South Korea Passport and Visa entry requirements

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South Korea Passport and Visa entry requirements
Travel tips for your trip to South Korea Hotel Maps Famous Places in South Korea helps you to make your trip to South Korea in the holiday a Splendid One

Passports:

To enter South Korea, a passport valid for a minimum of three months is required by all nationals referred to in the chart above.


Passport and Visa entry requirements

Entry requirements for Americans: A valid passport is required for entry. A visa is required, except for stays of up to three months for business or tourism purposes. Proof of sufficient funds for the duration of stay must be shown at immigration.

Entry requirements for UK nationals: A valid passport is required for entry. A visa is required, except for stays of up to three months for business or tourism purposes for passport holders endorsed British Citizen, British Overseas Territories Citizen with Right to Abode, or British Subject with Right to Abode. British citizens entering South Korea through Jeju island will only be given a 30-day visa.

Entry requirements for Canadians: A valid passport is required for entry. A visa is required, except for stays of up to three months for business or tourism purposes.

Entry requirements for Australians: A valid passport is required. A visa is required, except for stays of up to three months for business or tourism purposes. Holders of an APEC Business Travel Card do not need a visa provided it is endorsed 'valid for travel to KOR'.

Entry requirements for South Africans: A valid passport is required, however South African citizens do not need a visa for touristic stays of up to 30 days.

Entry requirements for New Zealanders: A valid passport is required. A visa is required, except for stays of up to three months for business or tourism purposes. Holders of an APEC Travel Card do not need a visa.

Entry requirements for Irish nationals: A valid passport is required. A visa is required, except for stays of up to three months for business or tourism purposes.

Passport/Visa Note: All visitors require a valid passport, a return or onward ticket, sufficient funds, all documents for the next destination and a contact address in South Korea. Those requiring a visa should obtain one from a Korean Embassy or Consulate before entering the country. Visas are not required if passenger holds an APEC Business Travel Card, provided the back of the card states validity for travel to South Korea. It is highly recommended that passports have at least six months validity remaining after your intended date of departure from your travel destination. Immigration officials often apply different rules to those stated by travel agents and official sources.

Famous Places in South Korea For Your Holiday

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Famous Places in South Korea For Your Holiday
Travel tips for your trip to South Korea Hotel Maps Famous Places in South Korea helps you to make your trip to South Korea in the holiday a Splendid One

There is certainly a persistent idea that there lies an omnipresent energy that flows all through the Korean mountains, providing the really living source of Korean culture and spirituality during its historical past – the faith wasn’t with no basis. The South Korean geography is mostly mountainous, about seventy percent with the 100,032 sq. meter acreage is covered with mountain ranges. It really is not surprising that the pre-Buddhist Korean civilizations would revere the mountains. They derive spiritual strength from its animistic chi, ever flowing, and spawning special Korean customs, traditions and festivals.

Accordingly, The UNESCO lists a large number of these mountainous terrains as World Pure Heritage Websites such as the Jeju-do volcanic island, Seongsan Ilchulbong peak, as well as the Mount Hallasan Healthy Reserve. Healthy scenic spots such as these make up the core of any South Korean travel destinations but of course, that this technologically superior, yet culturally rich region has a lot more to provide for those intending to make a visit.

Summer is always a great time to go to South Korea and the best time to hit the beach this period on the year is from July to August in which the temperature can get as high as 30 degrees Centigrade or additional. A few of the familiar beaches are the Sokcho seaside in Ganneung-si, Naksan Seashore in Yangyang-gun and Guryongpo Seashore in Pohang-si. They all face the East Sea – acknowledged for its pristine waters and broad white sandy beaches, doing it a fashionable holiday spot.

Historical and cultural landmarks can be seen through South Korea and the most outstanding of these are found in the capital city, Seoul like the Amsa-dong Prehistoric Settlement Website, the “Five Grand Palaces” and the “Castle Walls of Seoul”- the remaining walls of Seoul from your historic Joseon Dynasty that practically left a substantial legacy within the modern face of South Korea.

