Korean Job Discussion Forums

[saram_]

Ok, so I have some members of family visiting in just over a month.

I am trying to make out some plans to make their stay/visit here as comfortable and entertaining/interesting as possible while also showing them what Korea offers etc

(I'm sure a lot of ye have been in this position)

So, the first then I need to do is find some good and convenient accommodation for them. Two people coming over, middle aged and aren't used to Asia at all!

I'm going to try and find a place that is quite central for them but also not too expensive. They will be here for just less than a week.

Can anybody recommend some good hotels or the like that they know would be good for two tourists to stay? I'm going to consider places that are not too awkward to get to from Incheon as well. I just hope I can find a place that is relatively easy to go and from and also where they wont be struggling when I cant be with them cos of teaching..
I wont be able to meet them at the airport either(cos of job) which isn't a great start!

Also any ideas about things to do for them. I will have the weekend and then the evenings during the week to show them around etc..

I have a few things in mind and i would just like to know what others have done when visiting family members arrived here.. and what worked well and not!!

Thank You

[madhusudan]

There's a bus tour of Seoul that stops at all the sights. You can get on and off, taking as long as you want at each attraction and then getting on the next bus which comes every 15 mins. When my mom visited a few years ago she liked it because she got to see most of the must-do stuff in one easy shot. There are hotels on the route as well, so that would make it convenient for your guests.

http://www.korea4expats.com/article-seoul-city-bus-tours.html

[blackjack]

My mum and brother have just left today after 10 days and they loved it here. Can't help with places to stay (they stayed with me but my place is a little bigger than average).

Things they enjoyed.

namdermun, they went three times
yongsan electronic market
DMZ the weather sucked but they were still blown away
hiking in the mountain being in forest yet looking down over apartments
random street markets
folk village down by suwon
namsan tower
high1, staying in a minbak, skiing in korea

things you might want to try on a weekend

sorraksan
day trip to busan

I would suggest when they arrive give them a crash course on the subway, give them a couple of t-money cards with plenty of credit and maybe your atm card. write out the directions to your place and their hotel in korean so if they need to they can take a taxi.

The ones bolded are things they can do by themselves. namdermun is open at night so you can take them to show them around.

One thing to bear in mind is that things which may appear boring to us is actual really interesting to them, we have just become jaded. Like my family loved eating at kimbap nara places, it was some of their favourite food.

Finally if at a public school explain the situation to your co-teacher and you maybe able to leave when you don't have classes, play the whole introducing korean culture/family is important thing.

Have fun, I enjoyed having my family here, but I have to admit I am glad they are gone, finally have my own space back and don't have to think of others anymore

[saram_]

Thanks for the good replies..

Will def check out a few of them places and some good tips about the practicalities too which is what I'm most concerned about..

Don't hesitate to keep the ideas coming

[madtownhustl]

hit up a korean bbq place. my parents loved it.

[tehdee]

whats korean bbq?

[saram_]

[lice83]

When I had family over they really enjoyed going to the War Museum near Samgakji Station and also going to the night markets in Dongdaemun.

[saram_]

[blackjack]

[crisdean]

[fishy]

The Sunbee Hotel in Insadong is a nice place to stay. I plopped my F-I-L there last spring while we did the sites in Seoul. Even though Insadong is touristy, it has some reasonably interesting shopping for parents (and there's a McD's around the corner just in case nobody wants rice porridge for breakfast. )

[wormholes101]

I'd put them up in a clean looking (and newish) love motel. They're a relatively cheap for the amenities that they provide (power showers, bath tub, computer, internet, fridge, big screen TV, water cooler, kettle etc) They will probably find it rather romantic and a unique experience!

You probably can wrangle a discount for a longer stay too!

Put them somewhere with lots of shopping around and maybe a park or something like that so they can easily keep themselves occupied when you're not around.

I did this and my parents loved it! They wanna come back and stay at the same place.. lol

[saram_]

[debb199]

There's a hotel called the Metro Hotel which is pretty close to the Ibis in Myeongdong which is nice and a bit cheaper: http://www.metrohotel.co.kr/

The Fraser Suites is right in the middle of Insadong and the rooms have a kitchen area which is good if your parents don't want to eat out for every meal: http://seoul.frasershospitality.com/

I really wouldn't reccommend the Hamilton Hotel in Itaewon - the room I had was really dingy...although the refurbished rooms (which are on the 4th floor I think) are much nicer. It was pretty noisy too!