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redmonkey
Joined: 18 Aug 2011
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 Posted: Sun Aug 21, 2011 10:39 pm Post subject: CAR |
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| do they have car rentals? and what does it take to rent a car and how much is it?? |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Sun Aug 21, 2011 11:19 pm Post subject: Re: CAR |
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| redmonkey wrote: |
| do they have car rentals? and what does it take to rent a car and how much is it?? |
New to Korea? Skip the car rental and use taxis, buses, subways and trains.
Rentals are expensive. There is no parking (anywhere) and you won't be able to find what you are looking for anyway (addresses make NO sense to a westerner).
Public transportation in Korea is cheap, frequent, efficient and comfortable.
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jvalmer
Joined: 06 Jun 2003
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| Posted: Mon Aug 22, 2011 12:06 am Post subject: |
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http://www.ktkumhorent.com/
You'll need an Intl' DL or Korean DL.
It's not cheap. Renting something like an Elantra/Avante will cost you around 100,000-won for one day (with insurance). If you're a member it will be around 75,000-won a day. If you want to return the car in a different region prices will go up and you'll need to return it gassed up. And gas is pretty expensive.
Also, those rental guys are picky, I once had to pay the 100,000-won insurance deductible for a friggin chip on the windshield. For some reasons Koreans really freak out on window chips (where I'm from it's almost impossible to get through winter without one).
There are also a number of independent car rental places in smaller towns, they are a little cheaper.
I wouldn't recommend renting a car by yourself, but if you have like 3/4 other people then split the cost. |
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northway
Joined: 05 Jul 2010
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| Posted: Mon Aug 22, 2011 12:41 am Post subject: Re: CAR |
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| ttompatz wrote: |
| redmonkey wrote: |
| do they have car rentals? and what does it take to rent a car and how much is it?? |
New to Korea? Skip the car rental and use taxis, buses, subways and trains.
Rentals are expensive. There is no parking (anywhere) and you won't be able to find what you are looking for anyway (addresses make NO sense to a westerner).
Public transportation in Korea is cheap, frequent, efficient and comfortable.
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This is all true, but there are worthwhile places for which public transportation isn't an option. |
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Lazio
Joined: 15 Dec 2010
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| Posted: Mon Aug 22, 2011 1:01 am Post subject: Re: CAR |
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| ttompatz wrote: |
| redmonkey wrote: |
| do they have car rentals? and what does it take to rent a car and how much is it?? |
New to Korea? Skip the car rental and use taxis, buses, subways and trains.
Rentals are expensive. There is no parking (anywhere) and you won't be able to find what you are looking for anyway (addresses make NO sense to a westerner).
Public transportation in Korea is cheap, frequent, efficient and comfortable.
. |
You are assuming that the OP wants to drive in Seoul which I don't think. You know well enough that the Korean countryside is truly beautiful but the nicer the place the more difficult to get there with public transportation. It's well worth to rent a car every once in a while. If you are into that sort of thing just throw your tent and camping stuff in the car and head out to explore the country. That way (this is how I do) it's even worthy for 2 persons only. |
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nathanrutledge
Joined: 01 May 2008
Location: Marakesh
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| Posted: Mon Aug 22, 2011 1:13 am Post subject: |
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My gf (korean) and I rented a car in Yeosu this winter. We had planned on using the buses/taxis, but realized it was just too much of a hassle. Cost us 120,000 for three days. Got by on a single tank of gas, so about 150k for the whole thing. Considering how much we drove around, and how much time we saved, it was definitely worth it.
Outside of that kind of situation tho, it really isn't worth it. |
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murmanjake
Joined: 21 Oct 2008
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| Posted: Mon Aug 22, 2011 1:22 am Post subject: |
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| nathanrutledge wrote: |
My gf (korean) and I rented a car in Yeosu this winter. We had planned on using the buses/taxis, but realized it was just too much of a hassle. Cost us 120,000 for three days. Got by on a single tank of gas, so about 150k for the whole thing. Considering how much we drove around, and how much time we saved, it was definitely worth it.
Outside of that kind of situation tho, it really isn't worth it. |
That's cheap. Got a car for four days for 290 including 40k for insurance. It was brand-new which was nice, an SM3. This was that high-demand first week of August, though, so I think I was paying premium.
I got it from a small place. Get a Korean to help you. The big places like kumhorent were way pricier for smaller cars.
I also heard that many rental cars are LPG, which would save you a ton on gas if you're driving a lot. Mine was gas, which I guess was a bit of a fluke.
Anyone ever rented a car and had the rental company try and make you pay for a speeding ticket? I definitely zoomed past a camera or two when I was out... |
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Lazio
Joined: 15 Dec 2010
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| Posted: Mon Aug 22, 2011 1:32 am Post subject: |
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Yeah, August is high season so prices go up. We rented just 10 days ago for about 3 and a half days and payed 240,000 including 30,000 for insurance. We had a near brand new Avante (factory foil still on here and there).
