7 days itinerary in Korea : Part 2

This November 2011 will mark my third time going to South Korea as I love autumn and you should know this fact by now ^^, right? Ohh..and I have recently been enlightened that Malaysia also has the 90 days visa exception for North Korea. :O..hmm..going to North Korea might be a distant but yummy idea right?

I will be going with another two friends. They will arrive a day ahead of me while I will be travelling to Korea the next day. The goal is to explore places that I have not been before, however one of them is a first timer to Korea so I have to include those MUST visit places in the itinerary.

A sample itinerary 

Day 1
9.45pm- arrived at Incheon Airport by Air Asia
10.30pm - ride AREX + subway to Seoul
11.30pm - check in guesthouse, explore Myeongdong by foot

Day 2
7.00am - breakfast, check out guesthouse, leave the luggage at guesthouse
8.00am - Namdaemun
10.30am - Chandeok palace
12.30pm - Insadong and lunch
2.00pm - Cheongyecheon stream
4.00pm- Namsan tower, teddy bear museum
7.00pm- Myeongdong , dinner
10.00pm - my friends will go to Incheon Airport or they can opt for another night stay at the guesthouse and leave early morning the next day to Gimpo Airport but I will stay at Incheon Airport and take the earliest train to Gimpo Airport the next day.

Day 3
8.30am - flight to Jeju Island from Gimpo Airport *susceptible to the weather and flight delay*
10.00am -arrived at Jeju Island-tour the airport, breakfast
11.00am -check in Guesthouse
11.30am-rent scooter and check out Jeju Island until night

Day 4
7.00am-checkout guesthouse
9.00am - 6.00pm-tour Jeju Island
8.00pm-fly to Busan
9.00pm-arrived at Busan and check out the city
11.00pm-check in jjimjilbang at Gwangalli/Haeundae 

Day 5
7.00am-breakfast, checkout from jjimjilbang
8.00am- Yonggungsa
11.00am-Busan Mosque - lunch at Busan Mosque-Busan Tower-Jagalchi Market-40 Gyedan-Gwangalli Beach
4.00pm - if decide to take free shuttle bus from Busan to Seoul; free bus from Paradise Hotel, Haeundae Beach 16.00hrs arrived at Seoul 20:00 hours
12.00pm-if decide to take midnight train to Seoul

Day 6
6.00am -arrive at Seoul Station, leave the luggage at the station
8.00am - Nami Island by subway and train
2.00pm-check in guesthouse, ewha,sinchon,hongdae, shopping
6.00pm-Sindangdong tteokpokki  and Dongdaemun

Day 7
7.00am-Itaewon-Itaewon Mosque-Namsangol Hanok Village
12.00 noon-DMZ
6.00pm-Yeoido Park,63 building, shopping at Myeongdong

Day 8
5.30am - take the first subway to Incheon Airport ; checkout Seoul subway schedule here.
8.25am - fly back to Malaysia

Estimated budget ~ RM1,800 / 600,000 won excluding flight ticket and shopping

Note:

1. Total actual days in Korea are 6 days
2. This itinerary might not be suitable for those with children or elders.
3. Time may not be accurate and just for estimation.
4. Jjimjilbang is optional; the cheapest stay for about 12,000 won per night but may not be the most comfortable.
5. Always have Plan B if your flight or scheduled get delayed or changed.
6. Bring muscle pain reliever as the schedule is harsh, definitely if you're traveling with me. Hehehe. 

Anyone has better ideas to reduce the budget and any unbeaten paths to explore with this kinda time limit?

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Budget to Jeju Island trip

Women divers in Jeju Island by KNTO

I will be going to Jeju Island this coming November 2011 !! ^^ Am planning to stay about 2-3 days and renting a scooter to paint the island in various colors ㅋㅋㅋ. Anyone visiting Jeju Island in November?

My budget to explore Jeju Island for 2 days 1 night / 3 days 2 night:

Return air fares from Gimpo/Incheon Airport : 150,000 to 200,000 won
Accommodation: 1 night - 25,000 won/ 2 nights - 50,000 won
Food: 2 days - 30,000 won / 3 days - 45,000 won
Transportation: scooter - 2 days - 50,000 won/3 days - 75,000 won
Admission: 20,000 won

Total:
2 days 1 night :  325,000 won /  ~910MYR   / ~305USD
3 days 2 night :  390,000 won / ~1,090MYR / ~365USD

3 days 2 night Eco-Tour itinerary prized at about 410,000 won! My budget came close to it. You might be wondering.."hmm..not much difference, how do I save my penny then?"  Some people even claimed that you will be saving a lot and less headache in planning your holiday with tour group.

Here are my 2 cents about having your own plan:
1. The exhilarating moment of enjoying the island on a scooter
2. The time and places you can visit are limitless - more flexibility
3. The adventure of exploring unbeaten path
4. Meeting new people or maybe Hallyu artist..*ok..I'm just dreaming..hehe*

Anyone been there, done that and spent lesser than the budget I gauge for 3 days 2 night? Please share your opinion. ^^

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My budget so far..

I have used around MYR500 (from 27th Sept - 7th Oct)

Seoul Metro - 35,000
Bus ticket - 18,000
Food - 50,000
Accommodation - 45,000 (3 nights)
Clothes - 15,000
Tour Admission - 4,000

I visited Hye Won on 28th Sept, stayed at Happy Guesthouse for 3 nights until 30th Sept for 45,000 won. Then I stayed with Chi Won (Couch Surfing - free) and now stayed with Joy Farm (practically free but with a yearly fee of WWOOF of 50,000 won).

18,000 won used for ticket from Seoul to Chunyang.

Food is somewhat differs from individual but I try to find Halal food which is more expensive compared to normal food. So, basically it depends on your 'desire' hahaha..

Clothes - I bought a 15,000 won sweater from a warehouse sale in Myeongdong which was cheap. Later, got to splurge to buy a better winter jacket.

Tour admission - Changdeok palace - 3,000 won, Deoksu palace - 1,000 won, Chi Won's mother paid for me a 12,000 admission for Yongin's folk village. She is really a kind mother.

There is a method on how to save on your Seoul Metro expenses but I will tell in another post.

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