Daegu

Daegu To the south Korea offers two distinct subway lining network that intersects at principal downtown. Line 1 runs from Ansim back to Daegok, although Line 2 runs from Munyangto Sawol. On board the station, an English and Korean announces the stops. These subways usually operate from 5:30am to 11:30pm. To enter the subway, tokens are required which will probably be scanned. Ticket devices are offered inside the vicinity, you can find also ticket machines that marked complimentary tickets but these machines are only for men and women with specific ID designation.

There are a lot of places to visit and things to see when you’re in Daegu South Korea. Pangongsan is a large rising mountain that's situated north-east of Daegu and 20km downtown. Its major peak is Birobong which can be 1,192m above sea level that also offers distinct peaks including Seobong and Dongbong. Although these mountains belong to Daegu Town, it consist 4 other cities and carries a total grand size of 30,593km. Some of its park that’s worth going to are Bongmu Park situated among Daegu Airport and Palgong Mountain entrance, Apsan Park, Woobang Tower, Mangwoo Park, Daegu Arboretum and Gyeongsan-gamyeong Park.

Endless words are not enough to explain the beauty and splendor of South Korea. One has to take the plunge to feel the water, and to be left with his own devices to explore, to discover and to marvel. True to the South Korean expression “san neomeo san” – over the mountain is usually a mountain, or simply just, “there is a surprise inside of a surprise”.

Free Guide Suwon City

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Free Guide Suwon City
Travel tips for your trip to South Korea Hotel Maps Famous Places in South Korea helps you to make your trip to South Korea in the holiday a Splendid One

Founded in the 18th century, Suwon is the only completely walled city in South Korea with a rich and varied history. The capital of Gyeonggi Province, this is one of the largest cities of the province with a population of over one million. The walls of this city are categorized as a world heritage site. They, in a way, showcases the royal past of South Korea. Suwon is traditionally known as “The City of Filial Piety”. The city offers some great accommodation options to its guests. Tourists in the city can stay at the best hotels in Suwon and enjoy a recreational vacation.

How to reach Suwon
Suwon is situated at a distance of over 30 km from Seoul. The city is well-connected with other important cities via good means of transportation. Cars, hired taxis, buses etc., are available that will make your journey easy. There are also good means of transport to move around freely within the city. The city offers good transport facilities with two motorways including the national railway network and the Seoul Metropolitan Subway.


Attractions of Suwon
Suwon is a major educational and sports center of the country. There are about 14 university campuses here offering wide scope for students. Besides, there is good scope for footballers as well. In fact, this city is also locally known as the footballing city. Various places of interest in Suwon include Hwaseong Fortress, Manseok Park, Woncheon Amusement Park, Everland Amusement Park, the Korean Traditional Folk Village, and various temples and tombs. There are some amazing clubs, bars, restaurants, hostess bars that you can visit and have good time.

General Information
Suwon has recently developed as a major industrial city of South Korea housing a large number of factories. This city has also been recognized as the leading city in digital technology in the country. The climate of the city is similar to Seoul's as this city lies only 34 km away in a SSE direction from Seoul. Suwon is also a favorite place for food lovers. The city features a great variety of Korean dishes, which is served throughout the peninsula and has a wide variety of restaurants serving food from outside Korea as well.

Hotels in Suwon:
There are many good hotels offering different facilities to suit the requirement and comfort of tourists. Some of the beach front hotels even offer lounge chairs to relax and lounge around. Castle Hotel, Hotel Korea, Central Hotel, Stay 7 Residence, Dormy Inn Suwon etc. are some of the good hotels for accommodation in Suwon.

