11 Days DIY Seoul-lid Trip: Itinerary and Expenses (Seoul, South Korea 2014)

Seoul. Seoul. Seoul. This trip happened in August 2014, me and my friends went on DIY travel instead of booking it via a travel agency. The best part about doing it DIY is you have a FREEDOM, but it requires a lot a research especially if it will be your first time in the country. 

It has been over a year since my travel in Seoul and this post has been in my drafts for a long time. No need for a Delorean, I got all my expenses written down in my pocket notebook. 

Without further ado, here's my itinerary + expenses.

*The following is based on my expenses only and won't include the entire group. (If paid in group, I already divided it on a per person's share).

*1 PHP = 0.041KRW (as of our travel date)

*Shopping expenses are reflected to remind me to be more frugal and wise next trip. HAHAHA!

*If the particular item/area is for FREE, it will no longer be reflected in the sheet, with an exception to the VISA.

DAY 0: Before Arriving in Seoul

We availed the PISO FARE of Cebu Pac last January 2014 and scored a roundtrip ticket which cost less than PHP 8,000! Our group consists of 9 people and we were lucky we found the perfect accomodation in Hongdae, Seoul: RIO GUESTHOUSE HONGDAE. 

After the airfare and accomodation, the next BIG thing we have to secure is VISA. We applied on our own which means we did not pay for anything. WOOHOO! 감사합니다 (READ: HOW TO APPLY - KOREAN VISA)

DAY 1 (AUG 14): Arriving in Seoul + Hongdae + Myeondong + Dongdaemun Design Plaza + My Love From The Star Exhibit

RELATED ENTRIES:

I. Flying to South Korea (HERE)

II. Arrival in South Korea (HERE)

III. Hongdae + Myeongdong (HERE)

IV. Dongdaemun Design Plaza + My Love from the Star Exhibit (HERE)

DAY 2 (AUG 15): YG FAMILY CONCERT 2014 in SEOUL

This wasn't supposed to be part of the original itinerary but as you already know I'm a big fan of BIGBANG so I won't let this opportunity pass. It's the whole YG FAMILY we're talking about! And the best thing about it, the ticket costs cheap compared to a solo act of one of their artists back in the Philippines! 

RELATED ENTRY:

i. YG Family Concert 2014 (HERE)

DAY 3 (AUG 16): HONGDAE PARK + YEOLBONG, HONGDAE + MYEONGDONG + NAMSAN TOWER

We barely had any breakfast during this trip because we always wake up late. HAHAHA! (best thing about DIY travel!) 

Our group had lunch at Yeolbong in Hongdae (love love love the Classic and Curry Jjimdak) and for dinner we just bought Twigims (2,500₩ for 5 pcs of assorted twigims) and Kimbap ((2,500₩ for 5 pcs of Kimbap) in the streets. :p

NOTE: We no longer went on top of the observatory of Namsan Tower. The fee for that is 9,000₩ (Php 369).

RELATED ENTRIES:

I. Yeolbong, Hongdae (HERE)

II. Myeongdong + Namsan Tower (HERE)

DAY 4 (AUG 17): GYEONGBOKGUNG PALACE + INSADONG + BUKCHON HANOK VILLAGE

Most of the attractions for this day does not require a fee except for Gyeongbokgung. My shopping expenses went beyond my budget (well all of my shopping expenses are too much hahaha), so you can totally ignore that part. :)

RELATED ENTRIES:

I. Hongdae + Myeongdong - Day 4 (HERE)

II. Gyeongbokgung Palace (HERE)

III. Insadong + Bukchon Hanok Village (SOON)

DAY 5 (AUG 18): POPE'S MASS IN MYEONGDONG + TRICK EYE MUSEUM, HONGDAE + EHWA + YG BUILDING

RELATED ENTRIES: (SOON)

I. POPE FRANCIS' MASS IN MYEONDONG

II. TRICK EYE MUSEUM, HONGDAE

III. EHWA

IV. YG BUILDING (HERE)

DAY 6 (AUG 19): TOP FANMEET IN MYEONGDONG + APGUJEONG & CHEONGDAM (SM, JYP, CUBE BUILDING) + LOTTE WORLD

RELATED ENTRIES: (SOON)

I. TOP's FANMEET IN MYEONGDONG

II. SM, JYP and CUBE Building + Apgujeong & Cheongdam

III. Lotteworld

DAY 7 (AUG 20): SUWON HWASEONG FORTRESS + AND.here CAFE + CHEONGGYECHEON STREAM

RELATED ENTRIES: 

I. SUWON HWASEONG FORTRESS (SOON)

II. AND.here Cafe (HERE)

III. Cheonggyecheon Stream (SOON)

DAY 8 (AUG 21): PETITE FRANCE + NAMI ISLAND

RELATED ENTRIES: (SOON)

I. Petite France 

II. Nami Island 

DAY 9 (AUG 22): GAROSUGIL, GANGNAM + BLOCK B FANMEET

RELATED ENTRIES: (SOON)

I. Garosugil + Gangnam

II. Block B Fanmeet

DAY 10 (AUG 23): EVERLAND

RELATED ENTRY: (SOON)

I. Everland

DAY 11 (AUG 24): YG BUILDING + MECENATPOLIS + TEDDY's TWOSOME COFFEE

RELATED ENTRY: (SOON)

I. YG Building + Mecenatpolis

II. Teddy's Twosome Coffee

SUMMARY OF EXPENSES:

Bulk of my expenses went to Shopping, so if you would be more frugal in buying pasalubong, merch of your favorite Kpop group's or cosmetics from road side shops, then a PHP 50,000 budget is already good for 11 Days in Seoul. (You can also have a sidetrip to Jeju or Busan with that money) :)

ALSO READ:

[TRAVEL GUIDE] ALL-IN PHP 25,000 BUDGET FOR 5 DAYS in SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA. (SOON)

So that's it, if you have any questions, you can leave a comment below or shoot me an email, I'll gladly help you. 

FIGHTING!

-뿅 :D