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TRAVEL GUIDE TO KOREA
Airport Taxes
All non-Koreans leaving by air must pay a W15,000 departure tax at
the airport (Koreans must pay W25,000).
These Fees are not included in your tour fare and must be paid in local
currency upon departure at check-in.
Baggage
On Domestic flights,
passengers are allowed 44 pounds of luggage per person. On International
flights, passengers are allowed two pieces of checked luggage. Excess
luggage fees will be charged if you check more than the stated
allowances, and these charges are your responsibility. At most
major airports, baggage carts are available for your luggage, usually
for a small additional fee.
Climate
and Clothing
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Korea's climate is regarded as a continental climate from a temperate
standpoint and a monsoonal climate from a precipitation standpoint. The
climate of Korea is characterized by four distinct seasons: spring,
summer, fall, and winter.
Spring lasts from late March to May and is warm. Various flowers,
including the picturesque cherry blossom, cover the nation's mountains
and fields during this time. Summer lasts from June to early September.
It is a hot and humid time of the year. Autumn lasts from
September to November, and produces mild weather. It is the best season
for visiting Korea. Winter lasts from December to mid-March. It can be
bitterly cold during this time due to the influx of cold Siberian air.
Heavy snow in the northern and eastern parts of Korea makes favorable
skiing conditions.
From mid-March through late-May, and mid-September through
mid-November you can wear long sleeved shirts and slacks plus possibly a
cardigan or a jacket. During summer, June through August, short sleeved
shirts and shorts would be a good idea. Late November through early
March you must be prepared for the cold. A scarf and gloves are
recommended for January and February, and remember that it snows at
higher elevations in Korea.
Communications
There are three types of public telephones
in Korea: coin-operated telephones, card phones, and credit card phones.
A local call costs 70 won (US$0.06) for three minutes. Intercity calls
cost considerably more. Coin phones return coins that are not charged,
but do not return change for partially used 100 won coins.
Card telephones can be used to make international calls as well as local
and intercity calls. Telephone cards come in 2,000, 3,000, 5,000, and
10,000 denominations and are on sale in shops close to telephone boxes
and in banks.There are also credit card phones, which you can use with
major credit cards.
Internet service is offered in public places such as airports, train
stations and bus terminals in Korea. PC bangs and internet cafes are
also handy places to get internet service and easy to fine throughout
the country. Many PC bangs are open 24-hours and some have snack bars
with beverages, noodles, other snacks available.
Postal Service: Domestic First Class Mail: Up to 5g: 160 won/ From 5g to
25g: 190 won. Domestic Express Mail: Up to 5g: 240 won/ From 5g to 25g:
280 won . Packages for the local area: Up to 2kg: 1,500 won. Post Cards:
160 won per card
Currency
The Korean currency consists of a ten thousand, five thousand, and
one thousand won note, and five hundred, one hundred, fifty and ten won
coin. Recently, a dollar exchanges for about 1,200 won. Exchange rates
may change at any time according to the market conditions. When you need
to exchange your foreign currency into Korean won, visit a bank,
exchange service center, or an authorized exchange. Foreign issued ATM
cards may have limited use at ATMs in different countries. Please refer
to your bank for more information.
Traveler's checks are economical because they will receive higher
exchange rates and can be purchased at a cheaper rate. They are used
like cash at hotels, department stores, restaurants and shops, but it is
better to exchange them for cash for more comfort. Visa, American
Express, and Thomas Cook are used in Korea, and these checks can be
exchanged into cash at banks or exchange booths.
Visa, American Express, Diners Club, Master Card and others are used at
hotels, department stores, large restaurants, and stores.
Customs Regulations
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A written baggage declaration must be submitted to a customs officer
upon entry. Passengers must clear customs through either green, white,
or red channel. Passengers who have no articles to declare should use
the green channel. If a passenger declares
non-duty-free articles voluntarily, the declared amount will be accepted
and the clearance procedure will be expedited.
Electricity
Voltage in Korea is 220 volts, so a
transformer will be needed to operate 100-volt appliances.
Electrical appliances will require an adapter that can change the shape
of the plug prongs, as well as an electrical voltage converter that will
allow a normal 110-volt American appliance to take 220 Volt current.
Food and
Water
Water is
untreated and not safe to drink, but bottled mineral water is for sale
everywhere and we recommend that you use bottled water for drinking.
Heath
Matters
No vaccinations required for entering Korea from
anywhere around the world.
You can also
contact the Center for Disease Control (C.D.C.) 404-639-3534 for updated
information.
There are many hospitals where some English are spoken in Korea.
International clinics at large general hospitals like Severance
Hospital, Asan Medical Center or Samsung Medical Center are recommended.
Holidays
New Year’s Day - Jan 1st
Seollal - Jan/Feb
Independence Movement Day - Mar 1st
Arbor Day - Apr 5th
Buddha’s Birthday - Apr - May
Labor Day - May 1st
Children’s Day - May 5th
Memorial Day - Jun 6th
Constitution Day - Jul 17th
Liberation Day Aug 15th
Chuseok Sep/Oct
National Foundation Day - Oct 3rd
Christmas Dec25th
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Passports and Visas
Any foreign visitors wishing to enter the Republic of Korea must have a
valid passport. Citizens of many countries, including the US, are not
required to obtain a visa for tourism prior to entry.
Time Difference
Korea Standard Time is
9 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time and 14 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time.
Tipping
Tipping is not customary in Korea.
Sometimes, expensive restaurants and luxury hotels may add a service
charge of 10%. Thus, you do not necessarily have to prepare for extra
charges since it will be included in the bill.
On tours with private sightseeing, gratuities of $5-$10 for travel
guides, $2-$3 for drivers per person per day is customary.
Most goods and services in South Korea are
subject to a standard value added tax of 10%. This will be included in
the price so you don’t have to worry about being charged extra on top of
the price quoted.
Transportation
Airport and Sightseeing
transfers are included in our tours. Airport transfers are provided via
private cars and sightseeing will be provided via air-conditioned
motor-coach. if you wish to explore
Korea on your own, transportation in Korea is both safe and efficient.
Korea's public transportation system is very extensive and cheap,
accessing almost every place imaginable.
Fast and reliable highway buses operate on expressways throughout the
country, connecting almost all major points. However, be advised that
English language schedules are not available. Various tour companies
offer bus services to most of the well-known tourist sites for visitors
who prefer not to use the intercity buses. For details about these
tours, contact the travel agencies scattered throughout the city.
Local buses are the most common means of transportation in Seoul. They
are frequent, reliable, and inexpensive. Seoul's bus network serves
every part of the city. The adult fare is 600 won regardless of
distance. City coach buses, called jwaseok bus, more comfortable and
they are air-conditioned. They stop less frequently and travel through
congested areas faster.
Taxis are plentiful and inexpensive in Korea, clean and safe. There are
taxi stands in most busy city areas, and taxis can also be hailed on the
streets. The fare system is based on both the distance and the time
taken. Fares are 1,600 won for the first 2 km and 100 won for each
additional 168 m. If the taxi is going less than 15 km per hour, an
additional charge of 100 won per 41 seconds is added to the fare.
What to Pack?
Valid Passport.
Travelers Checks. Copy of Your Airline Ticket. Warm and Wet Weather
Clothing. Your Medicines. Departure
documents. Travel alarm clock. Camera(s), batteries & films. Sunscreen/Tan lotion. Pocket size
Kleenex. Extra luggage locks/keys. First Aid kit. Soft, foldable
slippers. Extra set of eyeglasses. Folding Umbrella. Comfortable
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