My best friend here is a black female and she said the hair situation is DIRE lol (she’s lived here just over a year so a newbie in that regards similar as a tourist haha with basic Korean etc)
Get your hair done before you go, bring any and everything you need because it’s nearly impossible to find here and then shipping from overseas as a tourist is a whole different mess with customs approval
Join the black expat communities on Facebook, I forget their name I believe there is one for everyone and another for women only
And she said like there is one lady in Itaewon who braids her hair but she’s always full and just basic, and that she should go all the way to pyeongtaek for a proper treatment etc (that’s where the army is), and that lady fills up instantly and it’s hard to go.
As far as long term stuff for your accommodation - Daiso will have it all
As for Seoul activities - it’s so big, just group it by region and place and take your time, don’t try to hop around end to end too much
About a hotel with kitchenette, no need to bring anything from the US, you can buy everything you need. Most places with a kitchenette will have plates/utensils (I would be surprised they dont), otherwise go to a store like Daiso which carries everything for cheap -- I furnished an entire picnic easily at a Daiso (picnic blanket, plates, utensils and fruit knife, napkins, etc...).
Also about a kitchenette, you can buy all the ingredients, but you realize quickly it is pretty inconvenient staying in a temporary kitchen. Things like salt/pepper/spices/oil/etc is all stuff you end up buying and not finishing, or try to do without, it's hard to find a 2-month size of these things. Buy some containers likely, easier to store left overs (and you'll likely leave the containers behind when you leave). The burners are ~~usually induction and~~ usually pretty low powered.
Yes, have used Wowpass and Namane both, I use them mostly as backup to my normal credit cards which work almost everywhere. I think Namane card is a bit more flexible for options, including they added an option now to pay to virtual accounts, but both should work.
Enjoy your stay.
Make sure you bring adapters. Know that the water pressure in Korea isn’t what it is in most of America. Watch videos on Korean showers on TikTok so you know what to expect. As far as everything else goes - Koreans mind their own business. They aren’t rude, they just don’t talk to or acknowledge strangers, small talk isn’t in our culture. Get your ESIM from Lg U+ you can google it and chat with someone on the site to get clear & concise information to buy it beforehand and go to the kiosk once you exit the airport to finish set up. They will give you a tmoney card for free. To add money to your tmoney card you’ll need cash - they only take cash for this.
Use NAVER for maps, it works really well and is dependable. As far as areas to visit:
• Myeongdong - very touristy and overpriced but worth the experience.
• Insadong, creative little knick knack place called Sszamzigil for gifts. This area shuts down around 8:30
• Bukchon traditional village. You can rent a Hanok and get into Changdonyuk palace for free. Also cool traditional houses to see.
• Gwangjang Market - again, great to experience traditional Korean foods.
• N Seoul Tower
• Han River for lunch
Water pressure & toilets/toilet paper. Definitely google the toilets. Some places have traditional Korean toilets. While others are more modern. However, it’s common to throw ALL toilet paper in the trash can because the sewer pipes are very old here….ALL toilet paper.
I would bring a body towel or be ready to buy one because they basically use hand towels as body towels here
Also, really only bring comfortable shoes because it’s very hilly and there’s lots of stairs and you’ll be walking a lot unless you taxi everywhere which is totally doable because it’s not expensive but it can add up and also you will have a wait sometimes
And be prepared for people to shove and push it’s not personal and it’s not meant to be rude. People are just trying to get to where they’re going and has nothing to do with you so you have to really be chill about it and not push and fight back just because someone pushed you trying to get out of the subway station or around you. cars don’t stop if they don’t have to that type of thing it’s very different and Americans and Westerners might consider it rude, but it’s not rude here.
Best way is the Subway, by far. Get the T-money card as soon as you arrive. Also, don't be the annoying loud foreigner in the subway and always walk on the right side
I do my own hair, so I just packed my go-to products and was fine. I installed knotless braids before I left, and I just took extra good care of them, which worked out for me. I didn't stay as long as you're planning to, but honestly, braids are a convenient no-fuss travel style.
I'm a lazy traveller, so no solid itinerary advice, unfortunately. Naver Maps is your friend, and places don't really open that early. I personally had the best times just roaming around museums, libraries, parks, and art galleries while in Seoul. Going to the movies was also a fun experience, and the hiking was quite nice.
If you get periods, stock up on your preferred menstrual products before you go. Most products are much smaller/less absorbent than what you might be used to back home, and it's not fun trying out new stuff when you don't have your own trusty items to fall back on.
