Zuid Korea fly & drive

Despite remaining firmly off the popular tourist trail, South Korea is a dream destination – an intriguing, welcoming nation which seamlessly combines the conveniences of modernity with a deep reverence for their remarkable 5000-year-old cultural heritage. The nation’s capital of Seoul, for example, is packed with massive shopping malls alongside traditional markets, while state-of-the-art skyscrapers stand adjacent to the remains of ancient royal palaces. Travellers looking to escape this vibrant megatropolis will find that the tranquillity of nature is easily accessible due to the country’s exceptional transport system which will whisk you away to far-flung wilderness areas where you can explore magnificent mountainous areas enclosed by densely forested national parks and dotted with peaceful villages surrounded by picturesque rice paddies. While South Korea’s cities provide enough adventure to fill any itinerary, it is beyond these urban expanses that its real natural beauty unfolds in all its of startling variety.

Currency

The curency of South Korea is the Won (KRW; symbol ₩). Notes are in denominations of ₩50,000, 10,000, 5,000 and 1,000. Chon means 'one thousand'. Coins are in denominations of ₩500, 100, 50 and 10.

There are no restrictions on the import or export of local or foreign currency. However, amounts exceeding US$10,000 or equivalent must be declared.

Banking

Banking hours: Monday-Friday 09h00-17h00.

American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard and Visa credit cards are widely accepted at major hotels, shops and restaurants in the larger cities. You may not be able use credit cards at small businesses and in rural areas. You may also want to check whether your credit card is accepted by looking at door signs before you enter an establishment.

ATMs are available in all major cities, but not all of them will accept international cards. Just keep trying different outlets until you see a logo you recognise on the machine. Cards with the Plus and Cirrus logos are the easiest to use and most widely accepted in Korea.KB bank is one of the most reliable for foreign cards.

Foreign banknotes and travellers cheques can be exchanged at foreign exchange banks and other authorised money changers. While travellers cheques are accepted in the major cities they may be difficult to change in smaller towns. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers are advised to take traveller's cheques in US dollars.

National airlines Asiana Air and Korean Air run frequent services around the country. International flights primarily leave from Incheon International Airport, while domestic flights fly to/from Gimpo. Note that air travel within South Korea can be quite reasonable if you book online. Discounts often rival train fares.

Roads are generally well-maintained and are well sign posted with signs that are usually written in Korean and English.

Numerous international and local car hire companies operate in South Korea. However, complex road systems, high traffic density and erratic drivers may mean this is an option only for more confident drivers. Alternatively, you can hire a driver to go with you on the road. An International Driving Permit is required. Drivers must have more than one year's driving experience, be in possession of a valid passport, and be over 21 years of age.

Taxis are ubiquitous and are reasonably safe and cheap. There are two grades of taxi - a black luxury grade and a normal grade. All taxis are required to be metered; make sure they're using the meter throughout the trip. Reports of lengthy detours, of charging night rates during the day, and other fee-related issues surface from time to time. Safety problems are rare, but assaults on women have been infrequently reported. Exercise judgement and caution when travelling alone.

Bike rentals may be possible for sightseeing in some cities. Ask the local tourist information booths for details.

Bus travel within South Korea is reliable and inexpensive, but often confusing for non-Korean speakers, as many cities have four or more bus terminals, each with different destinations, routes, and timetables. Making matters worse, many bus operators do not have English speakers or English websites.

However, long-distance luxury coaches and normal buses offer service to almost everywhere in South Korea at very reasonable prices. Kobus is an English website with scheduling information for all express buses.Korail connects major destinations. Station signs in English are common and English translations of timetables are usually available.

Seoul has underground and suburban railways and well-developed bus services, all of which are very crowded during the rush hour. Underground station names, ticket counters and transfer signs are clearly marked in English as well as Korean. Underground lines are colour-coded, and all trains have multilingual announcements. Most major cities have at least one or two underground lines and/or above-ground trolleys.

Though tap water in South Korea is safe to drink, tourists often avoid it due to taste. Bottled water is available, as is powdered or tinned milk. Korean cuisine is rich and varied and as such, includes all sorts of raw, uncooked, or undercooked meats, seafoods, and delicacies. Use common sense when ordering. Those with health concerns may want to exercise caution and avoid unpasteurised milk and products made from it, such as ice cream. Food from street vendors is usually safe but should be eaten at your own risk.

Korean cuisine is punchy and bold flavoured; fermented foods are common and dishes are often heavily laced with red pepper and generous amounts of garlic. Rice is omnipresent at pretty much all meals, except for the odd occasion when noodles take centre stage.

A typical Korean meal consists of warm rice, soup, rice water and between eight and 20 side dishes of vegetables, fish, poultry, eggs, bean curd and sea plants. All dishes tend to be served together and are shared among the group.

Korea’s best-selling spirit is soju, a clear liquor similar to, though milder than, vodka. Soju is frequently mixed with beer to create a drink known as somac.

South Korea's weather can be extreme - the summer can be as hot as 45°C with humidity in the high 70s. Nights in November can drop suddenly and be sub-zero with Siberian winds. It's best to bring layers or (even better) take advantage of the great shopping malls and buy clothes that suit the season while you're there. It is important to note too that weather in Seoul (in the north) can be quite different from that of Busan or Jeju. Occasional typhoons bring high winds and floods. Spring and autumn are mild and mainly dry and are generally considered the best times to visit.

Internet is widely available in Korea. The country is one of the highest users of internet in the world. There are internet cafes around the country in public places such as airports, train stations and bus terminals in Korea. 'PC bangs' are rooms full of computers which are predominantly setup for people to play games. They are cheap and many are open 24 hours a day, with snacks available.

Electrical sockets in South Korea are one of two electrical socket types:  Type C (CEE 7/16 Europlug) and Type F (CEE 7/4 Schuko). If your appliance's plug doesn't match the shape of these sockets, you will need a travel plug adapter in order to plug in. Travel plug adapters simply change the shape of your appliance's plug to match whatever type of socket you need to plug into. If it's crucial to be able to plug in no matter what, bring an adapter for all types.

Electrical sockets in South Korea usually supply electricity at 220 volts AC / 60 Hz frequency. If you're plugging in an appliance that was built for 220 volt electrical input, or an appliance that is compatible with multiple voltages, then an adapter is all you need. If your appliance isn’t compatible with 220 volts, a voltage converter will be necessary.