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rainism
Joined: 13 Apr 2011
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 Posted: Sat Jul 30, 2011 2:15 am Post subject: |
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| definitely maybe wrote: |
| northway wrote: |
| Lolimahro wrote: |
If I was going on a vacation to Busan (supposing I wasn't bringing my kid with me), I would stay at a place a fair enough distance from the beach, but still convenient by bus or subway to get there in under 30 minutes. Don't know if that rule will save you some money. I would also bring a cooler with my favorite foods/drinks so I could eat in for breakfast and lunch and only eat out for dinner.
I have an almost-3-year old and whenever my family travels we *always* stay at love motels. We usually throw in an extra 5~10,000 won per night to have a room with a bathtub. But the most I've ever paid for a motel stay was 70,000 won per night - during a festival in Namwon. There was not really reliable public transit to the festival sites from our hotel at that time, which was slightly out of town, and all the in-town motels were booked up or charging 150,000 per room per night. Prices get jacked up seasonally and for festivals and that's pretty typical.
Even non-busy, non-famous places like Motel 6's in South Dakota, USA jack up their prices (and gas stations do the same with their gas!) in the summer when everyone wants to go see Mt. Rushmore and play at the Deadwood casinos. (and I use the term "everyone" loosely) So it's not that surprising that one would have to pay 65,000 for a shared room with a stranger per night at a busy beach area during the heat of the summer. That said, I still think motels are the way to go. |
In my experience you don't even have to go that far. There's a cluster of love motels three or four stops from Haeundae where I've found rooms for really, really cheap. You're not really walking distance to anything, but it's cheap. That said, it's beyond me why anyone would go to Haeundae in the summer.
Anyway, I'm glad I know how much I can expect to spend on a trip to Gettysburg... |
Haeundae in the summer = human parking lot
Then again, it's one of the few places you'll see oiled up Korean girls in bikinis unless you want to cram yourself in by the pool at the Hamilton in Itaewon. |
and why is seeing said girls in bikinis that enticing?
they don't have anything to fill them out with. Of course, I'd agree it's better than watching pallid pink beached Western whales in the same bikini.
btw re pricing.
against my better judgment I bought a pair of flip flops at E mart because my old Brazilian ones finally broke (I think paid 2 bucks for them). The cheapest ones at E mart were about 10K won. Piece of complete crap. Horrid quality and too small. So I paid 15K for the seemingly best kind that fit my size 11 feet. (they're similar to my old 2 dollar pair of Brazilian ones I bought from a streetvendor in Rio). Now in Indonesia, I go to the local supermarket, and see a really nice rugged pair of re-inforced flip flops with extra cushioning for 3 dollars. |
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PatrickGHBusan
Joined: 24 Jun 2008
Location: Busan (1997-2008) Canada 2008 -
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| Posted: Sat Jul 30, 2011 3:33 am Post subject: |
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| rainism wrote: |
| definitely maybe wrote: |
| northway wrote: |
| Lolimahro wrote: |
If I was going on a vacation to Busan (supposing I wasn't bringing my kid with me), I would stay at a place a fair enough distance from the beach, but still convenient by bus or subway to get there in under 30 minutes. Don't know if that rule will save you some money. I would also bring a cooler with my favorite foods/drinks so I could eat in for breakfast and lunch and only eat out for dinner.
I have an almost-3-year old and whenever my family travels we *always* stay at love motels. We usually throw in an extra 5~10,000 won per night to have a room with a bathtub. But the most I've ever paid for a motel stay was 70,000 won per night - during a festival in Namwon. There was not really reliable public transit to the festival sites from our hotel at that time, which was slightly out of town, and all the in-town motels were booked up or charging 150,000 per room per night. Prices get jacked up seasonally and for festivals and that's pretty typical.
Even non-busy, non-famous places like Motel 6's in South Dakota, USA jack up their prices (and gas stations do the same with their gas!) in the summer when everyone wants to go see Mt. Rushmore and play at the Deadwood casinos. (and I use the term "everyone" loosely) So it's not that surprising that one would have to pay 65,000 for a shared room with a stranger per night at a busy beach area during the heat of the summer. That said, I still think motels are the way to go. |
In my experience you don't even have to go that far. There's a cluster of love motels three or four stops from Haeundae where I've found rooms for really, really cheap. You're not really walking distance to anything, but it's cheap. That said, it's beyond me why anyone would go to Haeundae in the summer.
