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South Korea Holidays, Flights & Travel Guide
South Korea travel guide - South Korea
holidays, holiday packages & South Korea hotels.
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South Korea Holidays, South Korea Holiday
Packages Overview
An intriguing land of ancient ruins,
romantic legends, natural wonders, breathtaking landscapes and
teeming modern cities, the Republic of Korea can trace its history
back half a million years. Tourists are
discovering with delight the hidden treasures of the southern half
of the mountainous Korean peninsula, which pokes southwards from
the eastern end of the Asian continent. South Korea has been
separated from North Korea by a demilitarised zone since 1953, and
has flourished to become a stable and mature democracy, home to
50-million people who are spread across its nine provinces,
concentrated in seven mega-cities. Previously dubbed 'the hermit
kingdom', South Korea is now flaunting its bright plumage like a
proud peacock. Largest of the metropoles, and
the area most frequented by visitors, is the capital, Seoul, the
world's tenth largest city, where ancient shrines nestle beneath
soaring skyscrapers. This seething city, ringed by mountains,
offers hundreds of attractions and experiences, vibrant nightlife
and unforgettable dining. The least populated
area of the country is Gangwon-do Province on the eastern side of
the Peninsula, where remote forested mountains and valleys are
studded with small towns. This area, which played host to the Asian
Winter Games in 1999, is fast becoming one of the world's most
sought after skiing destinations. The rest of the year visitors are
drawn to the province's magnificent beaches and scenic hiking
trails. Another area rich in tourist attractions
is the south-eastern region, with its wealth of archaeological
treasures. Gyeongju, ancient capital of the Silla Kingdom, is an
open-air museum boasting tombs, temples, pagodas and ruins dating
from as early as 57 BC. The Bomun Lake Resort with its luxury
hotels is a fine base from which to explore the area. New resort
complexes are currently under construction to open up this
fascinating area even more to tourism. Those
seeking a romantic getaway head for South Korea's resort island,
Jejudo, known as 'little Hawaii' because of its subtropical
vegetation, volcanic landscape, sandy beaches and sparkling
waterfalls. The island is dominated by the towering Mount Hallasan
volcano, but visitors need not fear a natural disaster & the
volcano was last active in 1007!
Tourist Offices - Korea National Tourism Organisation,
Seoul: +82 (0)2 757 0086 or www.knto.or.kr
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Entry Requirements
for South Korea Holidays & South Korea Travel
All visitors require a valid passport, a
return or onward ticket, sufficient funds for maintenance, and a
contact address in Korea. Those requiring a visa should obtain one
from a Korean Embassy or Consulate before entering the country.
Visas are good for five years or however long the passport is
valid. Before expiry holders of visas can leave and return to Korea
without any problems.
- For Australians -
Australian nationals do not require a visa for a
touristic stay of up to three months. With certain exceptions,
business travellers do require a visa. A passport or Certificate of
Identity with permission from the Korean Ministry of Justice is
also required.
- New Zealanders do not require a visa for a stay of up
to three months. A passport or Certificate of Identity with
permission from the Korean Ministry of Justice is
required.
- United States citizens do not require a visa for a
touristic stay of up to 30 days (business travellers generally do
need a visa, with certain exceptions). A passport or certificate of
identity with permission from the Korean Ministry of Justice is
required for entry.
- United States citizens do not require a visa for a
touristic stay of up to 30 days (business travellers generally do
need a visa, with certain exceptions). A passport or certificate of
identity with permission from the Korean Ministry of Justice is
required for entry.
- A valid passport or certificate of identity with
permission from the Korean Ministry of Justice is required. A visa
is not needed for a tourist visit of up to three months for holders
of British passports endorsed British Citizen or British National
(Overseas). Other passport holders, and business travellers, must
obtain a visa.
South Korea Holidays - Currency of South Korea
Korea's monetary unit is the won (KRW). Currency
can be exchanged at most banks, and travellers cheques cashed at
authorised banks and hotels. Most merchants in the cities accept
Visa, MasterCard and American Express credit cards, but Koreans
traditionally prefer cash. ATMs at banks are usually accessible
only during banking hours, and instructions on the machines are
generally only in Korean. Public ATMs at convenience stores and
subway stations are generally available 24 hours. US Dollars are an
accepted form of foreign currency.
South Korea
Telephone Access Codes and Communications
The International dialling code for South
Korea is +82, and the outgoing code is 001 followed by the relevant
country code (e.g. 00144 for the UK). City/area codes are in use,
e.g. (0)2 for Seoul. Telecommunications are well developed and call
boxes using both cash and cards are prevalent. Internet cafes are
widely available. Although mobile telephones are widely used by
locals, there is no GSM network and foreign phones will not usually
work in the country. Local mobile phones may be
rented.
South Korea
Duty Free Allowances & Restrictions
Travellers (over the age of 19) arriving in
South Korea may bring in the following items free of customs duty:
200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250g tobacco products; 57g perfume;
1 litre of alcohol (only those over 20 years old); and gifts valued
at not more than 400,000 won. Products from communist countries are
prohibited, as are fruit, seeds and any published or recorded
material deemed to be subversive or obscene.
South Korea
Holidays & Packages- Tipping Information
Tipping is not customary in Korea. