Korean Job Discussion Forums

[cazzy3]

so my wife and i want to take a second honeymoon to a resort in SE asia this winter and after checking the prices of some packages/flights- the cost is going to push us around 4 million won for 5-6 days. at least i'll get a couple of million reimbursed as my travel allowance, but is anyone else finding it difficult to take a trip this winter, or having to abbreviate an otherwise lengthy vacation??

i realize this could be on the travel forum, but any suggestions/ideas are greatly appreciated. I just keep thinking 4-5 million won is WAAAAY to much to be spending unless you're staying at a five star property.

[bogey666]

[thatwhitegirl]

Don't get a package?
Find your own hotel/resorts.

It is expensive though. Hubby and I need to fly to the USA for my baby brother's wedding, and we only get 2 weeks off for it (cause it's during winter camp). So just 2 round trip tickets from ICN-BOS is costing us close to $4,000. Bloody he11!

[thrylos]

[ttompatz]

Cathay will get you into most places in SE asia for less than 800k (even at XMAS). The normal fare to HK for example is about 450k won and they often have fares as low as 350k (return) or HK packages (air, transfers and hotel) for as low as 450k won.

The other SE airlines (Thai, Cebu Pacific, Singapore Air, etc) are comparable. Book direct via the airline (local number or on-line) and not through a travel agent unless you are willing to put up with the "no price available yet" nonsense.

Decent resorts run about US$50 per night (double occupancy). Depending on the country you can get them for as low as $15 (breakfast included) if you are not in a tourist hotspot.

Just look back through here or do a simple search for the location of your choice to get specific information on resorts, ground transport, etc.

Even the packages are not that bad (for pricing - they suck otherwise). I see that Hanatour has Bangkok/Pattaya, Phuket, Cebu, or Bali packages (5 day) over the holiday for about 1.2 mil per person (again double occupancy). These are fully escorted and include air, hotel, transfers, meals, sightseeing and most activities. I only looked at beach places but I would assume that you can get things like Angkor Wat for similar.

.

[cazzy3]

thanks for some of the tips...and i realize it's the flights that are costing us an arm and a leg. has anyone taken a trip in the past month or so to SE asia and have a price that they paid? i'd like to travel before the "korean" travel season starts in Jan. to avoid to bumped up costs for those 8 weeks or so.

because resorts are generally inexpensive compared to europe or us, i figure two round trip tickets plus 5 nights at hotel should only run us about 2.5 million won. is that too much to ask for??

[bobbyhanlon]

get the flights first, and then nearer the time use www.wotif.com , there are some great prices on there. i've stayed in 4-star places in malaysia, thailand, etc. for $30 a night, 5-star luxury would cost a bit more but it would definitely be cheaper than the 4million won option.

[xingyiman]

Go to Thailand and avoid stating at the Hyatt wherever you go. 4 Million? Gee whiz

[VanIslander]

Another Korean poster?

This sounds like the way a Korean would go on holiday. I know a Korean guy who took his girlfriend to Bali and they stayed in their four-star hotel the whole time because on the ride from the airport he thought the roads were "third world". So no sights for him. Ordered in Korean food though.

[ernie]

vacations don't count as 'financial burdens'.

4 million won for less than a week in SE asia?! holy crap you seriously need to shop around.

[Fishead soup]

A package tour from Korea is really really bad. You stay in the bus 90% of the time while they rush around to see everything. The tour guides can't speak English and rush you through all the really nice places so they can get to their overprized gift shops where they get a huge commision.

You eat Korean food almost all the time. The quality of the food is just marginally better than what's available at public school cafeteria's. They sometimes have a token local cuisine that all the other Korean tourists will complain about. There's also a lot of hurry up and wait and standing around outside your hotel waiting for the buses to pick up people from other hotels.

They also go to crappy resorts most of the packages to Thailand are for touristy places like Pattaya and Phuket very little is offered off the beaten track.

Save lots of cash and hassle just buy the plane ticket and a copy of the Lonely Planet. You will be able to stay for longer for less. Most of these countries speak English.

[Tobias]

[ernie]

isn't the whole point of going on vacation to get AWAY from the hordes of koreans? who wants an itinerary when they're on vacation? not me.