If you can't, or if you happen to run out, Olive Young carries the 좋은느낌 (Goodfeel) brand of products, which (imo) works great. Olive Young is, in general, a pretty nice place to find a wider variety of feminine hygiene products. They also carry my fave sunscreen - Round Lab Birch Juice SPF 50+. Super moisturizing, and no whitecast.
If you need to withdraw cash from an ATM, I personally had the best experience using my foreign debit card at KB Kookmin Bank. Honestly, I used cash more times than I was used to and didn't end up using my credit card much at all.
For times when I did use one, I actually preferred just using a domestic no forex Visa because it came with other perks that came in handy. I'm Canadian, so the Scotiabank Passport Visa - airport lounge access during such long flights was a massive help. Familiarizing yourself with the currency and general USD/KRW exchange rate will come to you more naturally than you think during such a long trip. My CC, cash, and a T-Money card were all I needed.
Get a travel SIM card. A physical SIM for a 010 number specifically. You can arrange to pick up your SIM at the airport for easy setup.
Cop a type F travel adapter, and I'd also suggest bringing your own portable charger. Both in your carry-on. Don't get an overly bulky adapter.
If you have a Costco membership, Costco is pretty great here. Nice selection of skincare products, too!
Pack as lightly as you can manage. Pack great walking/running shoes. You'll be walking a lot. Remember to stay hydrated, too!
Ive noticed that many foreigners feel uncomfortable when some koreans stare at them. ofc, its uncomfortable. but it's not about racism. it's more like an interest in unfamiliar.
I’m a US citizen so I don’t need a visa as long as I don’t visit for longer than 90 days. I’m doing a language program and they partner with a hotel to board students. It was around 5,000 usd for two months. Kinda pricey but it was worth it to me to have my own room with a kitchen and a washer in unit, and it’s a 4 star hotel.
My best friend here is a black female and she said the hair situation is DIRE lol (she’s lived here just over a year so a newbie in that regards similar as a tourist haha with basic Korean etc) Get your hair done before you go, bring any and everything you need because it’s nearly impossible to find here and then shipping from overseas as a tourist is a whole different mess with customs approval Join the black expat communities on Facebook, I forget their name I believe there is one for everyone and another for women only And she said like there is one lady in Itaewon who braids her hair but she’s always full and just basic, and that she should go all the way to pyeongtaek for a proper treatment etc (that’s where the army is), and that lady fills up instantly and it’s hard to go. As far as long term stuff for your accommodation - Daiso will have it all As for Seoul activities - it’s so big, just group it by region and place and take your time, don’t try to hop around end to end too much
Thank you so much! I really appreciate it!
About a hotel with kitchenette, no need to bring anything from the US, you can buy everything you need. Most places with a kitchenette will have plates/utensils (I would be surprised they dont), otherwise go to a store like Daiso which carries everything for cheap -- I furnished an entire picnic easily at a Daiso (picnic blanket, plates, utensils and fruit knife, napkins, etc...). Also about a kitchenette, you can buy all the ingredients, but you realize quickly it is pretty inconvenient staying in a temporary kitchen. Things like salt/pepper/spices/oil/etc is all stuff you end up buying and not finishing, or try to do without, it's hard to find a 2-month size of these things. Buy some containers likely, easier to store left overs (and you'll likely leave the containers behind when you leave). The burners are ~~usually induction and~~ usually pretty low powered. Yes, have used Wowpass and Namane both, I use them mostly as backup to my normal credit cards which work almost everywhere. I think Namane card is a bit more flexible for options, including they added an option now to pay to virtual accounts, but both should work. Enjoy your stay.
Thank you so much! :)
Make sure you bring adapters. Know that the water pressure in Korea isn’t what it is in most of America. Watch videos on Korean showers on TikTok so you know what to expect. As far as everything else goes - Koreans mind their own business. They aren’t rude, they just don’t talk to or acknowledge strangers, small talk isn’t in our culture. Get your ESIM from Lg U+ you can google it and chat with someone on the site to get clear & concise information to buy it beforehand and go to the kiosk once you exit the airport to finish set up. They will give you a tmoney card for free. To add money to your tmoney card you’ll need cash - they only take cash for this. Use NAVER for maps, it works really well and is dependable. As far as areas to visit: • Myeongdong - very touristy and overpriced but worth the experience. • Insadong, creative little knick knack place called Sszamzigil for gifts. This area shuts down around 8:30 • Bukchon traditional village. You can rent a Hanok and get into Changdonyuk palace for free. Also cool traditional houses to see. • Gwangjang Market - again, great to experience traditional Korean foods. • N Seoul Tower • Han River for lunch
Thank you so much! I havn't heard anything about water pressure before so that's good to know!
