This title should be more like, "What to pack for Korea for the last part of Summer, the short Autumn and Winter for people living in dorms." Even though I did a lot of research last time I packed, there were some things I really didn't need and things I really wished I had packed. Here is a short guide on packing!
First of all, keep in mind that if you'll be living in a dorm, goshiwon, or hasuk-jib, the place will be TINY. You should try to bring suitcases that will fit inside each other, like matryoshka dolls! Try to only pack one suitcase and pack inside a slightly bigger one (that meets your airline's size limitations) so you can fill the other one up with all the goodies you will buy. Trust me, YOU WILL FILL IT UP and still have to leave some things behind or ship them home. Second, consider how you will get to your destination after you arrive at the airport. Incheon is about an 40 minutes- 1 hour from the center of Seoul depending on which type of transportation you take. If you don't have anyone to pick you up consider the following:
Subway- This is the cheapest option and the one I used. It will cost you around $4 USD. I recommend this one if you don't have a lot of luggage because there will be a lot of walking involved(there are so many hills in Seoul.) The station is in the airport, but a bit far from the gate, so if you have more luggage than what your two hands and bacl can handle, consider another way of getting there. More info: http://www.airport.kr/iiacms/pageWork.iia?_scode=C1203020000
Limousine Bus- This is basically just a coach bus. It's about $10 USD. You head out to the passenger terminal, find the bus you need to take, buy your ticket/pay the bus driver, give them your luggage and get off at your stop. Once again I recommend it for those who don't have a lot of luggage because they drop you off near your destination and sometimes you have to walk 5-15 to get there. More info: http://www.airport.kr/airport/traffic/bus/busList.iia?flag=E
Taxi or Call Van- These will cost you around $50-100. If you have a lot of luggage(more than you can handle by yourself) or you just don't want any of the hassle of dragging your luggage around, then this is the best option for you. There are normal taxis and deluxe ones so make sure you know which one you're getting on. Make sure the taxi meter is on and that they have a taxi driver permit! Call van tickets can be bought near the exit of the passenger terminal and the taxis are EVERYWHERE. These options will drop you off at your destination and usually help you load/unload.
How to pack:
- DO NOT PACK LAST MINUTE! You will forget things, take things you don't need, and have a hard time trying to fit everything into that suitcase. I usually start packing three weeks before my trip. That way I can pack things I might have forgotten, take out things I probably won't need, and have a good idea about how much I can take with me.
- Look up packing videos on YouTube. They are a great way to learn how to pack efficiently. I was able to pack 6 jeans, 4 dresses, shorts, 2 cardigans, 7 shirts, 2 pairs of shoes, a pair of sleeping clothes, a small towel, a winter jacket, hairdryer and straightener, toiletries and other small things just on my standard carry-on suitcase!
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| Basically all of this plus some other things. |
- Try packing your things in a different order. You might end up fitting something that did not fit the previous time you tried. Try and try again until you make the most out of the space and weight limit you have.
- Pack at least a couple of outfits, appropriate for the weather, and basic necessities in your carry-on, just in case your checked luggage gets lost. They will find it most of the time but sometimes it can take some time for it to be returned to you.
- Sheet set for a Twin XL bed- sheets will usually be provided, but they will be used, and/ or they will not give you a fitted sheet. You can buy these in Korea but they are more expensive than the $10 sets at Walmart/Target/Ross.
- Pillow- At the Yonsei dorms they gave us there weird sacks filled with straws, and they called them pillows. You can buy them in Korea, but once again they are more expensive, and you will probably have to carry it home on the bus/subway. If you want to pack one, you should pack it in a vacuum storage bag.
- Big Towel/ Bathrobe- Big towels that will wrap around you are difficult to find there, and you might want to get one, or a bathrobe, if you're going to be using communal restrooms or sharing a restroom with a roommate.
- Winter Jacket- if you are going to be there anytime in the Winter/Early spring try to bring a good winter jacket! I brought one of those fluffy ones that's lightweight, covered down to my knees, and had a hoodie that covered almost my entire face. I wore it all the time during winter and I wasn't suffering from the cold like some of my friends were.
- Power Adapter- I bought mine on ebay for less than a dollar! However, it takes about 3 weeks to arrive. All I needed was a three prong adapter for my laptop, found here, and a two prong one for my cell phone charger, found here. They were around $5 at the convenience store in Korea and I think they ran out for a while.
- Toothpaste- you can find it everywhere but most of the time it doesn't have a minty taste
- Deodorant- they sell the spray kind if that works for you. If you prefer bar or gel, you should pack it.
- Pads- I actually prefer the Korean ones and they are around the same of cheaper than in the US. Tampons are very expensive though and there is not a large selection
- Razors- Korea just started to sell the good Gillette razors, they are expensive just like they are here, but they cheap, disposable ones are also available.
- Underwear- I don't know about men, but women's underwear all look like granny panties to me. They are usually very high, lacy, and made with a satin-like fabric?
PS. When traveling dress fashionable but comfortable