Money Exchange for South Korea -Services - Money

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Money Exchange for South Korea -Services - Money
Travel tips for your trip to South Korea Hotel Maps Famous Places in South Korea helps you to make your trip to South Korea in the holiday a Splendid One

Currency information:

Won (KRW; symbol ₩). Notes are in denominations of ₩50,000, 10,000, 5,000 and 1,000. Chon means 'one thousand'. Coins are in denominations of ₩500, 100, 50 and 10.
Credit cards:

American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard and Visa are widely accepted at major hotels, shops and restaurants in the larger cities. You may not be able use credit cards at small businesses and in rural areas. You may also want to check whether your credit card is accepted by looking at door signs before you enter an establishment. ATMs are available in all major cities, but not all of them will accept international cards. Just keep trying different outlets until you see a logo you recognise on the machine. Cards with the Plus and Cirrus logos are the easiest to use and most widely accepted in Korea.
ATM:

ATMs are available in all major cities, but not all of them will accept international cards. KB bank is one of the most reliable for foreign cards. Many of the ATMs in Seoul subways accept foreign cards as well.
Travellers cheques:

Accepted, but may be difficult to change in smaller towns. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers are advised to take traveller's cheques in US dollars.
Banking hours:

Mon-Fri 0900-1700.
Currency restriction:

There are no restrictions on the import or export of local or foreign currency. However, amounts exceeding US$10,000 or equivalent must be declared.
Currency exchange:

Foreign banknotes and travellers cheques can be exchanged at foreign exchange banks and other authorised money changers.

Health and Medical Information for South Korea

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Health and Medical Information for South Korea
Travel tips for your trip to South Korea Hotel Maps Famous Places in South Korea helps you to make your trip to South Korea in the holiday a Splendid One

High quality medical care is available in Seoul, Pusan and Daegu, but may be difficult to locate in rural areas. Comprehensive health insurance is recommended, as are the international clinics at hospitals like Seoul's Severance Hospital, Asan Medical Centre or Samsung Medical Centre. Almost all hospitals require payment and registration prior to treatment. Most nurses and receptionists do not speak English.
Food and drink:

Though tap water is potable and thus safe to drink, tourists often avoid it due to taste. Bottled water is available, as is powdered or tinned milk. Korean cuisine is rich and varied and as such, includes all sorts of raw, uncooked, or undercooked meats, seafoods, and delicacies. Use common sense when ordering. Those with health concerns may want to exercise caution and avoid unpasteurised milk and products made from it, such as ice cream. Only eat well-cooked meat and fish. Vegetables should be cooked, fruit peeled. Food from street vendors is usually safe but should be eaten at your own risk.
Other risks:

Japanese encephalitis may be transmitted by mosquitoes between June and October in rural areas. A vaccine is available, and travellers are advised to consult their doctor prior to departure. Hepatitis B is highly endemic. Tuberculosis occurs. Rabies may be present. For those at high risk, vaccination should be considered. If you are bitten, seek medical advice without delay.

Short History Of South Korea and Culture

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Short History Of South Korea and Culture
Travel tips for your trip to South Korea Hotel Maps Famous Places in South Korea helps you to make your trip to South Korea in the holiday a Splendid One

The first unified Korea was under the Silla, a Gyeongju-based empire that stretched over most of the peninsula. During this period arts, architecture, and culture flourished. The empire fragmented around AD 870, giving way to the Koryo dynasty, who allied themselves with the Song dynasty in China. The Koryo emulated the Song in establishing an advanced cultural and technological society (including the invention of printing in 1234, two centuries before its discovery in the West).

However, the peninsula fell to the Mongols in the 1230s. It took until the early 14th century, and the assistance of the Chinese Ming dynasty, to recover Korean independence. The Koryo dynasty was then followed in the late 14th century by the Choson who governed Korea until the early 20th century. The early years of the Choson saw Korea enter a period of outstanding cultural and intellectual achievement; however, during this time, the country suffered invasions by the Japanese and then the Chinese Manchu dynasty, which brought Korea under Chinese control and saw it remain, in effect, a satellite of the Chinese empire for almost 200 years. The shrines, palaces, and temples you visit today are almost all rebuilt from the ashes of originals that were burned to the ground.

