Asia has for long been a popular tourist destination around the world, despite the various challenges the continent has faced over the years. Among the most popular nations that you can pay a visit to in Asia is Korea. The East Asian nation boasts a lot of history and culture to learn, fun activities to engage in, business opportunities to take, and for sure, tons of amazing attractions to stare at in admiration and awe.
Now, just like traveling to any other country, it’s important to understand the laws of the land, the culture, and what’s awaiting you there before embarking on your trip to Korea. This applies whether you’re traveling for leisure or business. As long as you are well-prepared before heading there, Korea can be an amazing travel destination whose experience you won’t regret. On this note, Below are a few things to prepare before traveling to Korea:
Learn Some Korean
Whenever traveling to a foreign land, nothing is more important than learning the language spoken there along with some culture. Now, Korean is the official language spoken in Korea. The language pros from 90 Day Korean say that in most places in the country, only a few people know and understand English. This means that the best way to enjoy your stay in Korea is to be able to at least have a brief basic conversation with the locals, even without necessarily being fluent. You will need it when shopping, buying artifacts and interacting with the locals at food joints. You may even need it when handling money transactions so learning a little Korean (or as much as you can) will go a long way.
Your Travel Documents
Like in any country, you need to have your travel documents to show that you’re legally in the country. The main documents often include an up-to-date passport and Visa. However, you may not need a Visa if you’re a citizen from a country with a Visa-free entry arrangement with Korea, such as Australia, some parts of the US, South America, and a few countries in Africa. In addition to your passport and Visa, it’s also wise to have a copy of your plane tickets or train tickets as well as your accommodation reservation, preferably stored on your smartphone or if you find hard copies a bit cumbersome.
Enough Money for Your Stay
Well, traveling is (relatively) expensive, and it goes without saying, that no trip is enjoyable without enough money to sustain your expenses. Well, this will also depend on your local currency and the current currency conversion rates to South Korean Won. Currently, each USD is approximately equivalent to KRW 1,188. The best thing is that most places accept card payments so you don’t have to stash your wallet with too much cash. All the same, it doesn’t hurt to carry some hard cash for those purchases you’ll make on the streets now and then.
An International Driver’s License
If you’re going to rent a car and drive yourself around and about, you’re definitely going to need an international driver’s license. The good thing about Korea is that if you’re coming from the US, you won’t have much of an issue on the road since Korea drives on the right, just like in the US. It’s also not a complicated process to get an IDL in the US as you can get one with an AAA for as little as $15.
Purchase Travel Insurance
When taking an international trip, travel insurance is highly essential. Most travel insurance plans will cover lost luggage, medical emergencies, personal liability, disability, and losses that may be incurred in case your trip is canceled or cut short by unforeseen issues. However, different travel insurance plans will have different terms and conditions as well as cover limits so it’s upon you to choose a plan that works best for you.
Prepare Your Tummy for Korean Cuisine
From Kimchi to jjigae (Korean soup), Jajangmyeon, and Bibimbap, Korean Cuisine is just spectacular. Street food is also amazing, with offerings such as banchan, songpyeon, and haejangguk soup. Whether you’re a gourmet or just love exploring foreign dishes, Korean dishes will just get you licking your fingers… or chopsticks! One more thing, remember to learn some chopstick etiquette and bring your skill to a higher level before visiting… you will surely need them occasionally.
Prepare For The Weather
September to November and March to May are the best times to visit Korea. This is because during these seasons, the weather is mild and travel expenses are usually low. July to August, on the other hand, can be extremely hot, so you’ll need to come prepared with sunscreen and hot weather clothing.
There you have it. Korea is a great nation to spend your next holiday vacation. There’s lots to see, do, learn, and experience. With the few things above in check, you can easily have an unforgettable experience from your stay in The Land of the Morning Calm.
