Recommended Korea Tour package

[tt32003]

More on my package tour here:

You are gonna love me ♥: Korea Trip Part 4
You are gonna love me ♥: Korea Trip Part 5
You are gonna love me ♥: Korea Trip Part 6
You are gonna love me ♥: Korea Trip Part 7
You are gonna love me ♥: Korea Trip Part 8
You are gonna love me ♥: Korea Trip Part 9

Ha I just booked a package to Korea in Nov under Hong Thai without looking at your blog.

Seems like it's quite OK.

I chose them mainly becos their itinery seems the best compared to others.

 

[eevee11]

sorry, would you know...
is that the doubles price?
what if i got 3 pax...is it 2x1568, then the 3rd pax at higher than 1568? or all at 1568?

Hmmm I'm not too sure. I guess also dependent on whether it's twin sharing or triple sharing? Maybe you could call CS Travel to check. Was told currently 10 pax but can increase up to 30 pax i think.

 

[demongod]

the 3D2N is at the beginning right?

Yup it's quite cheap and quite a comprehensive itinerary for a first timer to Korea. Not sure about the food and hotel standards thou but it was only $1568 tax inclusive per pax for 8D6N Seoul + Jeju during Xmas period ... Plus they gave a 3d2n Shanghai if you travel via China Eastern Airlines which I did ... Total 11D8N. Hope it's good. Will review when I come back.

 

[tt32003]

What's the norm in tips for the tour guide, driver etc in Korea ?

The norm for tour groups from Singapore to everywhere is it still US$2 per person per service staff per day ?

Or has it gone up ?

So if got one tour guide, one tour leader, one driver, will be US$6 per day ?

 

[rojak-]

What's the norm in tips for the tour guide, driver etc in Korea ?

The norm for tour groups from Singapore to everywhere is it still US$2 per person per service staff per day ?

Or has it gone up ?

So if got one tour guide, one tour leader, one driver, will be US$6 per day ?

approximately... i don't quite like the "fixed" rate of tipping... coz then it's not tipping!! just add that to the cost lah!!! but oh well... the tours seem to be all like that >.<

 

[tt32003]

approximately... i don't quite like the "fixed" rate of tipping... coz then it's not tipping!! just add that to the cost lah!!! but oh well... the tours seem to be all like that >.<

Actually if no fixed tipping, most of the time you will end up tipping more unless you really beh song with the guide.

 

[eevee11]

it's after the Korea package as I'll be in Seoul then Jeju and from Jeju fly to Shanghai for the 3 day 2 nite before flying back to Singapore. Was given another 5d4n land tour to 1 of 5 choices of China locations which I can utilise within a year.

the 3D2N is at the beginning right?

Yup it's quite cheap and quite a comprehensive itinerary for a first timer to Korea. Not sure about the food and hotel standards thou but it was only $1568 tax inclusive per pax for 8D6N Seoul + Jeju during Xmas period ... Plus they gave a 3d2n Shanghai if you travel via China Eastern Airlines which I did ... Total 11D8N. Hope it's good. Will review when I come back.

 

[tt32003]

Just came back from my 8d6n Seoul plus jeju tour with Hong Thai.
Our group has 20 people, hence no tour leader from Sg, as tour company only assign a tour leader from Sg for a group of 25 and more.
So we save a total of S$64 for the 4 of us in tip for the tour leader.
Then there was no Korean photographer to tag along with the tour as well.
Hence save another 100+ in payment to the photographer.
In total we probably saved around S$200 in tips.
But then instead of 3 people serving the group we only had one.
So the local Korean guide was a bit overworked and stressed at times.

We had a Korean Chinese guy in his 20s as our guide.

First few days he was friendly and helpful but last 2 days sort of lost his cool and shown some attitude.
Maybe becos he was overworked, or due to certain members who were perpetually late, or due to the ganging up of the kids and younger members of the group in the ski resorts against him in a snow fight.

