Wednesday 13 April 2016

KTO TOUR EXPENSES AND CHEAPER ALTERNATIVES....!

I was lucky that everything during the tour was paid for by Korea Tourism Organisation. If I were to pay all those entrance fee, food, performance, rides, flight tickets and accommodation, than I would have to fork out quite a lot of money!

Here’s a breakdown of the total cost if I were to pay for it myself. The price/fare/cost is based on the current information found on the internet. 
The exchange rate at present  is 1000 Korean Won = RM 3.39.





Won
Ringgit
Notes:
Malaysian Airlines flight to Seoul &
Korean Air flight to Kuala Lumpur
558000
2100
Air Asia flight is cheaper!
Centre Mark Hotel, Insadong
88511.99 per night
300 and above
Guesthouses are cheaper!
Ice Gallery and trick-Eye Museum, Hongdae
15000 adult
12000 child
50.85
40.68
Worth your money
Buffet Lunch at Nature Kitchen, Hongdae
12,900  and above
43.73
Many Seafood and Vegetable options
Hello Kitty Cafe
4500 and above
15.25
Only for HK fans
Tuna sandwich breakfast set at Slow Park Garden Cafe, Samcheon-dong
12000
40.68
Worth the scenery
Coffee at Wiki Cafe, Samcheon-dong
4500 and above
15.25
Only for Super Junior fans
Entrance to Deoksugung palace,
1000 adult
500 child
3.39
1.69
Must visit
Entrance fee to Grevin Wax Museum
23000 adult
18000 teenager
15000 child / elderly
77.89
60.95
50.80
optional
Shabu Shabu dinner at nTable, Dongdaemun Design Plaza Basement
16,900 dinner
57.23
optional
Janggu drum experience and Miso play
40000 and above
135.45
optional
Dinner set at Eomoni Saengseon, Insadong
Starts at 12000
40.68
Cheaper if set is shared
ITX train ticket from Yongsan Station to Chuncheon Station
6900 one way
23.39
Cheaper to go to Nami island
Gangchon Rail Park Ride
2-seater bike 25000
4-seater bike 35000
84.66
118.54
optional
Banana milk
1000
3.39
Must try
Drinking water
800
2.71
Must have
Tringular / samgak  tuna gimbap
500 - 700
1.69
Must have
Buffet dinner at Todai, Myeondong
37000
125.31
Hmmm........
Freshly squeezed Pomegranate juice
5000
16.93
Must try
A box of strawberries
10000
33.89
Must try
Shrimp burger set at Lotteria
5400
18.30
Must have
Bibimbap
6000
20.34
Must try






(photo from www.korea.net)

Other must-try options:                     (FREE / CHEAPER / WORTH YOUR MONEY)

Gyeongbokgung palace
1000-3000   1 palace
10000  4 palaces
3.39 -10.15
33.84
Must visit
National Museum of Korea
Free

Must visit
Gwanghamun  square & King Sejong statue
Free


Yongsan Station via ITX train to Gapyeong Station ; then take
Taxi to Nami Island
4800

4000
16.28

13.55
Must visit

Nami entrance fee & round trip ferry
Eco halal cafe – nasi goncang

8000 Foreigners
5000

27.06
16.92

Must try
Buckhon Hanok Village
Free

Must visit
Dongdaemun Design Plaza
???

Optional
Dongdaemun Market
Free

Optional visit for souvenirs
Nandaemun Market
Free

Must visit for souvenirs
Itaewon :  (Seoul Mosque)
Eid halal cafe
Makan cafe
Kebab

Food price from 6000 and above

20.30 and above
Must visit

Should try any of these
Cheonggyecheon stream
Free

Must visit
Lotte World (nearby)
26000
87.97
optional
Everland (far from Seoul)
52000 adult
44000 teenagers
41000 child/ elderly
175.95
148.82
138.67
optional
Myeondong
(Food stalls in the evening)
2000 and above
6.77
Shopping heaven!
Namsan Tower – cable car ride
8500 round trip
28.77
Must try
Nanta Performance Theater, Myeondong
40000 and above
135.45
optional

You can cut down on your expenses by buying cheap Air Asia tickets and book strategic guest houses much earlier. You should visit all the places that are without any or small entrance fee and select several attractions that you can afford. You can always go back to visit the rest in the future....! 

The only thing missing from this list of expenses is the daily / local transportation – train/subway, bus or taxi. That would require you buying T-money card (similar to Touch n Go card) which can be used on most of the public transportation. Now this requires a different blog entry altogether....! 

Stay tune.





3 comments:

  1. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  2. I love this post. Very useful information before i traveling in korea (one day) :D

    ReplyDelete
  3. Luv it eonni.. can't wait to read your next post

    ReplyDelete

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