Seoul recap, what we did, and what we ate

Sharing a recap of what we did in Seoul, the place we stayed, and my ideas on the entire expertise. The nutshell model: I CAN’T WAIT to return.

Hello pals! How are you? I hope you had a tremendous weekend! We simply caught up with home stuff right here, lastly recovered from jet lag (I used to be barely jet lagged after we obtained there, however ended up driving the battle bus after we got here residence), and met up with some pals.

I’m so excited to share some recap posts on our journeys with you!

Right here’s a listing of what I’ve deliberate in order that after they go stay, I can add the hyperlinks to this publish.

Seoul recap, what we did and what we ate (this publish)

Tokyo and Kyoto itinerary and suggestions for journey

What we ate in Japan

My Korean Head Spa expertise

Seoul recap, what we did, and what we ate

Earlier than I get began, I needed to start with an apology.

To my pals in South Korea and Japan, I used to be ignorant, and now I do know. I had NO CLUE how a lot I’d been lacking out. The women picked the places for this journey, and I figured it will be one thing that I loved, nevertheless it wasn’t my first alternative for a trip. (I’d be pleased repeating least 12 months’s 5+ weeks in Spain journey.) I didn’t count on to fall in love with these locations, however I completely did. This journey completely modified my life. I’ll share extra in my Japan publish, however these locations didn’t really feel like totally different nations… they felt like totally different worlds.

The individuals in Seoul had been SO sort and wonderful. The meals was unbelievable. It felt so very secure, and there was a lot to do. We may have doubled our time there and been pleased. The humorous factor is that we had the chance to be stationed in Korea a number of occasions throughout Tom’s navy profession. All of our pals who lived there beloved it, and now I perceive why.

We flew from Phoenix to San Francisco, after which direct from SFO to Seoul. The flight was lengthy – about 12 1/2 hours – however I managed to nap on and off (the ladies stayed unsleeping the entire time) and we landed at about 3pm. I believe that is the proper time to land in a brand new nation as a result of your lodge room is prepared, so if you happen to’re completely wrecked and want a nap, you’ll be able to. You don’t need to wander round and wait till your room is prepared.

We knew that it will be a low-key day, so we checked into the lodge and got down to discover. We stayed on the RYSE Autograph Assortment lodge and I might 100% suggest it for the wonderful location, facilities, and eating choices. (I booked every thing utilizing our Amex platinum. My referral link is here!)

It was surrounded by nice eating places and retailers, and straightforward to get round.

I didn’t take a pic however the rest room had an infinite waterfall bathe with nice water stress.

We had been shocked to see complete streets full of little kiosks and cute retailers only a block away from the lodge.

We explored and met our new skincare bestie at TONYMOLY and P was exhausted, to we went again to the lodge whereas Tom and Liv grabbed dinner. All of us slept by way of the night time and had been totally set the following day!

We did so much whereas we had been in Seoul, however listed below are among the highlights.

Lotte World

Lotte World is a gigantic indoor and outside theme park. Liv advised this one – she added her concepts to our journey planning spreadsheet – and we had a blast. We joked that it was like a speakeasy. It’s many ranges and fairly a couple of sights appear to be hidden, however there was a lot to do. It additionally blew my thoughts that obtained 4 tickets with 3 skip the road passes for every of us and the whole was $200. (I used Journey.com to ebook.)

I didn’t take a pic of the skin however image a fortress, numerous curler coasters, a drop journey, and many retailers and meals stands.

We did the entire finest rides – they’ve a mixture of rides for youthful kiddos and extra thrilling rides and coasters for older youngsters and adults – and spent your entire day there. Journey to Atlantis was AMAZING; positively one in all my prime theme park rides.

Baseball sport and Korean BBQ

We spent a whole day buying and exploring, and that night, we went on a tour with an English talking information to Korean BBQ

and a Dusan Bears baseball sport.

Baseball is HUGE in Seoul and a real cultural expertise. Every hitter has their very own chant and cheer, and your entire area is dancing and cheering. The baseball meals is subsequent stage, too. They offered beers with an the other way up baseball cap that was full of shrimp – it seemed SO good- along with tteokbokki, cheese and meat skewers, tons of actual meals choices. You may as well herald your personal meals and drinks; so totally different from the States the place they drive to you go inside to purchase $8 bottles of water.

Head spa and petting zoo

The pinnacle spa will likely be receiving its personal publish, nevertheless it was a spotlight of the journey! Whereas I used to be having top-of-the-line spa experiences of my life, the Pilot and the kiddos went to a petting zoo the place they had been in a position to maintain raccoons and pet meerkats.

Dwelling the dream:

Procuring at Olive Younger

If you happen to go to Seoul, buying at Olive Younger is a should. You may refill on the entire finest Okay magnificence merchandise at wonderful costs. It’s like an infinite Sephora with rows of skincare and cosmetics… all one of the best stuff. I used to be frightened we wouldn’t discover an Olive Younger or it will be onerous to get to, however they’re all over the place. We had three places proper by our lodge.

