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Nadia_M
Joined: 15 Jun 2010
Location: Daejeon, Korea
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 Posted: Wed Jul 28, 2010 9:28 pm Post subject: Getting money as soon as I land |
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| Hello. I'm going to Korea this Friday for the first time. I fly into Incheon and then take a bus to Daejeon. What's the easiest way for me to get my hands on some Korean money? ATM? Travelers Checks? Currency exchange? Also, should I take American money with me? Thanks! |
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drama_addict
Joined: 30 Aug 2009
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Wed Jul 28, 2010 9:49 pm Post subject: |
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| Just take US dollars with you and exchange it at Incheon Airport. They have several currency exchange counters there. |
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Nadia_M
Joined: 15 Jun 2010
Location: Daejeon, Korea
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| Posted: Wed Jul 28, 2010 10:21 pm Post subject: |
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| Also, my family wants me to call them as soon as I land. Are there any phone cards I can buy at the Incheon airport? Or in the US? Or should I call collect. Please help. |
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Nadia_M
Joined: 15 Jun 2010
Location: Daejeon, Korea
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| Posted: Wed Jul 28, 2010 10:24 pm Post subject: |
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| Also, my family wants me to call them as soon as I land. Are there any phone cards I can buy at the Incheon airport? Or in the US? Or should I call collect. Please help. |
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J.D.
Joined: 28 Jun 2010
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| Posted: Wed Jul 28, 2010 10:42 pm Post subject: |
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| They have vending machines right next to the pay phones...you can buy an int'l calling card for 10k (IIRC). |
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brittan2007
Joined: 04 Mar 2008
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| Posted: Wed Jul 28, 2010 10:54 pm Post subject: |
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For some reason, my cell phone worked in Korea. I was able to send and receive text messages and receive calls.
I mean, my cell phone bill that month was about $400. But still. I was able to call home and let everyone know I made it safely.
I may be in Daejeon soon. I might see you there! |
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loyfriend
Joined: 03 Aug 2009
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| Posted: Wed Jul 28, 2010 11:17 pm Post subject: |
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If you have a computer Skype works just fine and is free or very cheap to call peopel in the USA. You can also use your debit cards from USA at the ATM machines.
I would let yoru bank know your out of the ciountry. SOme have 30-90 day rules on that. |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Thu Jul 29, 2010 12:54 am Post subject: Re: Getting money as soon as I land |
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| Nadia_M wrote: |
| Hello. I'm going to Korea this Friday for the first time. I fly into Incheon and then take a bus to Daejeon. What's the easiest way for me to get my hands on some Korean money? ATM? Travelers Checks? Currency exchange? Also, should I take American money with me? Thanks! |
Take US$ with you to Korea.
a) You will land.
b) Walk to immigration.
c) Get your passport stamped and enter Korea.
d) Go down the escalator.
e) Collect your baggage.
f) Go through customs (hand in your customs declaration as you do).
g) Just BEFORE you walk through the glass doors you will see a currency exchange counter. It is open 24/7. Exchange a few hundred dollars there so you don't need to get in a panic later. (the rates are the same as they are in town).
AFTER you go through the glass doors into the arrivals area you will see the phones and phone card machines and a convenience store along the wall.
AVOID the touts who will try to get you into their cab. Make your calls.
. |
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Steve_Rogers2008
Joined: 22 Mar 2010
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| Posted: Thu Jul 29, 2010 7:02 pm Post subject: |
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just call collect... if the family is so worried about it, they'll be happy to pay! 
and that leaves you extra money for that first night out in Itaewon!  |
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Troglodyte
Joined: 06 Dec 2009
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| Posted: Thu Jul 29, 2010 9:43 pm Post subject: |
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I'm not sure if you can call collect from Korea to abroad.
If you have a laptop with you, there's free wireless in the arrivals hall (just before you exit the building to where all the buses are. If you can't get a good signal, then move around until it improves. If yo have no laptop, there used to be a free internet room and there definitely is a net cafe on the walkway above the arrivals hall. You can log on to send an email or use skype (not sure if the net cafe has it installed though).
There are also info desks who can explain in english where to get phone cards. |
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Senior
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
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| Posted: Thu Jul 29, 2010 9:48 pm Post subject: |
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| brittan2007 wrote: |
For some reason, my cell phone worked in Korea. I was able to send and receive text messages and receive calls.
I mean, my cell phone bill that month was about $400. But still. I was able to call home and let everyone know I made it safely.
I may be in Daejeon soon. I might see you there! |
Your phone would have been set up for roaming.
My old Nokia slug connected up to the Korean network, the time changed to local time and it had full bars, but it wouldn't make calls or texts. |
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Darkeru
Joined: 21 Apr 2010
Location: England
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| Posted: Fri Jul 30, 2010 4:33 am Post subject: |
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| Don't the exchange counters charge to exchange? Though I guess it's faster than a bank either way. |
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Troglodyte
Joined: 06 Dec 2009
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| Posted: Fri Jul 30, 2010 8:14 am Post subject: |
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| Darkeru wrote: |
| Don't the exchange counters charge to exchange? Though I guess it's faster than a bank either way. |
The banks also charge to change. That's why there's a difference between the buy and sell rate. |
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GTG09
Joined: 03 Jul 2009
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| Posted: Fri Jul 30, 2010 5:10 pm Post subject: |
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| I exchanged some money at the airport when I got here and was surprised at how little I got charged. I was use to being in the US where they charge you a ton for everything if its not a bank. I paid maybe a 1000 WON I believe when I looked at my receipt. Just do it there they don't screw you. You get the proper rate and same charge as a bank. |
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