Korean Job Discussion Forums :: View topic - Weidong Ferry. Have you taken it?

Speak Korean Now!

Teach English Abroad and Get Paid to see the World!

Korean Job Discussion Forums
"The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Teachers from Around the World!"

FAQ

Memberlist

Usergroups

Profile

Weidong Ferry. Have you taken it?
Goto page 1, 2 Next

Korean Job Discussion Forums Forum Index -> Travel Forum

View previous topic :: View next topic

Author

Message

Rumple

Joined: 19 Sep 2007

Posted: Tue Jan 15, 2008 12:12 am Post subject: Weidong Ferry. Have you taken it?

I'm getting ready to buy a ticket to Qingdao, China. Can you buy a ticket through a travel agent, or do you have to deal with them directly? I looked on their website, and if you go through them, you have to wire money to an account of theirs, then tell them you've done it, and it seemed like a hassle.

huffdaddy

Joined: 25 Nov 2005

Posted: Tue Jan 15, 2008 12:56 am Post subject: Re: Weidong Ferry. Have you taken it?

Rumple wrote:

I'm getting ready to buy a ticket to Qingdao, China.

Can you buy a ticket through a travel agent, or do you have to deal with them directly? I looked on their website, and if you go through them, you have to wire money to an account of theirs, then tell them you've done it, and it seemed like a hassle.

I went over New Years. I called them up directly and the woman spoke decent enough English. Didn't need to wire them any money, just paid at the terminal.

Word of warning: there was "too much" wind and we got stuck bobbing in the Yellow Sea for two extra days. I don't know how often that happens, but it sure did suck.

Rumple

Joined: 19 Sep 2007

Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2008 8:22 pm Post subject: Re: Weidong Ferry. Have you taken it?

huffdaddy wrote:

Rumple wrote:

Thanks! I called them and hooked it up.

I'm cool to bob in the Yellow Sea for two days. That would be a great story. I just need to hit land before New Years really gets going.

I picked business class for 130,000 won. Figured it was just 20,000 more than "steerage," and that buys me a slightly more affluent class of room mate (and only up to 3 room mates, not 49) so the risk of having someone go through my stuff while I'm abovedecks goes down. The only thing valuable I'll really have is cash (kept on my person), and I'm bringing a cable lock to tether to my backpack as well, just so the snatch-and-run set will look for something easier to snatch. Besides, if they grabbed my bag, they'd just discard everything anyway, so the cable lock just saves me the hassle of having to get new stuff (and I really like that backpack).

huffdaddy

Joined: 25 Nov 2005

Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 4:12 am Post subject: Re: Weidong Ferry. Have you taken it?

Rumple wrote:

I picked business class for 130,000 won. Figured it was just 20,000 more than "steerage," and that buys me a slightly more affluent class of room mate (and only up to 3 room mates, not 49) so the risk of having someone go through my stuff while I'm abovedecks goes down.

I wasn't too worried about anyone going through my stuff. But the 20,000 extra is a good deal. Although you could get stuck in a room of chain smokers. Make sure you get there a couple of hours early. The hordes of Koreans and Chinese trying to all board at one time makes for an adventure.

You can change to RMB at the Incheon ferry terminal. I didn't see an exchange kiosk in Qingdao. No tourist info at the terminal in China either, so you might want to have your destination written in Chinese. It shouldn't be too hard to catch a cab from there.

Disembarking takes a long time, so line up early.

[email protected]

Joined: 06 Apr 2004

Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 5:53 am Post subject: Long ferry to China...

Sounds like a good short story could come out from this.

Rumple

Joined: 19 Sep 2007

Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 6:07 am Post subject: Re: Weidong Ferry. Have you taken it?

huffdaddy wrote:

Rumple wrote:

Wow, thanks! I was wondering about where to get RMB. My girlfriend is meeting me on the other end in Qingdao, and I told her the ferry arrives at 9am, and so to show up at 9:30am. If I line up early, when can I expect to walk out the front door of the terminal?

I expect it will be a good story and I'll post it here.

huffdaddy

Joined: 25 Nov 2005

Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 6:16 am Post subject: Re: Weidong Ferry. Have you taken it?

Rumple wrote:

If you jump in line early, I'd guess that you'd be through the front door of the terminal within 30 minutes of docking. How long it takes to dock is anyone's guess.

Bouvguy

Joined: 18 Jun 2007
Location: South Korea

Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2008 7:45 am Post subject:

Can you buy a ticket on the day you want to travel or do you need to make reservations in advance?

Rumple

Joined: 19 Sep 2007

Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2008 4:24 pm Post subject:

Bouvguy wrote:

Can you buy a ticket on the day you want to travel or do you need to make reservations in advance?

I made a reservation in advance, but will pay on the day I travel.

Their website says you need to wire money to an account then call them and tell them you wired the money, but in reality you just have to call and book passage, then show up and pay. Check their website for info, because you have to show up early, and they tell you how to get to the terminal (Terminal 2), etc.

www.weidong.com

pugwall

Joined: 22 Oct 2006

Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2008 4:36 pm Post subject:

you know the plane is not much more than the boat.

espo

Joined: 20 Aug 2006

Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2008 6:12 pm Post subject:

How many hours is it?

Rumple

Joined: 19 Sep 2007

Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2008 6:34 pm Post subject:

espo wrote:

How many hours is it?

The ferry to Qingdao leaves at 5pm and arrives the next day at 9am. To Weihai it leaves at 4pm and arrives the next day at 10am.

Rumple

Joined: 19 Sep 2007

Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2008 6:40 pm Post subject:

pugwall wrote:

you know the plane is not much more than the boat.

That depends. The cheapest fare to go to China by boat is always 110,00 won. Which means I can book 3 days before leaving for 110,000 won. The fare for the plane goes up as the departure date approaches.

Plus, I like boats. And the plane doesn't have a little game room/slot machine parlor, a norebang, an ocean-view sauna, etc. I'm not in a hurry to get to China, as I'll be there for about a month.

huffdaddy

Joined: 25 Nov 2005

Posted: Wed Jan 23, 2008 1:52 am Post subject:

Rumple wrote:

Plus, I like boats. And the plane doesn't have a little game room/slot machine parlor, a norebang, an ocean-view sauna, etc. I'm not in a hurry to get to China, as I'll be there for about a month.

I hate to tell you, but there is no slot machine parlor. And the "game room" has like 6 PCs that are overrun with Korean kids. There are two norae rooms, open for a few hours, and cost like 20,000 won/hour. I don't believe the sauna has any view whatsoever. But the no hurry part will be fulfilled.

Rumple

Joined: 19 Sep 2007

Posted: Wed Jan 23, 2008 3:21 pm Post subject:

huffdaddy wrote:

Rumple wrote:

Plus, I like boats. And the plane doesn't have a little game room/slot machine parlor, a norebang, an ocean-view sauna, etc. I'm not in a hurry to get to China, as I'll be there for about a month.

Really? I'll be interested to see. I'll post a review of the ferry trip after I go.

Display posts from previous:

	Korean Job Discussion Forums Forum Index -> Travel Forum	All times are GMT - 8 Hours Goto page 1, 2 Next
Page 1 of 2

You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum

TEFL International Supports Dave's ESL Cafe