Our tours usually include all services from the moment your flight arrives at Korea. All transportations, guide service, meals, accommodation will be arranged unless you request otherwise. But our tours don’t include personal gift, alcoholic beverage.

Unfortunately, you cannot join the tour that was prepared for other people.
First of all, most clients who want to contact us are the people who want to take a private tour only for themselves. So, they don’t want to be mingled with other people. Furthermore, the price should be re-quoted because most factors will be changed. (e.g., change in vehicle, number of hotel rooms,…)

Some guests used to ask us “Can I book your tour just before my departure?”
Sometimes you can do, but mostly you cannot do as we have limited numbers of guides. As we mentioned on our tour pages, we don’t outsource a guide. So, if we assigned all of our guides into the tours, we cannot accept your tour request.

Anyway, just contact us. Then, we will gladly revert to you with the availability.

Normally, 4-5 star hotels in Seoul don’t allow for you to check in before 15:00 officially.
But, they used to provide room before 15:00 if they have available room.

If you want to check in before noon, you can check-in as long as you agree to pay 20-50% of room price.

We have three types of vehicles. One is a SUV, and the other is 7-seater van, and another is a coach.
All cars are less than 3 years and are covered in full insurance.
We usually use 7-seater van up to 5 pax because we need a room for your luggage but, sometimes normal sedan (or SUV) will be used for 1 ~ 3 pax.

We don’t include our margin on your accommodation price. So, you had better take the accommodation suggested by us. As for the hotel grade, we would propose 5 ~ 4 star hotels hotel. Because our prices (i.e., travel agency prices) are lower than listed consumer prices, we can give you a benefit from this lowered price.

But, when we propose a hotel, most important factor  is a ‘value’. Normally, we don’t suggest luxurious hotels if their prices are too expensive.

First of all, our price is all inclusive and you don’t have to pay anymore. And we don’t bring you special shopping centers for a behind commission. Absolutely, no tip is required.

Another characteristic is good and plentiful food. Normally our budget per meal/pax is more than US 15$. As you know, this is much higher price comparing to group tours. From our experiences, we have learn that good (also enough) food is account for at least 30% of your satisfaction.

A private tour means the tour for only one group. One group can be one person, or 100 people.

Unfortunately, we don’t deal with ‘booking only’ service. Because we are a group of tour guides, always we want to sell our service and we try to include guide service in your quotation. But, once you become our client, we will gladly help to arrange the services without guide such as hotel extensions, airport transfer.

Absolutely, our tour will be a adequate choice for your family because

1) you can focus on sightseeing as our guide will help to take care of your kids

2) we will charge 50% tour price for the kid under 10

3) you can move easily (also, fast) by our car without wasting stamina

4) you can request to customize the itinerary to fit your preferences (e.g., change into theme park such as Everalnd)

In terms of capacity, Incheon Airport is regarded as one of best airports in the Word.
But, due to the distance to downtown of Seoul, it is not easy to access downtown of Seoul if you have big luggage, or accompany several members.

Anyway, there are three ways for your airport transport.

1) Taxi: KRW60,000~70,000. but, only 2~3 pax can take a taxi due to limited luggage space
2) Airport limousine bus by Korean Airline: KRW14,000 per person. This will be helpful if you stay at 4~5 star hotels in Seoul because this bus stops in front of the entrances of you hotels
3) Airport limousine bus by normal transport provider: KRW10,000 p/p. It looks like normal bus, most spots are covered, but you need to find a right bus that is going to your destination
4) Private van: USD100 up to 5 pax. As long as you book our service, our partner Korean speaking driver will be waiting you in front of the gate where you will come out and he will bring you to your hotel.

If you pay with your credit card, we have been adding 3.2% handling charge. (since May 1st 2012)
In Korea, most credit card companies charge more handling fee on the credit cards issued outside Korea…as they think they need to charge some risk premium for default in addition to long-term cash collection period. So, please understand that we have no choice but to charge you for the handling charge, which is charged from our credit card company.

Our clients used to ask us “I would like to enjoy spa during my tour.” (i,e., not luxury one at hotel)

Yes, we have many spas, but you need to understand that Korea’s spa system is different with Japanese’s system.

In Korea, every spa has two big rooms, one is for man and the other is for woman.Each room is comprised of 1) clothes changing room, 2) few big tubs, and 3) few sauna rooms and 4) several shower heads (or, water faucets). Also, everyone is supposed to take off her/his clothes.

Business point of view, Everland is one of subsidiary of Samsung Group and Lotte World is one of subsidiary of Lotte Group. Most Korean people prefer to visit Everland because Everland is much bigger than Lotte World and their attractions are more than Lotte World. (also, newer)

The strong point of Lotte World is its location and you can reach without difficulty because it is located at Jamsil Station. (Subway Line 2)

“An ondol, also called gudeul, in Korean traditional architecture, is underfloor heating which uses direct heat transfer from wood smoke to the underside of a thick masonry floor. In modern usage it refers to any type of underfloor heating, or a hotel or sleeping room in Korean (as opposed to Western) style.

The main components of the traditional ondol are a firebox or stove (agungi; 아궁이) accessible from an adjoining (typically kitchen or master bedroom) room, a raised masonry floor underlain by horizontal smoke passages, and a vertical, freestanding chimneyon the opposite exterior providing a draft. The heated floor is supported by stone piers or baffles to distribute the smoke, covered by stone slabs, clay and an impervious layer such as oiled paper.”

(referenced on Wikipedia)

As you see on many Korean dramas/movies, ‘every’ room in Korea is Ondol room.