At the end of WWII, as Japan was stripped of its colonial territories, the Soviets and Americans agreed to divide Korea along latitude 38°N (the 38th parallel). As the Cold War evolved, the Korean border - one of the few direct meeting points between the Soviet and American spheres of influence - became a key flashpoint. Cross-border incursions increased until full-scale war broke out between the two sides in 1950. The three-year war which followed engaged all the major powers and came closer than is often realised to provoking a nuclear conflagration. By 1953, a stalemate had been reached and an armistice was signed (although the war was never officially brought to an end and technically, the two countries are still at war). For the next three decades, locked into opposing Cold War blocs, the two Koreas went their separate ways.

South Korea developed a successful capitalist economy and current GDP stands at $1 trillion but until the early 1980s had failed to develop a political system of comparable sophistication – prior to then, South Korea was governed by a series of dictatorships, both civilian and military, under which political dissent led to imprisonment. However, at this point, the country's political leaders, with their powerbase in the monopolistic Democratic Justice Party, realised that some relaxation of the existing tight political control was necessary. In 1981, martial law was lifted and within five years, a powerful parliamentary opposition had emerged in the form of the New Korea Democratic Party (NKDP), led by the veteran dissident Kim Dae-Jung. However, it was not until December 1997 that Dae-Jung won the presidential poll.

In 2002, South Korea's international profile, as well as national morale, received a boost from co-hosting the World Cup football competition with Japan although this was marred by a political corruption scandal around the same time. Lee Myung-bak has been president since 2008, following the impeachment and subsequent suicide of previous president Roh Moo-hyun.

A slight thaw in North-South relations was followed in 2010 by the arrest of two US journalists and other events including the sinking of a South Korean warship (and the deaths of 46 sailors on board) and North Korean bombing of DMZ adjacent towns, has put any hopes of reunification on temporary hold.

Perhaps most importantly for those visiting Korea, history - both recent and ancient - remains very much a part of present day South Korea, something many Koreans feel strongly about, and especially after a few sojus have gone around, the topic can get heated.

South Korea Accommodation. Hotel Guide. Details

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South Korea Accommodation. Hotel Guide. Details
Travel tips for your trip to South Korea Hotel Maps Famous Places in South Korea helps you to make your trip to South Korea in the holiday a Splendid One

Hotels in Busan

Stay in Busan in South Korea in one of the comfortable Hotels in Busan. The Korean city of Busan is also known as Pusan. It is also Korea’s largest port and the second largest city after Seoul. This bustling city is located between Suyeong River and Nakdong River. Busan is one of the most popular Tourist Destinations in South Korea. The Hotels in Busan offer world class facilities and services. So, even if you are coming here for business or leisure you are sure to find a suitable Accommodation in Busan. Many of the Hotels in Busan are well connected by convenient transport facilities. So you can visit all the attractions easily.

You can be assured of a comfortable and worry free stay while staying at the Hotels in Busan. You can stay at one of the well appointed rooms or suites of these hotels. All these rooms are equipped with modern comforts. Some popular Busan Hotels are –

Hotel Phoenix in Busan
Actor & Tourist Guest-house in Busan
Novotel Ambassador in Busan
Paradise Hotel in Busan
Westin Chosun Beach in Busan
Zen Backpackers in Busan
Guesthouse4u in Busan

The Hotel Phoenix in Busan is one of the well known Hotels in Busan. It offers excellent accommodation. There are 107 well appointed rooms which clean and cozy. The rooms have a western and Korean décor. The facilities include air conditioning, telephone, private bathroom and radio. The hotel features a lovely restaurant with amazing views. You can enjoy Korean and international delicacies here. There are also excellent business facilities.

Actor & Tourist Guest-house in Busan is also one of the popular Hotels of Busan. The hotel features dorm rooms and is very popular with young and budget travelers. There are bunk beds and you can choose from 6 person dorm or 8 person dorm or 4 person dorm. There are basic facilities in the rooms along with a self catering kitchen.

The Novotel Ambassador in Busan is located on the popular Haeundae Beach. It offers guests 356 well appointed rooms with breathtaking beach and ocean views. The hotel features a restaurant serving Japanese and continental cuisine. There is a heated swimming pool and a health club for relaxation.

