Best Western New Seoul Hotel

#29-1, Tyaepyeongno 1-ga,

Jung-gu,

Seoul,

Korea

Tel: +82 2 735 8800

Seoul.  You will be met at the airport and transferred from the airport to the hotel. After checking in at the hotel you are free to explore Seoul. There is so much to see and do in this intriguing city, you can visit museums and palaces, shop at one of the many markets or department stores or even spend the day at Lotte World Theme Park.In the evening you may wish to eat at one Seoul's many Korean restaurants for dinner.

Please ensure that you have provided Kumuka with your flight details to enable us to arrange the airport transfer.

Seoul. The tour finishes after breakfast. Departure Transfer is included.  (B)

Please ensure that you have provided us with your flight details.

Please be aware that arrival times and the itinerary may change due to unforeseen delays or events such as festivals and public holidays. However, we shall endeavour to ensure all sites are visited and that your tour runs as smoothly as possible. Be flexible, you will enjoy your tour much more.

This itinerary will be followed as closely as possible. However there may be times when it is necessary to change the route according to local conditions. You are free not to participate in any of the included excursions. However, please note that there will be no refund for any excursions not taken.

Lastly, your tour guide is always conscious of everybody's views, but sometimes he/she will have to make an unpopular decision and your understanding will be appreciated in these circumstances. Please treat the local people and their customs with respect. 

Your passport is a valuable document and you should exercise extreme care in keeping it safe. We recommend that you keep your passport on you at all times, preferably in a money belt that is worn under your clothing. We advise that you take copies of relevant pages in your passport and any visas that you may purchase in case of loss or damage. Your tour leader will require your passport details at the pre-departure meeting. Again, we recommend that you have a photocopy of all passport details, kept separate. Your passport must be valid for six months after the END of your tour, and must have one blank page for each country to be visited.

All non-Koreans leaving by air are subject to a W10,000 Departure Tax at the airport and W17,000 Passenger Service Charge.

The fees are often included in the ticket price.

Please note that these taxes are subject to change.

For detailed climate information see www.kumuka.com

Rainy Season - The Rainy Season usually begins around the end of June and lasts until mid to late July. Sudden downpours of heavy rain fall throughout the day, so always carry an umbrella and rain jacket. Temperatures are warm so dress lightly.

Four distinct seasons calls for careful planning before you pack!

Summer: June to August are generally South Korea's hottest months, with high humidity and temperatures up to 25 - 30° C. The southern areas are usually  warmer than the north.

Autumn: The leaves begin changing colour to vivid golds and vibrant reds at around the end of September and continue until late November. During this time the weather is warm, clear and dry during the day and cooler at night, making this one of the most pleasant times of the year to visit South Korea.

Spring: In late March or early April flowers begin to blossom everywhere and trees burst into leafy splendour marking the beginning of Spring,  The days are warm and the nights cool so you will still need a jacket until late March/early April.

Winter: The severity of weather during December, January and February depends on the latitude. Winter is generally crisp and fresh with frosty mornings that clear with the rising sun and occasional snow depending on location. Warm clothing is recommended although most buildings and public transport is heated, so layers are recommended. You’ll want sweaters, warm jackets and gloves, especially if you’re going to a snowy area.

Travel Tip: Always bring a lightweight, waterproof jacket and/or an umbrella even during the height of summer - this should prepare you for anything!

We suggest passengers budget for between US$75-100 per day for personal expenses, souvenirs, evenings out, alcoholic drinks etc. There will be some days when you spend nothing at all and others when you exceed your budget.

South Korea is very much a cash society. Although credit cards are becoming more widely accepted, even in major cities you will still find that most transactions are settled in cash. On arrival it is a good idea to be carrying enough local currency to cover your immediate needs. Foreign currency is not accepted by most South Korean businesses, and unless you are carrying US dollars, you may find it difficult to exchange foreign notes for won. City banks usually offer foreign exchange services (look for a ‘Foreign Exchange’ or currency sign), although this process can take some time.  Some tourist shops and hotels may also exchange money, however it is alwasy best to compare their rates and commissions with the banks and exchange centres before using their services. Airport Currency Exchange Centres are generally the best place to cash foreign notes.

Although South Korea is a relatively safe place to carry cash, travellers' cheques remain the safest and most practical way to carry money while you are travelling. In South Korea you will also get a slightly better exchange rate with travellers' cheques than with foreign notes. Travellers' cheques denominated in Korean Won or US dollars are easily cashed at banks and major hotels. Many banks can also exchange cheques in Pound Sterling but cheques in other currencies are more difficult to exchange. Be sure to have your passport with you when exchanging travellers' cheques. Travellers' cheques are not readily accepted as payment in stores or restaurants. Cash and credit card are the most common means of payment in South Korea.

