Sharing a recap of what we did in Seoul, the place we stayed, and my ideas on the entire expertise. The nutshell model: I CAN’T WAIT to return.
Hello buddies! How are you? I hope you had a tremendous weekend! We simply caught up with home stuff right here, lastly recovered from jet lag (I used to be barely jet lagged once we acquired there, however ended up using the wrestle bus once we got here dwelling), and met up with some buddies.
I’m so excited to share some recap posts on our journeys with you!
Right here’s a listing of what I’ve deliberate in order that once they go reside, I can add the hyperlinks to this submit.
Seoul recap, what we did and what we ate (this submit)
Tokyo and Kyoto itinerary and ideas for journey
What we ate in Japan
My Korean Head Spa expertise
Seoul recap, what we did, and what we ate
Earlier than I get began, I wished to start with an apology.
To my buddies in South Korea and Japan, I used to be ignorant, and now I do know. I had NO CLUE how a lot I’d been lacking out. The ladies picked the places for this journey, and I figured it will be one thing that I loved, but it surely wasn’t my first selection for a trip. (I’d be pleased repeating least yr’s 5+ weeks in Spain journey.) I didn’t anticipate to fall in love with these locations, however I completely did. This journey completely modified my life. I’ll share extra in my Japan submit, however these locations didn’t really feel like totally different international locations… they felt like totally different worlds.
The folks in Seoul had been SO type and beautiful. The meals was unbelievable. It felt so very secure, and there was a lot to do. We may have doubled our time there and been pleased. The humorous factor is that we had the chance to be stationed in Korea a number of instances throughout Tom’s army profession. All of our buddies who lived there liked it, and now I perceive why.
We flew from Phoenix to San Francisco, after which direct from SFO to Seoul. The flight was lengthy – about 12 1/2 hours – however I managed to nap on and off (the women stayed conscious the entire time) and we landed at about 3pm. I feel that is the proper time to land in a brand new nation as a result of your lodge room is prepared, so for those who’re completely wrecked and wish a nap, you possibly can. You don’t should wander round and wait till your room is prepared.
We knew that it will be a low-key day, so we checked into the lodge and got down to discover. We stayed on the RYSE Autograph Assortment lodge and I might 100% suggest it for the wonderful location, facilities, and eating choices. (I booked every little thing utilizing our Amex platinum. My referral hyperlink is right here!)
It was surrounded by nice eating places and outlets, and simple to get round.
I didn’t take a pic however the toilet had an infinite waterfall bathe with nice water strain.
We had been shocked to see complete streets full of little kiosks and cute outlets only a block away from the lodge.
We explored and met our new skincare bestie at TONYMOLY and P was exhausted, to we went again to the lodge whereas Tom and Liv grabbed dinner. All of us slept by means of the night time and had been absolutely set the subsequent day!
We did rather a lot whereas we had been in Seoul, however listed below are a number of the highlights.
Lotte World
Lotte World is a gigantic indoor and outside theme park. Liv recommended this one – she added her concepts to our journey planning spreadsheet – and we had a blast. We joked that it was like a speakeasy. It’s many ranges and fairly a number of sights appear to be hidden, however there was a lot to do. It additionally blew my thoughts that acquired 4 tickets with 3 skip the road passes for every of us and the overall was $200. (I used Journey.com to ebook.)
I didn’t take a pic of the surface however image a citadel, varied curler coasters, a drop experience, and many outlets and meals stands.
We did the entire finest rides – they’ve a mixture of rides for youthful kiddos and extra thrilling rides and coasters for older youngsters and adults – and spent the complete day there. Journey to Atlantis was AMAZING; positively certainly one of my prime theme park rides.
Baseball recreation and Korean BBQ
We spent a whole day purchasing and exploring, and that night, we went on a tour with an English talking information to Korean BBQ
and a Dusan Bears baseball recreation.
Baseball is HUGE in Seoul and a real cultural expertise. Every hitter has their very own chant and cheer, and the complete area is dancing and cheering. The baseball meals is subsequent stage, too. They offered beers with an the other way up baseball cap that was full of shrimp – it seemed SO good- along with tteokbokki, cheese and meat skewers, tons of actual meals choices. You too can herald your individual meals and drinks; so totally different from the States the place they pressure to you go inside to purchase $8 bottles of water.
Head spa and petting zoo
The top spa can be receiving its personal submit, but it surely was a spotlight of the journey! Whereas I used to be having the most effective spa experiences of my life, the Pilot and the kiddos went to a petting zoo the place they had been in a position to maintain raccoons and pet meerkats.
Dwelling the dream:
Purchasing at Olive Younger
In the event you go to Seoul, purchasing at Olive Younger is a should. You possibly can replenish on the entire finest Okay magnificence merchandise at superb costs. It’s like an infinite Sephora with rows of skincare and cosmetics… all the most effective stuff. I used to be fearful we wouldn’t discover an Olive Younger or it will be onerous to get to, however they’re in every single place. We had three places proper by our lodge.