Anyway, I'm glad I know how much I can expect to spend on a trip to Gettysburg... |
Haeundae in the summer = human parking lot
Then again, it's one of the few places you'll see oiled up Korean girls in bikinis unless you want to cram yourself in by the pool at the Hamilton in Itaewon. |
and why is seeing said girls in bikinis that enticing?
they don't have anything to fill them out with. Of course, I'd agree it's better than watching pallid pink beached Western whales in the same bikini.
btw re pricing.
against my better judgment I bought a pair of flip flops at E mart because my old Brazilian ones finally broke (I think paid 2 bucks for them). The cheapest ones at E mart were about 10K won. Piece of complete crap. Horrid quality and too small. So I paid 15K for the seemingly best kind that fit my size 11 feet. (they're similar to my old 2 dollar pair of Brazilian ones I bought from a streetvendor in Rio). Now in Indonesia, I go to the local supermarket, and see a really nice rugged pair of re-inforced flip flops with extra cushioning for 3 dollars. |
You do understand the concept of a nations overal wealth don't you? 
Yeah I can buy a decent suit in Thailand for far less than the same suit will cost me in Toronto Canada. Wow who knew!
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rainism
Joined: 13 Apr 2011
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| Posted: Sat Jul 30, 2011 4:31 am Post subject: |
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| PatrickGHBusan wrote: |
| rainism wrote: |
| definitely maybe wrote: |
| northway wrote: |
| Lolimahro wrote: |
If I was going on a vacation to Busan (supposing I wasn't bringing my kid with me), I would stay at a place a fair enough distance from the beach, but still convenient by bus or subway to get there in under 30 minutes. Don't know if that rule will save you some money. I would also bring a cooler with my favorite foods/drinks so I could eat in for breakfast and lunch and only eat out for dinner.
I have an almost-3-year old and whenever my family travels we *always* stay at love motels. We usually throw in an extra 5~10,000 won per night to have a room with a bathtub. But the most I've ever paid for a motel stay was 70,000 won per night - during a festival in Namwon. There was not really reliable public transit to the festival sites from our hotel at that time, which was slightly out of town, and all the in-town motels were booked up or charging 150,000 per room per night. Prices get jacked up seasonally and for festivals and that's pretty typical.
Even non-busy, non-famous places like Motel 6's in South Dakota, USA jack up their prices (and gas stations do the same with their gas!) in the summer when everyone wants to go see Mt. Rushmore and play at the Deadwood casinos. (and I use the term "everyone" loosely) So it's not that surprising that one would have to pay 65,000 for a shared room with a stranger per night at a busy beach area during the heat of the summer. That said, I still think motels are the way to go. |
In my experience you don't even have to go that far. There's a cluster of love motels three or four stops from Haeundae where I've found rooms for really, really cheap. You're not really walking distance to anything, but it's cheap. That said, it's beyond me why anyone would go to Haeundae in the summer.
Anyway, I'm glad I know how much I can expect to spend on a trip to Gettysburg... |
Haeundae in the summer = human parking lot
Then again, it's one of the few places you'll see oiled up Korean girls in bikinis unless you want to cram yourself in by the pool at the Hamilton in Itaewon. |
and why is seeing said girls in bikinis that enticing?
they don't have anything to fill them out with. Of course, I'd agree it's better than watching pallid pink beached Western whales in the same bikini.
btw re pricing.
against my better judgment I bought a pair of flip flops at E mart because my old Brazilian ones finally broke (I think paid 2 bucks for them). The cheapest ones at E mart were about 10K won. Piece of complete crap. Horrid quality and too small. So I paid 15K for the seemingly best kind that fit my size 11 feet. (they're similar to my old 2 dollar pair of Brazilian ones I bought from a streetvendor in Rio). Now in Indonesia, I go to the local supermarket, and see a really nice rugged pair of re-inforced flip flops with extra cushioning for 3 dollars. |
You do understand the concept of a nations overal wealth don't you?