He lost his cool at the ginseng factory, telling us to leave if we are not interested to buy at all and don't waste time.
This was while few members of the group was very close to buy the ginseng from the shop already.
Kind of puzzling cos normally the guide would try their best to pressure the tour group people to buy.
In throwing tantrum, he actually offered us a quick escape instead.

Then at the last stop at MyengDong, he threatened to leave without any latecomer, even if one minute late.

Hotel wise was quite good.
Jeju Oriental was good in terms of location and room.
Sheraton walker Hill was posh, even though location can be better.
Yong Pyong Ski resort was quite run down but probably no other alternative at the area. And it will be the site of the 2018 winter Olympics.
Han Wah hotspring resort was quite good.
And the last hotel Daikea Marigold was not on the list of hotels stated on the itinerary but was quite good.

Food wise was OK.
Like what the tour guide said, no guarantee of excellent taste but definitely will fill the tummy.

We never followed the sequence stated on the tour brochure but sequence of event went quite smoothly.
Not much traffic jam or waiting or idle time.

 

[tt32003]

Tips from my Korean tour guide if you stay at Sheraton Walker Hill and fancy visiting the Paradize Casino (the largest in Korea) there :

The casino provide free food and drinks but must buy some chips and use them.

Got some voucher for tour group where you exchange 50000 Won of chips you will be given gifts worh 20000+ won.

So change for the chips , get the free gifts, head to the big small table, order you food, then 2 people bet the same amount , one on big and one on small.

Unless you are very sueh, should be able to break even most of the time, and go off with your free gifts and free food.

If suay and the casino eat all, the value of the free gifts and free food also quite worth your 50000 won already.

 

[attapKia]

lol too tedious for me, plus not really a casino person.

 

[wonga1972]

Hi would to know hows the weather at Korea now?

 

[motherof2]

Just came back from my 8d6n Seoul plus jeju tour with Hong Thai.
Our group has 20 people, hence no tour leader from Sg, as tour company only assign a tour leader from Sg for a group of 25 and more.
So we save a total of S$64 for the 4 of us in tip for the tour leader.
Then there was no Korean photographer to tag along with the tour as well.
Hence save another 100+ in payment to the photographer.
In total we probably saved around S$200 in tips.
But then instead of 3 people serving the group we only had one.
So the local Korean guide was a bit overworked and stressed at times.

We had a Korean Chinese guy in his 20s as our guide.

First few days he was friendly and helpful but last 2 days sort of lost his cool and shown some attitude.
Maybe becos he was overworked, or due to certain members who were perpetually late, or due to the ganging up of the kids and younger members of the group in the ski resorts against him in a snow fight.

He lost his cool at the ginseng factory, telling us to leave if we are not interested to buy at all and don't waste time.
This was while few members of the group was very close to buy the ginseng from the shop already.
Kind of puzzling cos normally the guide would try their best to pressure the tour group people to buy.
In throwing tantrum, he actually offered us a quick escape instead.

Then at the last stop at MyengDong, he threatened to leave without any latecomer, even if one minute late.

Hotel wise was quite good.
Jeju Oriental was good in terms of location and room.
Sheraton walker Hill was posh, even though location can be better.
Yong Pyong Ski resort was quite run down but probably no other alternative at the area. And it will be the site of the 2018 winter Olympics.
Han Wah hotspring resort was quite good.
And the last hotel Daikea Marigold was not on the list of hotels stated on the itinerary but was quite good.

Food wise was OK.
Like what the tour guide said, no guarantee of excellent taste but definitely will fill the tummy.

We never followed the sequence stated on the tour brochure but sequence of event went quite smoothly.
Not much traffic jam or waiting or idle time.

sound gd..im gg on next yr feb oso.. btw can i check is thr smokers in ur tour? gt time to smoke ? lol.. scare will be lik alittle restricted

 

[Biogentic]

Tips from my Korean tour guide if you stay at Sheraton Walker Hill and fancy visiting the Paradize Casino (the largest in Korea) there :

The casino provide free food and drinks but must buy some chips and use them.

Got some voucher for tour group where you exchange 50000 Won of chips you will be given gifts worh 20000+ won.

