
Beaches are crowded but fun.
Busan tower is ok, the fish market and Texas street are ok, Pusan National University has some decent night life. |
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pest2
Joined: 01 Jun 2005
Location: Vancouver, Canada
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| Posted: Tue Jul 17, 2007 10:10 pm Post subject: Re: KTX train to Busan |
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| Bibbitybop wrote: |
| IncognitoHFX wrote: |
I'm thinking about going to Busan for a little (weekend) vacation soon.
How much does a KTX ride to Busan cost from Seoul Station?
How often does the train run? Does it run at night, if I decide to go Friday after work?
How long does the trip take? I've heard two hours, I've heard five hours. Not sure which, but wikipedia said two (apparently the train is kind of fast).
If I plan on spending a night there (probably), where is a good Jinjilbang?
How are the beaches this time of year, presuming the weather is nice when I go?
What else is fun to do in Busan?
Thanks. |
about 48,000 each way. about 3 hours each way.
why jimjilbang? Rent a hotel on the beach for 35,000 a night! I recommend Sante Fe Hotel if you can find it.
Beaches are crowded but fun.
Busan tower is ok, the fish market and Texas street are ok, Pusan National University has some decent night life. |
Also, right next to the KTX station (1 minute walk) for 50,000 per night is the Arirang hotel. Nice rooms, free porn. |
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khyber
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Location: Compunction Junction
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| Posted: Tue Jul 17, 2007 10:34 pm Post subject: |
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ABSOLUTELY forget haeundae unless you wnat to take a picture of the madness.
Otherwise, Gwangali is BETTER (but still busy).
I'd say the best two are Song Do Beach and Song Jung.
SongDo is on the far end of the town....if you're at nampodong get in a taxi and ask for song do hae su yok jang. I'd guess it's about 3-4000.
That beach is never busy.
Song Jung beach is fairly busy but not as bad as haeundae...and I think, not so bad as gwangali. |
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the eye
Joined: 29 Jan 2004
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| Posted: Tue Jul 17, 2007 11:40 pm Post subject: |
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| Any idea why SongDo is not busy? Is it just location? |
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Harpeau
Joined: 01 Feb 2003
Location: Coquitlam, BC
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| Posted: Tue Jul 17, 2007 11:46 pm Post subject: |
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Went swimming at Gwangnali beach last week. The water was nice and tepid-warm. I enjoyed it. The beach wasn't that crowded. Have fun!!
Vester Jimjil Bang near Haeundai beach is awesome! |
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alwaysfaithless
Joined: 22 Jun 2007
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| Posted: Tue Jul 24, 2007 10:23 am Post subject: |
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| IncognitoHFX, if you have done the trip before Monday July 30th, let me know how you made out. I am going down to Busan on that date and would appreciate any advice about your own trip on the train. I haven't taken the train yet either and am looking forward to it this coming holiday. I lived there a few years ago, and thought it to be a friendly city. It's really sticky down there this time of year because of the humidity, but the beaches are great. Jimjilbangs are everywhere so you will have no problems finding one. What makes life fun for you? The bars? Temple hopping? Spas? PC Bangs? They are all there........ |
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hogwonguy1979
Joined: 22 Dec 2003
Location: the racoon den
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| Posted: Tue Jul 24, 2007 2:30 pm Post subject: |
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| alwaysfaithless wrote: |
| IncognitoHFX, if you have done the trip before Monday July 30th, let me know how you made out. I am going down to Busan on that date and would appreciate any advice about your own trip on the train. I haven't taken the train yet either and am looking forward to it this coming holiday. I lived there a few years ago, and thought it to be a friendly city. It's really sticky down there this time of year because of the humidity, but the beaches are great. Jimjilbangs are everywhere so you will have no problems finding one. What makes life fun for you? The bars? Temple hopping? Spas? PC Bangs? They are all there........ |
we just did it over the past weekend. fares on fri nite run a little over 50k, on sun it was 49k. Here is the thing Korail doesnt have an english site for train scheds, i had to call knto seoul to check seat avail, Busan KNTO is a TOTAL WASTE, called them Fri for some advice about midrange hotels i got a response of "the person who speaks english is off today", Sun we wanted to take an earlier train back called them again, got "we dont know call a travel agent" called 02-1330 again, the person here in Seoul got us all set up.
Beomosa was a pretty temple then we just hung out in Seomyeon as it was our anniv we decided to f it and stayed at the Lotte Hotel, those folks were super |
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VanIslander
Joined: 18 Aug 2003
Location: Geoje, Hadong, Tongyeong,... now in a small coastal island town outside Gyeongsangnamdo!
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| Posted: Tue Jul 24, 2007 2:39 pm Post subject: |
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| the eye wrote: |
| As for the beaches, crowded is an understatement. Piles of garbage is also an understatement if you go on holidays or weekends. |
Yeah, sometimes it's true, especially with a festival or special event, which happens several times a year. But...
I was there last weekend and it wasn't especially crowded and walking on the beach I can't recall seeing garbage.
If you want a vacation from Seoul then another metropolis might not be the best bet 
Instead, how about... from Nambu terminal in Seoul take a nonstop luxury express bus to Geoje Island ("Gohyun"/"Kohyun", then take local bus heading for "Okpo" which'll go down to east coast beaches) or Namhae Island ("Namhae", then take local bus to "Sangju" beach). The seats are extremely comfortable, roomy and the trip takes 4 hours and 15 minutes for under 30,000 won.
Good luck whatever. |
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the eye
Joined: 29 Jan 2004
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| Posted: Tue Jul 24, 2007 4:34 pm Post subject: |
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| Hmm. Now that summer vacation is in effect, i beg to differ. |
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stumptown
Joined: 11 Apr 2005
Location: Paju: Wife beating capital of Korea
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| Posted: Tue Jul 24, 2007 4:44 pm Post subject: |
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| VanIslander wrote: |
| the eye wrote: |
| As for the beaches, crowded is an understatement. Piles of garbage is also an understatement if you go on holidays or weekends. |
Yeah, sometimes it's true, especially with a festival or special event, which happens several times a year. But...
I was there last weekend and it wasn't especially crowded and walking on the beach I can't recall seeing garbage.
If you want a vacation from Seoul then another metropolis might not be the best bet
Instead, how about... from Nambu terminal in Seoul take a nonstop luxury express bus to Geoje Island ("Gohyun"/"Kohyun", then take local bus heading for "Okpo" which'll go down to east coast beaches) or Namhae Island ("Namhae", then take local bus to "Sangju" beach). The seats are extremely comfortable, roomy and the trip takes 4 hours and 15 minutes for under 30,000 won.
Good luck whatever. |
Oh yeah, Namhae is the shiznit. Even better, there are a ton of Minbaks (민박) which are people's homes where you can stay the night. They usually include a couple of meals as well and they'll show you a ton of cool things to do in that area, most of it being fishing. That place is the coolest I've been in Korea, next to Chuncheon. |
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twg
Joined: 02 Nov 2006
Location: Getting some fresh air...
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| Posted: Tue Jul 24, 2007 5:16 pm Post subject: |
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Oh.
Try to get a first class seat if you can. The steerage section is usually pretty crowded, filled with screaming kids, the seats are small, and you're always in line for the toilet. |
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Vancouver
Joined: 12 Dec 2006
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| Posted: Tue Jul 24, 2007 5:43 pm Post subject: |
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| how's the interior of a KTX like? My cousin said its cramped in a KTX |
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