Yeah I can buy a decent suit in Thailand for far less than the same suit will cost me in Toronto Canada. Wow who knew!
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that's a great point Patrick. 5 x as wealthy, eh?
Now explain to me why the same things in Korea costs twice as much as they do in the US.
and while you're at it, explain to why the KRW keeps crapping down lower and lower vs poor country currencies like Indonesia's (and the Phillippine's and more)
you'd be on better ground if you simply said it's another version of Japan (where everything is preposterously expensive as well). Except in Japan they've been battling actual "deflation", which is a concept that only exists in economics textbooks when it comes to Korea) |
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PatrickGHBusan
Joined: 24 Jun 2008
Location: Busan (1997-2008) Canada 2008 -
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| Posted: Sat Jul 30, 2011 4:38 am Post subject: |
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Can be many things...
Import fees (beef in some cases, gas for cars)
Market trends and to a degree protectionism.
Prices rose sharply over the past few years due to economical problems.
It can be damned expensive for some stuff but it can also be cheaper for other stuff (compared to Canada anyway). At the end of the day, costs of living between Canada and Korea are pretty comparable in broader terms.
Savings potential is lower in Canada in general terms due to far higher income taxes for example.
But you get cost free (for on site services) medical.
It balances it out...
Another small example...trains
A 2 way ticket from Montreal to Toronto will run you roughly 220 bucks sometimes more.
The same distance (almost) for a Seoul to Busan ride on a faster train (KTX) will run you 90 000W (roughly 80 bucks).
Gas is more expensive in Korea (import) by the litre. In Canada despite producing a lot of oil our gas prices have raised significantly over the past few years but remain cheaper than Korea.
Cost for clothes can be lower in Korea.
Housing is more expensive in Korea due to smaller available land, density and rampant speculation for the past few years.
So at the end of the day when we compare our budget in Korea and Canada, it is not all that different in terms of monthly costs.
Korea does apply an undue amount of market protectionism that is true but in general terms costs seem to average out.
Now take your self and your pay to Indonesia and you will live like a king due to the far lower costs there which of course seems to be oddly linked to developmental indicators for that country....hmmmm |
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rainism
Joined: 13 Apr 2011
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| Posted: Sat Jul 30, 2011 4:44 am Post subject: |
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no argument Patrick.
but bottom line for "consumer products", Korea is one of the most expensive countries in the world... along with Japan and places like Scandinavia.
even the Korea Times has alluded to this. 
I mean... 15K won for a 3 dollar pair tops pair of flip flops?????????
btw. in Jakarta a friend of mine is .. renting an appt in the ritziest part of town... twice the size of my appt in Korea. maybe thrice.
free internet, cable tv (which I haven't used), all utilities paid for.. free cleaning service during the week. . small pool downstairs (there are about 6 appts in the complex). nice weather 
monthly rent - 500 USD
School's paying 400 probably for my Korean "closet" hole in the wall in a villa. (maybe a little less)
this , I kind of understand.. but still...
sometimes you get annoyed |
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Tigerstyleone
Joined: 01 Feb 2009
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| Posted: Sat Jul 30, 2011 9:13 am Post subject: |
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For the two guys on page one that were cyber bulling me and calling me names.
You didn't read my post. I LIVE IN BUSAN. I LIVE 2 BLOCKS FROM THE BEACH. THE ROOM WASN'T FOR ME. IT WAS FOR MY FRIEND.
And it was my opinion based on the price of a shared room in a Guesthouse that a Love Motel would be better.