Gluten-free eating in Seoul

On this journey, I attempted my finest to eat gluten-free as carefully as attainable, however understood that it may be very troublesome – not every thing is labeled – and accepted that there can be some wheat in sauces and condiments. Additionally as a result of I don’t converse the language, I didn’t need to be troublesome to attempt to modify the meals.

I’ve been strict gluten-free for 3 years for the autoimmune stuff and it’s made an amazing distinction for me, and P has been gluten-free for the previous 12 months. (She was pink on her IgG check and he or she used to have unhealthy abdomen ache and joint ache, which has resolved since we minimize it out.) I instructed her we’d simply do our greatest as a result of fortunately we’re not allergic to gluten, however we’d in all probability have some in sauces, and many others.

We had been in a position to eat at two 100% gluten-free eating places in Seoul: Sunnyhouse and Monli2. Each had been A+ experiences.. higher than any of the gluten-free choices I’ve had in Tucson.

Sunnyhouse gluten-free restaurant in Seoul, Korea

Sunnyhouse has breakfast all day, sandwiches, platters and desserts. It’s form of a hidden location however is extraordinarily cute inside.

P had a fluffy nutella waffle, a grilled cheese,

and I had the Mediterranean plate. I may eat this on daily basis. The bread was SO mushy and fluffy. Why do US eating places have such a tough time making good gluten-free bread???

Monli2 gluten-free restaurant in Seoul, Korea

Monli2 has CHURROS, pizza, sandwiches, and baked goodies. I ordered a pesto pizza and it severely top-of-the-line gf pizzas I’ve had in my life (#1 is Italy, #2 is that this one, and #3 is NYC).

I knew that I might eat totally different meals whereas we had been in Korea and Japan and your entire time we had been gone, I felt wonderful. My power was nice, I didn’t get a abdomen ache from something, and the meals had been all so extremely contemporary and scrumptious.

Our lodge had an enormous breakfast buffet every day and you possibly can get American breakfast staples (like fruits, pastries, eggs, potatoes, bacon and juice) in addition to custom Korean objects, like kimchi, beef bulgogi, fried rice, pickled veggies, and many others.

Ideas for visiting and issues we seen:

– Positively be taught a handful of phrases however Google translate could be a useful gizmo. I used to be shocked to seek out that fairly a couple of individuals spoke English, and when ordering at kiosks, it’s simple to change the language to English. The women know so many Korean phrases in order that they had been in a position to assist us out.

– The bus and subways are very clear and environment friendly, however we ended up utilizing Uber to get round. It was far cheaper to get round than it’s within the states. We appreciated Uber as a substitute of conventional taxis as a result of you’ll be able to enter the placement – no language limitations this fashion – and you may see the precise fare.

You may as well get a Local weather Card or T Cash card for limitless passes for transportation if you happen to resolve to make use of public transport.

– Carry a little bit trash bag with you. Public trash cans should not all over the place, so you’ll have to hold trash with you till you’ll find a trash can. Don’t assume that each one trash cans are public; it could be owned by a retailer.

– Don’t stroll and eat. It’s unhealthy manners, so if you happen to get a meal or snack, simply cease and luxuriate in it earlier than persevering with on. I price like this can be a higher strategy to eat anyway! In case your nervous system is calm, you’ll have a greater time digesting your meals.

– Google maps doesn’t work. We used Naver as a substitute to get round. Google transit points earlier than utilizing Naver for public transportation. You need to get these on public alerts when you’re there, nevertheless it’s good to confirm earlier than hopping on public transit.

– Tipping isn’t a factor in Seoul, however you’ll be able to add compliments in Uber.

– Name your telephone supplier earlier than leaving to arrange a global plan. We normally do that earlier than we journey in order that we are able to have voice and knowledge. We use AT&T and it robotically prompts as soon as it detects that we’re in a unique nation and so they supply offers; Liv’s telephone was half off whereas we had been there.

– Korean Air! That is what we used to get to Tokyo, and it was an elite expertise. Ticket costs had been very affordable,

– Take your footwear off in your lodge room. Often they’ll have little slides by the door that you could put on.

– Depart your shampoo and conditioner at residence. Pack LIGHTLY on the toiletries as a result of you’ll discover higher stuff there and the shampoo and conditioner within the lodge will likely be wonderful high quality.

– Korea makes use of European retailers. I’ve had these converters for years and introduced them on this journey. They work for laptops and telephones however don’t plug your hair dryer or styling instrument into these! The most effective guess is to purchase a hair instrument there, go to move spa or get a blow out someplace (!), or let it air dry and do some sock curls.

– You may’t deliver CBD to Korea. I’m glad I researched this beforehand and left my beloved gummies at residence. I introduced melatonin however didn’t find yourself needing it. There are additionally some medicines which are prescribed right here that aren’t allowed in Korea, so test the rules earlier than you go.

If you happen to’re headed to Seoul anytime quickly, you’re in for a deal with 🙂 I’m right here if I will help with any questions and I’ll be again with my head spa recap tomorrow!
xo

Gina