From: buex93c@rw8.urc.tue.nl (O.L. Craane)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.korean
Subject: Info wanted on travelling schedule
Date: 11 Jan 93 11:28:17 GMT
Organization: Eindhoven University of Technology, The Netherlands

Hi,

I am part of a group of 4 students from the Netherlands (Euro-
pe) who are going on a studytour to Japan. After this study
tour we are planning a two week holiday to South Korea. 

It is very hard for us to make plans in advance, when and how
to travel. But also where to travel to. We have some travel
guides about S-Korea but there are so many points of interests
that it's very hard to decide where to go to.

That's why this posting. I hope that there are a few persons
on this news-group that have experiences about living/trave-
ling to South Korea. And that they are willing to share some
info with us.

Till now we've come up with a small traveling schedule. What I
would like to know is: Is the following traveling schedule
recommended? If not what do you suggest and why. 

Bear in mind that we are 4 European graduate students with no
experience with 'Eastern People, Culture and Language'. 

Traveling Schedule
------------------

Arrival: April 23, 1993  Seoul
Departure: May 7, 1993  Seoul
Length of stay: 14 days
Number of persons: 4 males (ages 21-22)

Day 1-2:  Arrival Seoul. Finding our pre-reserved hotel. We
          want to reserve a hotel in advance for the first
          four days, so we have some time to adjust to our new
          surroundings without any further obligations (eg.
          searching for a place to stay). These days will be
          used to look around in Seoul

Day 3:    Day trip to Suweon. Visiting Korean Folk Village.
          Hotel: Seoul.

Day 4:    Day-trip to Panmumjom. Hotel: Seoul.

Day 5:    Traveling to Pusan by train. Leaving Seoul 9
          o'clock arriving in Pusan around 1:30. Start search-
          ing for a hotel. Hotel: Pusan

Day 6-8:  Admiring Pusan and surroundings. Hotel Pusan

Day 9:    Traveling to Kyongju. Finding a hotel.

Day 10-11: Admiring Kyongju and surroundings.

Day 12:   Traveling back to Seoul.

Day 13:   'Free' day in Seoul

Day 14:   Departure from Seoul to Amsterdam, The Netherlands.


So short.

City      # of days
-------------------
Seoul     3.5+2=5.5
Pusan     3.5
Kyongju   2.75
-------------------
Total     11.75 days
Traveling 1.25  days

Furthermore I have some thousand questions to ask, some of
which are:

-    What's the most convenient way of exchanging money, Cash
     (US$ ?), Traveler Cheques or Creditcards (Visa, Master-
     card ?)

-    What's the current exchange rate for the Won ??? (in other
     words:  How many Won would I get for one US $ ?)

-    We don't (can't?) make any hotel reservations in advance.
     Is it very hard to find a room in one of the above cities
     without any reservations? I read something about Yogwans.
     Are they available, or should we prefer hotels?

-    I read somewhere that May 5th is a national holiday ('Chil-
     drens day ?) Should we take to this into account when we are
     planning our trip.


I would really appreciate it, if someone could help me out. If
some information that you think can be useful for us, please
let us know.

Thanks in advance,

Oscar Craane
Newsgroups: soc.culture.korean