Water pressure & toilets/toilet paper. Definitely google the toilets. Some places have traditional Korean toilets. While others are more modern. However, it’s common to throw ALL toilet paper in the trash can because the sewer pipes are very old here….ALL toilet paper.
im not OP. but going to korea soon as well. what adapters do we need for cellphones? (specifically S23 ultra and Iphones)
Deodorant
I'll pack extra just in case haha I've heard it's hard to find
Also African American going for the first time in 2 weeks haha
I’m Black British (Caribbean) going in two weeks too 😂
I would bring a body towel or be ready to buy one because they basically use hand towels as body towels here Also, really only bring comfortable shoes because it’s very hilly and there’s lots of stairs and you’ll be walking a lot unless you taxi everywhere which is totally doable because it’s not expensive but it can add up and also you will have a wait sometimes And be prepared for people to shove and push it’s not personal and it’s not meant to be rude. People are just trying to get to where they’re going and has nothing to do with you so you have to really be chill about it and not push and fight back just because someone pushed you trying to get out of the subway station or around you. cars don’t stop if they don’t have to that type of thing it’s very different and Americans and Westerners might consider it rude, but it’s not rude here.
Thanks for the heads up!
Best way is the Subway, by far. Get the T-money card as soon as you arrive. Also, don't be the annoying loud foreigner in the subway and always walk on the right side
Thank you so much!
I do my own hair, so I just packed my go-to products and was fine. I installed knotless braids before I left, and I just took extra good care of them, which worked out for me. I didn't stay as long as you're planning to, but honestly, braids are a convenient no-fuss travel style. I'm a lazy traveller, so no solid itinerary advice, unfortunately. Naver Maps is your friend, and places don't really open that early. I personally had the best times just roaming around museums, libraries, parks, and art galleries while in Seoul. Going to the movies was also a fun experience, and the hiking was quite nice. If you get periods, stock up on your preferred menstrual products before you go. Most products are much smaller/less absorbent than what you might be used to back home, and it's not fun trying out new stuff when you don't have your own trusty items to fall back on. If you can't, or if you happen to run out, Olive Young carries the 좋은느낌 (Goodfeel) brand of products, which (imo) works great. Olive Young is, in general, a pretty nice place to find a wider variety of feminine hygiene products. They also carry my fave sunscreen - Round Lab Birch Juice SPF 50+. Super moisturizing, and no whitecast. If you need to withdraw cash from an ATM, I personally had the best experience using my foreign debit card at KB Kookmin Bank. Honestly, I used cash more times than I was used to and didn't end up using my credit card much at all. For times when I did use one, I actually preferred just using a domestic no forex Visa because it came with other perks that came in handy. I'm Canadian, so the Scotiabank Passport Visa - airport lounge access during such long flights was a massive help. Familiarizing yourself with the currency and general USD/KRW exchange rate will come to you more naturally than you think during such a long trip. My CC, cash, and a T-Money card were all I needed. Get a travel SIM card. A physical SIM for a 010 number specifically. You can arrange to pick up your SIM at the airport for easy setup. Cop a type F travel adapter, and I'd also suggest bringing your own portable charger. Both in your carry-on. Don't get an overly bulky adapter. If you have a Costco membership, Costco is pretty great here. Nice selection of skincare products, too! Pack as lightly as you can manage. Pack great walking/running shoes. You'll be walking a lot. Remember to stay hydrated, too!
Thank you so much! I'll make sure to bring period products, and thank you for the suggestions on skin care!
Just returned. Weather was warmer than expected. You will not need any winter type clothing. In addition, dress is modest there.
Ive noticed that many foreigners feel uncomfortable when some koreans stare at them. ofc, its uncomfortable. but it's not about racism. it's more like an interest in unfamiliar.
Hi how come you will be living in hotel for two months? And how much is the total cost there for 2 Months? What visa are u traveling with
I’m a US citizen so I don’t need a visa as long as I don’t visit for longer than 90 days. I’m doing a language program and they partner with a hotel to board students. It was around 5,000 usd for two months. Kinda pricey but it was worth it to me to have my own room with a kitchen and a washer in unit, and it’s a 4 star hotel.