Korean Job Discussion Forums

[sheisaeval]

Ulleungdo is a close contender of what we might do at the end of July for a few days of summer vacation. We are a couple, if that makes a difference.

So, we are wondering, do we need to prebook the ferry tickets? What if we go on a weekday (but still end of July), would it be better? If we should reserve tickets, where can we do that? Is there a site or a phone call we can call to reserve tickets? Will it be best to go to mukho or pohang? We will probably travel from Seoul.

Also, should we prebook accomodation or will there be minbaks or hotels there when we get there?

Another question, what is the best way to get around the island? Taxi? Bus? Walk?


How many days should we stay, and what should we budget for everything?

[nosmallplans]

i'd start by calling and checking availability of tickets. i called to see if i could travel back in may and they had been completely booked through june....

i'd start by calling the local tourism department for that neck of korea, XX-1330.

when i went, i left from pohang. it was close enough that we left seoul in the morning, spent the afternoon in gyeungju and then hit up pohang that evening (ferries leave at either 10 or 11 am). i think mukho is closer - but it's my understanding that the connections aren't as good. where as pohang has both the munghwa train or long distance taxi service straight to daegu which has ktx. the cabbies will try to pair up 4 people per cab and will cost you about W20,000 to take you from pohang directly to daegu.

accomodation need not be prebooked unless you have a big group. you'll run into a bunch of minbak ajjumas waiting around for you at the dock. feel free to sic 'em on each other and they can fight each other for your business. i went during new years, so prices were cheaper, and got a 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom, with kitchen deluxe pension for W25,000 (there were only two of us - we slept in a different room each night). more realistically you could probably find somewhere small for <W50,000 a night that includes a modern bathroom and internet access. don't try to find a place on your own - stick to the ladies on the dock. if the prices are really cheap... assume it'll be a more homey minbak or further up the hill (meaning farther from the water and restaurants - not a big deal but the hike up and down can get annoying). also, don't bother leaving dodong for accomodation. the rest of the island is prehistoric in comparison.

i stayed for two weeks when i went... but that said we were snowed in for almost 5 of those days with no ferry access. its entirely possible the weather could get bad enough to strand you... so make sure your employer knows you could be late in coming back and that you have enough cash to survive. there is a nonghyup bank there though - so you can remove cash if you need it. if you sight see from sun up to sun down you can probably see everything on the island in a good 3 or 4 days... and thats walking really slow. if you're really buzzin' around you could hit up all the major tourist spots in 2. i suggest taking your time, do a lot of walking, get lost, and you could easily spend an enjoyable week. its a really small island so you can only get so lost.

for my two weeks there, my ex and i spent about W600,000 (including transportation, dining and souvenirs in gyeungju, pohang and ulleungdo).

its a great trip. i highly recommend it. it's probably the most beautiful place in all of korea.

as for getting around the island... it's really, really, really small. don't bother with the cabs - you'll only really need them to get back and forth from the two neighboring towns near the port, but you could just as easily walk, it's just really steep is all. the bus service is good enough that you can see what you want to see without stressing.