So, there are 3 room types in most major hotels in Korea.

1) Twin beds room, 2) double (sized) bed room, and 3) ondol room

In Ondol room, you will be sleeping on the bedding (also, another layer of bedding for covering your body).

The reason why we mentioned Yongduam Rock is…we would like to let you know that there are some difference in the information between foreign tourists and locals people.

As for the quality difference,

There are too much information on internet and you/we cannot tell (or, distinguish) which is good, and which is not good. Because most web editors who are producing tourist information are government related people and they are not interested in quality. Their goal is to produce the article as many as possible to attract more tourists.

As for the time difference,

There are the differences between your places (i.e., foreign tourist places) and our places.

For example, since the completion of development of ‘Jungmun Resort Compex’ by Korea Tourism Organization (around 2001), Korean people would have a chance to ‘overnight’ outside Jeju City (Jeju City is at North of Jeju island). And they could enlarge their travel spots into Southern Jeju area based on their accommodation at Jungmun Resort Complex. In Jungmun Resort Complex, there are Shilla Hotel Jeju, Lotte Hotel Jeju, Hyatt Regency Jeju,…

Due to the changes in our preferences (i.e., North à South), most people would not go to Yongduam Rock (Strictly speaking, we don’t need to go there because we found many other similar (or better) places in other areas.

In my opinion, the main reason why you stick to Yongduam Rock is…most group tour packages in Singapore are comprised of Yongduam Rock. So, you might feel you should not miss this important place. But, please note that their goal is to include the places as many as possible. They don’t care the satisfaction of their customer and they just try to their best to bring more shopping centers for their commission.

You need to understand there is the difference between local hotel grading system and hotel grade by international standard of view.

For example, there are not many 5 star hotels in Jeju.

In our preference* order, Shilla Hotel Jeju > Lotte Hotel Jeju > Havichi Hotel Jeju > Boume Courture Jeju

*The mix of 1) facility, 2) location, 3) service of staffs and 4) breakfast

Some people say Hyatt Regency Jeju is also 5 star hotel…technically yes because this hotel was rated as 5 star hotel by local organization.

But, the facilities of this hotel are too old and they need to renovate! So, we don’t propose this hotel to our clients.

Please use following page: Details

In Seoul, there are several Halal restaurants. (especially, around Itaewon) But, outside Seoul, there are only few Halal restaurants and it is almost impossible to go there during your tour. But, you don’t need to worry about the food unless you are 100% Halal meal consumer. Actually, Korean food is vegetarian diet and you can get vegetarian meals easily all around Korea. Every restaurant has their own specialties such as beef, pork, sea food, course menu, stew,…but, also every restaurant will serve 5-10 kinds of side dishes cooked with vegetable and cooked rice. You might know Kimchi?…Kimchi is just one of side dishes and Korean people enjoy Kimchi (as a side dish) in addition to main dish and rice. So, for Muslim clients, we will bring (provide) you to

• Halal restaurants when you travel Seoul, or
• Korean restaurants, where their main menus are not beef, pork, but sea food (e.g., grilled fish), traditional Korean course menu,…

First of all, you need to understand there is a difference between local hotel grading system and ‘globally known’ grading system.

Strictly speaking, 5 star hotels nominated by Korean standard cannot be belong to 5 star hotels by global standard.

In our opinion, the 5 star hotels in Jeju are (also, in our preference* order)

Shilla Hotel Jeju > Lotte Hotel Jeju > Havichi Hotel Jeju

*The mix of 1) facility, 2) location, 3) service of staffs and 4) breakfast quality.

Some people say Hyatt Regency Jeju is also 5 star hotel…by local standard…yes, but we disagree. The facilities of this hotel are too old and they need to renovate!

For your information, the peak season of Jeju is from the mid of July to the end of Aug. During this season, most hotels will surcharge for their rooms.

Normally, our ski season will begin on 2nd weekend of December.
This is not official opening date of ski resort (official date is earlier), but the earliest timing to enjoy skiing on enough quantity snow is the 2nd weekend of December.

Please refer to following page: Various seasons in Korea…

Roughly speaking, the autumn color season begins in the middle of October.

There are three determining factors for Autumn colors.

1) Climate (e.g., how soon Winter comes)
2) Latitude (i.e., Generally for the Korean Peninsula, the higher the latitude, the lower temperature.)
3) Altitude (i.e., Higher mountain, lower temperature)

So, our Autumn begins from North area and spread over South. For example, the peak season of Mt. Seoraksan will be the last week of October. And there are (about) two weeks difference between the peak time at Mt. Seoraksan and the peak season at Mt. Naejangsan. (Please refer to following picture.)

Besides Christmas and New Year, our peak season is summer holiday during 3th week of July ~ 2nd week of August.

Our rainy season begins first week (or, second week) of July and last for two weeks. So, the summer holiday for Korean people begins last week of July. (in accordance with the finish of rainy season) During this period, more than 70% Korean people ‘move’ and this 2 weeks is the peak season for every tourist attractions in Korea. Also, most hotels will charge special rate during this period.

Also, there are some short high demand seasons in Korea below.

• The last Friday of April ~ the first Saturday of May (Consecutive holiday from May Day to Children’s Day)
• The 4th week of October ~ 2nd week of November (Autumn color season)

Please refer to following page: Peak seasons in Korea…

Following is the home page of Korea Meteorological Administration.

Because this is the official weather information provider to Korean government, you can trust them.

http://web.kma.go.kr/eng/index.jsp#

Set the location:

(e.g.,) Jeolllanam-do > Damyang-gun

Jeju-do > Seogwipo-si