So change for the chips , get the free gifts, head to the big small table, order you food, then 2 people bet the same amount , one on big and one on small.

Unless you are very sueh, should be able to break even most of the time, and go off with your free gifts and free food.

If suay and the casino eat all, the value of the free gifts and free food also quite worth your 50000 won already.

min bet how much

 

[tt32003]

sound gd..im gg on next yr feb oso.. btw can i check is thr smokers in ur tour? gt time to smoke ? lol.. scare will be lik alittle restricted

Should be OK if u are not disturbing others.
My group got only one uncle that smokes.
Anyway his family of 4 is always the first to report.
So while waiting for others he will smoke outside the bus and nobody complain.

One thing to note though is Korean Air policy is you can take lighter ONLY in your hand luggage and cannot check in apparently.

 

[tt32003]

min bet how much

Don't know leh.
I didn't go to the casino.
Got 2 kids so a bit hard to go.

Most from my group didn't seem to lose much though.

 

[motherof2]

Should be OK if u are not disturbing others.
My group got only one uncle that smokes.
Anyway his family of 4 is always the first to report.
So while waiting for others he will smoke outside the bus and nobody complain.

One thing to note though is Korean Air policy is you can take lighter ONLY in your hand luggage and cannot check in apparently.

oooo.. okok thanks for ur help !

 

[PenguinLim]

Does anybody know if i can book day tour packages in Seoul?

 

[attapKia]

Does anybody know if i can book day tour packages in Seoul?

i haven't tried before.
only took some 1 day or half trip from those pamphlets found at the hotels.

but i was looking at the korean tourism website, there's a list of tour agents. maybe check those out, should have.

link here:
Official Site of Korea Tourism Org.: In Korea

 

[ezeroo]

i booked with super travel to korea this oct. the staff there was a little inefficient and slow to response to our enquiries. the tour guide was average.. he is chinese mixed korean. so speaks chinese.

 

[ultra99]

Just came back from my 8d6n Seoul plus jeju tour with Hong Thai.
Our group has 20 people, hence no tour leader from Sg, as tour company only assign a tour leader from Sg for a group of 25 and more.
So we save a total of S$64 for the 4 of us in tip for the tour leader.
Then there was no Korean photographer to tag along with the tour as well.
Hence save another 100+ in payment to the photographer.
In total we probably saved around S$200 in tips.
But then instead of 3 people serving the group we only had one.
So the local Korean guide was a bit overworked and stressed at times.

We had a Korean Chinese guy in his 20s as our guide.

First few days he was friendly and helpful but last 2 days sort of lost his cool and shown some attitude.
Maybe becos he was overworked, or due to certain members who were perpetually late, or due to the ganging up of the kids and younger members of the group in the ski resorts against him in a snow fight.

He lost his cool at the ginseng factory, telling us to leave if we are not interested to buy at all and don't waste time.
This was while few members of the group was very close to buy the ginseng from the shop already.
Kind of puzzling cos normally the guide would try their best to pressure the tour group people to buy.
In throwing tantrum, he actually offered us a quick escape instead.

Then at the last stop at MyengDong, he threatened to leave without any latecomer, even if one minute late.

Hotel wise was quite good.
Jeju Oriental was good in terms of location and room.
Sheraton walker Hill was posh, even though location can be better.
Yong Pyong Ski resort was quite run down but probably no other alternative at the area. And it will be the site of the 2018 winter Olympics.
Han Wah hotspring resort was quite good.
And the last hotel Daikea Marigold was not on the list of hotels stated on the itinerary but was quite good.

Food wise was OK.
Like what the tour guide said, no guarantee of excellent taste but definitely will fill the tummy.

We never followed the sequence stated on the tour brochure but sequence of event went quite smoothly.
Not much traffic jam or waiting or idle time.

Dear fellow friends, for ginseng shops, my advice is just take note of products they are selling. U can get same or similar ones with same ginseng content (be it 100% or 60%, etc) outside at at least half the price.