Credit cards are not as widely accepted in South Korea as they are in the UK and Europe. In urban centres you should be able to use your credit card at major hotels, stores and restaurants but many smaller establishments will still only accept cash. Businesses that accept credit cards have signs posted on the door or near the cash register indicating which cards they accept. Foreign credit cards are not always accepted. Credit cards can be used in Automatic Teller Machines (ATMs) to get a cash advance, however the number of ATMs that accept foreign credit cards is limited and most have restricted operating hours.

Please use your discretion and be sensitive to cultural differences in the countries that you visit, in particular visits to religious buildings and when taking photographs.  Your Tour Leader will advise you of any specific customs to observe.

Care should be taken to respect the conventions of other religious and ethnic groups, particularly in respect of clothing and footwear.

We suggest that you take into account the time of year you will be travelling, and pack accordingly to the season. Quick drying clothes are recommended, and at many hotels there are laundry facilities. Your tour leader will advise where laundry facilities are available.

Personal Effects:
Camera & film, Spare passport photos, Water bottle, Money belt, Torch, Sewing kit, Sunhat/ Sunglasses, Music cassettes /CDs, Books, Wet Ones, Soap to wash clothes, Writing materials, Swiss Army knife, Calculator, Personal toiletries, including tampons, Contraceptives, Insect Repellent, Sunscreen.

NOTE: If you wear glasses, it is advisable to bring a spare pair since opticians are uncommon. If you wear contact lenses you may find that climatic changes and dust can create visual irritation, therefore, it is advisable to bring a pair of glasses.

Korean is the official language of South Korea.

English will be spoken in the larger cities. You might like to take the time before your trip to read up on the country you will be visiting and perhaps learn a few words of the language. Your effort will always be welcomed and will make your trip all the more enjoyable.

Korean food is known for its unique aromas and tastes along with being very healthy  and delicious. This is mainly due to the use of  a large variety of vegetables and seasonings such as garlic, red pepper, scallions, soy sauce, fermented bean sauce, ginger and sesame oil.  .

A typical Korean table setting consists of rice, soup and a number of side dishes for all to share.  The number of side dishes can range anywhere from two to twelve and usually consist of vegetables, meat and ocassionally seafood prepared in a variety of different ways. 

The most famous Korean side dish is Kimchi, a fermented vegetable dish. There are now over 160 different varieties depending on region and available ingredients, however most of them are spicy and cabbage is the most commonly used vegetable.

Koreans enjoy many delicious sweets such as Hangwa and Rice Cakes and beverages such as Hwachae and Green Tea.  Hwachae is a cold drink generally made with fruits and grains and sweetened by either sugar or honey.  Green Tea was first introduced to Korea during the Silla Kindgom (57 BC - 935 AD) it is known to have many health benefits and is used by Buddhist monks and many Koreans to invigorate their minds.

Vegetarians, or those with special dietary needs can also be catered for, however in some places the type of food may be limited. Please let the Reservations team know your special requirements as soon as possible so we can do all possible to assist your needs.

Arriving:

Making Your Own Way - The Meeting Point for your tour is advised at the beginning of this dossier. If you have not arranged for us to meet and transfer you on arrival and are therefore making your own way to the Meeting Point, it is best upon arrival at to take a metered taxi. Drivers may want to negotiate a price before leaving the airport. Do not agree to this, insist that they switch on the meters and pay the amount that it displays when you arrive at your destination.

Whilst on tour you will probably want to stay in touch with family and friends. There are several ways of doing this:

Mobile Phone – Before departing your home country check with your phone supplier to see if it compatible with the mobile phone networks in the countries that you are traveling to, and how much will it cost to use abroad.

Email – Internet Cafes are very cheap and popular, and you are sure to come across several during your tour. If you haven’t done so already, set up a free Google Mail, Hotmail, or Yahoo email account which you can then access from any computer. Internet Cafes will charge a nominal fee for using their computers. Within Europe some hotels charge a wifi connection fee and we cannot guarantee a wifi connection at all hotels we use.

Twitter – A method of communication that is rapidly gaining in popularity on the Internet especially amongst travelers. Twitter allows you to send short messages and update your friends and family with where you are on tour and what you are doing. Create your free account at http://twitter.com. Visit Kumuka’s page on Twitter at http://twitter.com/kumuka

Facebook – Very popular website that allows you to upload stories, get in touch with fellow travellers before and after your Kumuka tour, upload photos and videos to share with other travellers, your family and friends. To create a free account, go to www.facebook.com and then become a fan of Kumuka’s Facebook Page at www.facebook.com/pages/Kumuka-Worldwide/26617121087?ref=ts

Postcards – The good ol’ fashioned postcard. But you will probably get home before the postcard does!

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Tel: 020 7937 8855 Fax: 020 7937 6664
Email: sales@kumuka.com
www.kumuka.com

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