Other Hotels in Busan also feature excellent dining facilities. There are several onsite dining venues featuring various types of cuisine. Guests can also relax at a number of facilities of the hotel. There are also convenient business facilities available.

Daegu Hotels

Daegu Hotels are some of the best places to stay at the city. It is regarded as the third largest city in South Korea. Daegu hotels offer some of the best lodging options for various categories of travelers, whether business or leisure. Most of the hotels in Daegu are located at the center of the city. Travelers who want to stay out of the hustle and bustle of the the main city center can select some of the resorts located at the downtown. Daegu is a popular tourist destination in South Korea which are frequently visited by domestic and international travelers.

A wide range of Daegu accommodation involves various categories of hotels. Leisure and business travelers prefer to stay at the luxury and deluxe hotels where they can get all the needed facilities and services. These deluxe hotels may be located both at the downtown and city center. Guests are satisfied with the friendly services and customized services. The staff is always ready to attend the guests whatever and whenever they require. The business hotels are equipped with corporate facilities like business center, meeting and conference facilities.

These luxury hotels are home to an array of recreation and health facilities. Guests can pamper themselves at the lavishness and comfort provided by these hotels including health club, spa, sauna, heath massage and other recreational programs. There may be sports facilities like golf and other indoor and outdoor sports. Restaurant within the premises serve delicious food from different cuisines.

There are also mid range and discount hotels available for budgeted travelers. They can receive various facilities like comfortable rooms, dining, business and recreation at affordable rates. The special rates help them to reduce their bu8dget which is one of the main considerations for them. These discount hotels never compromise with their services and facilities offered. Guests are attended with preper care and concern. Smallest needs of them are taken care of. Other accommodation at Daegu includes discount and budgeted hotels and 3 star accommodations.

Daegu tours can never be complete without visiting these hotels. Travelers opting a successful Daegu travel should stay at the various categorized hotels within the city.

Hotels in Gwangju



Hotels in Gwangju are known for the quality of comfort offered to visitors to the city. There are plenty of renowned hotels in the city. They compete with each other to provide the best accommodation facilities and amenities to their guests. One can find both expensive as well as budget hotels in the city. Thus, the Hotels in Gwangju enable tourists enjoy a decent stay in the city.

Some important Gwangju Hotels and the facilities offered by the hotels are listed below:

Firenze Tourist Hotel¸ Gwangju

This is a leisure class hotel located in the very heart of the industrial city of Gwangju It is just 4 kilometers away from Gwangju airport and 20 minutes away from Songjung station. The hotel has 59 guest rooms which includes double and twin rooms. Facilities in the rooms include cable TV, telephone, Internet, mini bar, refrigerator and safe deposit box. The Japanese restaurant of the hotel offers authentic Japanese cuisine. The hotel also has the finest boutique in the city.

Koreana Tourist Hotel, Gwangju

This hotel is located on the well-known Sinan-dong, Buk-gu Street. It has 54 guest rooms and suites. Facilities offered here include air conditioning, internet, telephone, refrigerator, h air dryer and desk lamp. The Korean restaurant offers fantastic local cuisine. The hotel boasts of a massage room and a games room.

Geumsoojang Tourist Hotel, Gwangju

This hotel enjoys a very strategic location in the city. The hotel is 7 minutes away from the center of the downtown area and 10 minutes walking distance from Gwangju Train Station The hotel has both western style rooms and Asian style rooms. The hotel offers double deluxe and twin deluxe rooms along with standard ondol, twin ondol, and family ondol facility offered include air conditioning, internet, telephone, refrigerator and desk lamp and bathrooms with separate bathtub and shower.