Gluten-free eating in Seoul
On this journey, I attempted my finest to eat gluten-free as intently as doable, however understood that it may be very tough – not every little thing is labeled – and accepted that there can be some wheat in sauces and condiments. Additionally as a result of I don’t communicate the language, I didn’t wish to be tough to attempt to modify the meals.
I’ve been strict gluten-free for 3 years for the autoimmune stuff and it’s made an incredible distinction for me, and P has been gluten-free for the previous yr. (She was crimson on her IgG take a look at and he or she used to have unhealthy abdomen ache and joint ache, which has resolved since we minimize it out.) I advised her we’d simply do our greatest as a result of fortunately we’re not allergic to gluten, however we’d in all probability have some in sauces, and so forth.
We had been in a position to eat at two 100% gluten-free eating places in Seoul: Sunnyhouse and Monli2. Each had been A+ experiences.. higher than any of the gluten-free choices I’ve had in Tucson.
Sunnyhouse gluten-free restaurant in Seoul, Korea
Sunnyhouse has breakfast all day, sandwiches, platters and desserts. It’s type of a hidden location however is extraordinarily cute inside.
P had a fluffy nutella waffle, a grilled cheese,
and I had the Mediterranean plate. I may eat this each day. The bread was SO delicate and fluffy. Why do US eating places have such a tough time making good gluten-free bread???
Monli2 gluten-free restaurant in Seoul, Korea
Monli2 has CHURROS, pizza, sandwiches, and baked goodies. I ordered a pesto pizza and it critically the most effective gf pizzas I’ve had in my life (#1 is Italy, #2 is that this one, and #3 is NYC).
I knew that I might eat totally different meals whereas we had been in Korea and Japan and the complete time we had been gone, I felt superb. My power was nice, I didn’t get a abdomen ache from something, and the meals had been all so extremely contemporary and scrumptious.
Our lodge had an enormous breakfast buffet every day and you possibly can get American breakfast staples (like fruits, pastries, eggs, potatoes, bacon and juice) in addition to custom Korean objects, like kimchi, beef bulgogi, fried rice, pickled veggies, and so forth.
Suggestions for visiting and issues we seen:
– Undoubtedly be taught a handful of phrases however Google translate could be a useful gizmo. I used to be shocked to seek out that fairly a number of folks spoke English, and when ordering at kiosks, it’s simple to modify the language to English. The ladies know so many Korean phrases so that they had been in a position to assist us out.
– The bus and subways are very clear and environment friendly, however we ended up utilizing Uber to get round. It was far inexpensive to get round than it’s within the states. We preferred Uber as an alternative of conventional taxis as a result of you possibly can enter the situation – no language obstacles this manner – and you may see the precise fare.
You too can get a Local weather Card or T Cash card for limitless passes for transportation for those who resolve to make use of public transport.
– Carry a little bit trash bag with you. Public trash cans usually are not in every single place, so you’ll have to hold trash with you till yow will discover a trash can. Don’t assume that every one trash cans are public; it could be owned by a retailer.
– Don’t stroll and eat. It’s unhealthy manners, so for those who get a meal or snack, simply cease and luxuriate in it earlier than persevering with on. I price like this can be a higher approach to eat anyway! In case your nervous system is calm, you’ll have a greater time digesting your meals.
– Google maps doesn’t work. We used Naver as an alternative to get round. Google transit points earlier than utilizing Naver for public transportation. You must get these on public alerts when you’re there, but it surely’s good to confirm earlier than hopping on public transit.
– Tipping isn’t a factor in Seoul, however you possibly can add compliments in Uber.
– Name your cellphone supplier earlier than leaving to arrange a global plan. We often do that earlier than we journey in order that we are able to have voice and knowledge. We use AT&T and it routinely prompts as soon as it detects that we’re in a distinct nation and so they provide offers; Liv’s cellphone was half off whereas we had been there.
– Korean Air! That is what we used to get to Tokyo, and it was an elite expertise. Ticket costs had been very cheap,
– Take your sneakers off in your lodge room. Often they’ll have little slides by the door that you would be able to put on.
– Go away your shampoo and conditioner at dwelling. Pack LIGHTLY on the toiletries as a result of you’ll find higher stuff there and the shampoo and conditioner within the lodge can be superb high quality.
– Korea makes use of European retailers. I’ve had these converters for years and introduced them on this journey. They work for laptops and telephones however don’t plug your hair dryer or styling instrument into these! The most effective guess is to purchase a hair instrument there, go to go spa or get a blow out someplace (!), or let it air dry and do some sock curls.
– You possibly can’t carry CBD to Korea. I’m glad I researched this beforehand and left my beloved gummies at dwelling. I introduced melatonin however didn’t find yourself needing it. There are additionally some medicines which can be prescribed right here that aren’t allowed in Korea, so examine the rules earlier than you go.
In the event you’re headed to Seoul anytime quickly, you’re in for a deal with 🙂 I’m right here if I might help with any questions and I’ll be again with my head spa recap tomorrow!
xo
Gina
