Soulful Seoul

It’s been a while since my last travel blog, but we’re working on changing that, one blog post at a time—at least that’s the plan! My Soulful Seoul vlog series have all been posted and I finally have time to go over the experience with you all!

One March evening, D and I were casually browsing Seoul trips from Cebu, and before we knew it, we were booking tickets for 8! It was going to be the first family trip for them, with our BFFs L and Z joining us. Looking back, we were fortunate to secure tickets for a group of 6, especially since booking for larger groups has become more difficult lately.

We secured our tickets for May 9th, and the next step was Visa processing. Instead of applying individually, we opted to use a travel agency for our Korean visas, as the process can be tricky—slots are limited every Tuesday at 2 PM, and missing one means waiting another week. Once everyone had their documents ready, we visited Wow Travel at Mactan Marina Mall. The travel agency made the process far smoother and less stressful, especially for a group of six. Most of us submitted our documents by April 4th, though a few had to correct missing passport signatures. Processing takes about 12 to 15 working days, and Wow Travel sends confirmation emails upon submission and when your visa is ready for collection.

Note for Freelance / Remote Workers

Here are all the documents asked outside of the regular requirements for visa processing mainly for freelancers or remote workers:

Income Tax Return – If available, please submit a copy; if not, prepare a cover letter explaining why you do not have one. Here’s sample cover letter.

Physical Work ID – If you have one, submit a photocopy; if you do not, please write a cover letter explaining the reason. Here’s sample cover letter.

Cover Letter – If required, you can create one at the agency. Here’s sample cover letter.

Pre-booked Items

As someone who typically plans ahead, this trip was a bit of a surprise. Thankfully, with the help of Klook and online bookings, we were still able to secure tickets and experiences before our departure.

• Airbnb – Seoul Station/3Rooms 4 Beds/Seoul Station 10 mins away/Yard exclusively
• Alpaca World + Nami Island 10-Hour Private Day Tour
• South Korea | 4G eSIM (Instant QR Code)
• Coex Aquarium

Immigration Experience at Mactan International Airport

This was my second international trip, and the immigration officer only asked me a few questions:

• Who I was traveling with (I pointed to my friends and their family at the nearby counters, as it was a slow day and we were all in line together).
• The duration of my trip.
• My flight tickets and Airbnb booking.

Tip: Only present documents when requested. I brought along the same documents from my visa application just in case they were needed.

Here’s the entire 7-day Soulful Seoul vlog on the channel – @zhequia

Travel Cost

I can honestly say that traveling with a group can help lessen your expenses most especially with accommodation. Where we stayed was just a few meters from Seoul Station which is the hub to get to anywhere in South Korea.

We have also tried commuting via shuttle, buses and taxi by booking through Uber.

Travel Tips

Before Leaving the Philippines

• Check the weather forecast for your entire stay and plan your tours/activities accordingly. This will also help you decide what clothes and shoes to pack. For example, Wednesday was a rainy day for us, so we opted to head out early and spent the day at CoEx Mall, visiting the aquarium, CoEx library, and doing some shopping.
• It’s a good idea to pre-book most of your tours and activities before the trip. I’m glad we booked at least 2 months in advance, giving us time to save and pay off credit card bills. This also helps spread out expenses and save money, especially if you’re using credit cards, as it allows you to manage costs across different billing cycles.
• Pack light, or bring a larger bag with a nested carry-on if you plan to shop for skincare or other items. I ended up buying a new bag in Myeongdong because my carry-on couldn’t fit everything I purchased.
• If you’re traveling from Cebu and boarding a CebuPacific flight, note that immigration processing in Korea can take anywhere from a few minutes to over an hour. Avoid pre-booking Airport Express tickets for arrival, as delays at immigration can cause issues. Thankfully, we used ours on the return trip. Our entry process was quite lengthy due to the high volume of flights and limited immigration agents.
• Download, set up, and familiarize yourself with Papago, Uber, and Naver Maps. I saved all the locations—restaurants, cafes, museums, and notable places—I planned to visit in Google My Maps and Naver Maps. I also began learning how to use these apps beforehand to avoid stress while in Korea. This proved invaluable on our Day 0 when I had to stay behind due to missing luggage and made my way to our Airbnb alone.
• Have a photo of your visa, passport and IDs for safekeeping and pin them in your gallery for easy access.
• If you plan to use Philippine-issued debit cards – make sure that you have set your daily limit on your app (this is for BPI card holders).
• While it’s not mandatory, I always opt for travel insurance when traveling outside the Philippines. I once met someone at the luggage claim area (while retrieving my own missing bag) whose bag had a small tear after getting snagged somewhere. Unfortunately, he didn’t have travel insurance, so he couldn’t file a claim. Keep in mind that travel insurance doesn’t just cover baggage issues—it can also provide coverage for illnesses during your trip, depending on the plan you choose. If you have a credit card, some banks offer free travel insurance, so be sure to check with your bank!

While in Korea

• Learning a few Korean phrases like “Anyeonghaseyo” (Hello) and “Kamsamhamnida” (Thank you) can go a long way.
• T-Money cards aren’t just for transportation—they can also be used on buses, shuttles, taxis, and at convenience stores. The best part? They don’t expire, so if you plan to return to Korea, no need to spend all your balance at the convenience store before leaving. UPDATE: Korea has recently introduced a Climate Card for short-term tourists. Be sure to research this option to see if it suits your needs, but keep in mind that there are a few limitations on where and how the card can be used. Read more about the Climate Card here.
• When using buses or shuttles, be sure to keep track of your stop using the Naver app or stay alert for your station. Press the red button near your seat to signal the driver one stop away from your station. We missed this once and had to walk back to our stop!
• When withdrawing cash, always select the local currency option—KRW, not PHP. Choosing local currency saves you from higher conversion rates.
• Carry your passport with you when you’re out and about. It’s useful if you decide to shop, as you can get immediate tax refunds.
• At Olive Young, if you’re unsure about speaking in Korean, have a screenshot of the item you’re looking for and simply point to it. This works perfectly every time!
• In Myeongdong and local markets, cash is king. While credit cards are accepted in most shops, smaller vendors and street stalls prefer cash.

Before Leaving Korea

• Be sure to complete your tax refund at the kiosks located near the check-in counters. The process is simple, and you can collect your refund as you head toward the boarding gates.
• Explore the shops at Incheon Airport—it’s packed with amenities like spas, sleeping areas, and even a movie theater! There’s plenty to keep you entertained while you wait. I treated myself at Paris Baguette, and honestly, no regrets!

Google My Maps

You can check the places I mapped out in Google My Maps. All this reminiscing makes me want to find seat sale flights to Korea!