We got a parking ticket and the guy at the rental company said they will forward their envelope to us.  |
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nathanrutledge
Joined: 01 May 2008
Location: Marakesh
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| Posted: Mon Aug 22, 2011 1:34 am Post subject: |
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| murmanjake wrote: |
| nathanrutledge wrote: |
My gf (korean) and I rented a car in Yeosu this winter. We had planned on using the buses/taxis, but realized it was just too much of a hassle. Cost us 120,000 for three days. Got by on a single tank of gas, so about 150k for the whole thing. Considering how much we drove around, and how much time we saved, it was definitely worth it.
Outside of that kind of situation tho, it really isn't worth it. |
That's cheap. Got a car for four days for 290 including 40k for insurance. It was brand-new which was nice, an SM3. This was that high-demand first week of August, though, so I think I was paying premium.
I got it from a small place. Get a Korean to help you. The big places like kumhorent were way pricier for smaller cars.
I also heard that many rental cars are LPG, which would save you a ton on gas if you're driving a lot. Mine was gas, which I guess was a bit of a fluke.
Anyone ever rented a car and had the rental company try and make you pay for a speeding ticket? I definitely zoomed past a camera or two when I was out... |
Yeah, it was very cheap. Don't remember what kind it was - it was a smaller car, but still plenty of leg room for me at 6'2.
I don't even remember who it was. We got off the train at Yeosu station and there was a booth there. I just wrote down the number in case we needed it and the next day we called. Guy came out and met us a few hours later with the car and we dropped it off at the station as we left. Easy as pie.
I'd say that's really the best way to do it - find a local number at the bus terminal/train station and use that. Smaller places will have much better deals. Of course, as you say, speaking Korean is key - there was zero English during the whole transaction. |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Mon Aug 22, 2011 2:34 am Post subject: Re: CAR |
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| Lazio wrote: |
| ttompatz wrote: |
| redmonkey wrote: |
| do they have car rentals? and what does it take to rent a car and how much is it?? |
New to Korea? Skip the car rental and use taxis, buses, subways and trains.
Rentals are expensive. There is no parking (anywhere) and you won't be able to find what you are looking for anyway (addresses make NO sense to a westerner).
Public transportation in Korea is cheap, frequent, efficient and comfortable.
. |
You are assuming that the OP wants to drive in Seoul which I don't think. You know well enough that the Korean countryside is truly beautiful but the nicer the place the more difficult to get there with public transportation. It's well worth to rent a car every once in a while. If you are into that sort of thing just throw your tent and camping stuff in the car and head out to explore the country. That way (this is how I do) it's even worthy for 2 persons only. |
I am assuming the OP is new to Korea, has never been here before, has no idea where he is going, doesn't speak Korean or read and thinks it will be like driving back home.
To he rest of you, you live here and it is a very different ball of wax than some newbie stepping off the plane and expecting a "Budget" or "Avis" rental counter at the airport.
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alice_w
Joined: 10 Aug 2011
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| Posted: Mon Aug 22, 2011 7:49 am Post subject: |
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| There is an Avis rental desk at the airport. I've rented cars through them several cars and I have one booked for my return on Saturday. But you have to book in advance. Just go to the Avis.com site. |
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northway
Joined: 05 Jul 2010
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| Posted: Mon Aug 22, 2011 7:57 am Post subject: Re: CAR |
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| ttompatz wrote: |
I am assuming the OP is new to Korea, has never been here before, has no idea where he is going, doesn't speak Korean or read and thinks it will be like driving back home.
To he rest of you, you live here and it is a very different ball of wax than some newbie stepping off the plane and expecting a "Budget" or "Avis" rental counter at the airport.
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Driving here isn't too different from driving in a city in the US Northeast. |
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redmonkey
Joined: 18 Aug 2011
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| Posted: Mon Aug 22, 2011 10:58 am Post subject: |
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| im not in korea yet but Im hoping to be this coming spring 2012 so im just asking in case i wanted to rent a car so i can tour the country where public transportation doesnt go. |
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Mr. Peabody
Joined: 24 Sep 2010
Location: here
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| Posted: Mon Aug 22, 2011 2:45 pm Post subject: Re: CAR |
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| northway wrote: |
Driving here isn't too different from driving in a city in the US Northeast. |
You're joking, right?
Redmonkey, watch this video. Many clips are from Korea.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9E4LDUe5K_4
Driving here is crazy. Nothing like the US.
Red light? Who cares! Double yellow lines? Very pretty! One way street? Oops! Sorry about that! Parking or even driving on the sidewalk? Pedestrians, lookout!
I commute to work by car over 1500 kilometers a month. I love it. |
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northway
Joined: 05 Jul 2010
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| Posted: Mon Aug 22, 2011 2:55 pm Post subject: Re: CAR |
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| Mr. Peabody wrote: |
| northway wrote: |
Driving here isn't too different from driving in a city in the US Northeast. |
You're joking, right?
Redmonkey, watch this video. Many clips are from Korea.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9E4LDUe5K_4
Driving here is crazy. Nothing like the US.
Red light? Who cares! Double yellow lines? Very pretty! One way street? Oops! Sorry about that! Parking or even driving on the sidewalk? Pedestrians, lookout!
I commute to work by car over 1500 kilometers a month. I love it. |
I'm quite serious. Have you ever driven in New York or Boston, particularly at rush hour? |
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