Kwangju Kwangsangu YH, Gwangju

This is a famous hostel in the city of Gwangju. To stay in the hostel it is mandatory to have a membership. The Gwangju national museum, Byeongpung Mt, Mudeung Mt, Wolchul Mt and Kimdaejung convention center are quite close to the hostel. There are 2 types of room available in the hostel. These include the family room and the 4 to 8 bedded dormitories. In total it can accommodate 255 guests

Hotels in Seoul


Hotels in Seoul provide lodging options which tourists can expect only in major international cities. The well developed modern city of Seoul offers ample number of quality hotels to visitors. All the hotels offer such excellent accommodation and unbelievable additional services to match the requirements of both leisure and business travelers that a stay here becomes an ultimate experience in luxury. Thus, Hotels in Seoul enable tourists enjoy a stay in the city in a pleasant way.

All the hotels in the city provide the best kind of room facilities. Guests can avail such essential facilities and amenities that they will have nothing more to look forward to. The standard room facilities offered in the hotels include:



Air conditioned rooms
Attached bathroom with bathtub, shower, bathrobes and fancy attachments and hairdryer
Well stocked mini bar in all rooms
Telephone with direct dial facility
Color television usually LCD with cable
Quality furnishings with a fantastic decor
Refrigerator
Newspapers

The hotels of Seoul also boast of some executive suites. The kitchenette of the suites is more lavishly decorated and are equipped with every latest crockery and utensils.

Almost all the Hotels in Seoul have in house dining facilities. They mostly boast of more than a restaurant and exclusive wine bars. Exquisite dishes are prepared by experienced chefs to provide memorable dining experience in all the restaurants. The dishes offered include Korean, Chinese, Continental and other International cuisines. Each restaurant of the hotel specializes in a particular cuisine.

The luxury hotels also have business centers and meeting rooms for the corporate client. These rooms have essential equipments like screens, audio visual instruments, fax facilities, internet facilities, photo copy facilities, postal clearance. All these ensure that every business event held here meets complete success.

Most of the hotels also have excellent recreation facilities for the enjoyment of the guests. Many have fitness centers and a well-equipped gymnasium. Swimming pools can also be found in most hotels. For recreation, many hotels have sporting facilities both indoor and out door, sauna facilities, Jacuzzi, steam bath facilities, beauty salon, and boutiques. Some hotels also offer sporting facilities like lawn tennis courts, squash courts as well as rooms for indoor games.

Other standard hotel services provided include:

Parking facilities
Disabled facilities
Currency exchange facilities
Laundry facility
Tour desk
24 hours reception
Car rental
Acceptance of credit card

Your Guide To Busan South Korea

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Your Guide To Busan South Korea
Travel tips for your trip to South Korea Hotel Maps Famous Places in South Korea helps you to make your trip to South Korea in the holiday a Splendid One

Busan South Korea is a enormous town situated inside the southern province of South Gyeongsang, South Korea. Busan is Korea’s second largest town getting an estimated 4 million population. This city also serves as South Korea’s worldwide port cargo, along with ports for passenger ferries to Jeju Island and to Japan. The Metropolis of Basun is widely popular for its tropical beach resorts and delicious seafood dishes, and also the Hallyosudo Waterway identified for its picturesque island beauty.

The fish market in Busan provides a wide variety of fresh seafood items throughout the early morning. And even though this industry is primarily identified as the port, the metropolis presents numerous steep hills that produce a incredibly unusual 

Busan South Korea’s strategic coastline location helps give restaurants and clubs in this place a incredibly mild winter than in any other spot in To the south Korea. This enables both locals and vacationers to enjoy the seemingly endless night existence inside a a lot more comfortable and soothing method than other places. Being a port that serves main international port for worldwide shipping, its harbor spot has a striving district that may accommodate thousands of sailors and guests who passes through the interface each year.
Busan To the south Korea also offers a lot of attractive destinations for tourists to go to.

The Beomeo-sa Temple is a single of the wonderful 5 temples in To the south Korea. This enormous vintage temple is located near the mountains, situated additional away from the large metropolis. You better watch out although as this temple gets wildly populated with worshippers on weekends.

40 Measures can be a single of Busan’s most visited destinations. Some in the streets in its grubby district currently been reconstructed to their original issue to this place accessible for each locals and tourists. 40 steps is generally developed with wooden lamppost and bronze figure monuments that illustrates that depicts the hand scrabble street life from the region.