So stop calling me cheap, stinger, stupid foreigner. |
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bossface
Joined: 05 Aug 2006
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| Posted: Thu Aug 04, 2011 5:22 am Post subject: |
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| flip flops certainly cost more here than in SE Asia for the most part, but E-Mart is kinda pricy for a lot of things. my flip-flops broke in Busan, and i bought a new pair at Family Mart for 3 bucks. low-end umbrellas at E-Mart start at like 8 bucks, but you can buy the same thing on the street for 3-5. |
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denverdeath
Joined: 21 May 2005
Location: Boo-sahn
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| Posted: Thu Aug 04, 2011 6:09 am Post subject: |
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| 성수기 is the word ur looking for regarding peak-season prices. the "better" places will have all the prices(weekday, weekend, peak, various rooms, etc) along with pics on their website, if they have one. i was happy to pay the inflated prices at a place recently(outside of busan) at a "cheap" "hotel"...120,000won per night. it was a puny room, but we were literally 10 metres from the sand. we, apparently, were also fortunate to get the last room in the place. roof-top barbecuing was included. have to say that in my 14 years here, that it was one of my better Korean summer beach experiences. yes, haeundae does blow in august[except for the greater number of bikini-clad babes(buxom, and not-so-buxom)], but at least the nearby foreigner restaurants have gotten lots better. |
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cj1976
Joined: 26 Oct 2005
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| Posted: Thu Aug 04, 2011 6:25 am Post subject: |
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| Love motels are cheaper because you have to sleep on a mattress where numerous couples have shared their love - as well as their bodily fluids. |
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northway
Joined: 05 Jul 2010
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| Posted: Thu Aug 04, 2011 6:25 am Post subject: |
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| cj1976 wrote: |
| Love motels are cheaper because you have to sleep on a mattress where numerous couples have shared their love - as well as their bodily fluids. |
I didn't know other hotels had a no sex policy. Oops. |
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denverdeath
Joined: 21 May 2005
Location: Boo-sahn
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| Posted: Thu Aug 04, 2011 6:36 am Post subject: |
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| northway wrote: |
| cj1976 wrote: |
| Love motels are cheaper because you have to sleep on a mattress where numerous couples have shared their love - as well as their bodily fluids. |
I didn't know other hotels had a no sex policy. Oops. |
He might b referring to the frequency of sheet-changes, but i could b wrong... |
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cj1976
Joined: 26 Oct 2005
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| Posted: Thu Aug 04, 2011 6:59 am Post subject: |
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| denverdeath wrote: |
| northway wrote: |
| cj1976 wrote: |
| Love motels are cheaper because you have to sleep on a mattress where numerous couples have shared their love - as well as their bodily fluids. |
I didn't know other hotels had a no sex policy. Oops. |
He might b referring to the frequency of sheet-changes, but i could b wrong... |
Love motels rent by the hour, and who knows how often they change the sheets? Mind you, they often supply free porn but unfortunately it's free Korean porn. Can't have it all, I suppose.. |
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marsavalanche
Joined: 27 Aug 2010
Location: where pretty lies perish
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| Posted: Thu Aug 04, 2011 7:12 am Post subject: |
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going to busan tomorrow. in 2 nights my friend and i will have spent less money than the tourist OP and his friends in 1 night. and i don't even live in busan. so many weigooks here just throwing their money away.
ahahahaha |
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denverdeath
Joined: 21 May 2005
Location: Boo-sahn
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| Posted: Thu Aug 04, 2011 7:16 am Post subject: |
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| marsavalanche wrote: |
going to busan tomorrow. in 2 nights my friend and i will have spent less money than the tourist OP and his friends in 1 night. and i don't even live in busan. so many weigooks here just throwing their money away.
ahahahaha |
perhaps true, but u can't take it with u when ur gone. also, r u gonna b a weak stone's throw from the beach, or r u going to have to take six buses with awful a/c to get there? |
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marsavalanche
Joined: 27 Aug 2010
Location: where pretty lies perish
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| Posted: Thu Aug 04, 2011 7:20 am Post subject: |
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| denverdeath wrote: |
| marsavalanche wrote: |
going to busan tomorrow. in 2 nights my friend and i will have spent less money than the tourist OP and his friends in 1 night. and i don't even live in busan. so many weigooks here just throwing their money away.
ahahahaha |
perhaps true, but u can't take it with u when ur gone. also, r u gonna b a weak stone's throw from the beach, or r u going to have to take six buses with awful a/c to get there? |
one bus brah |
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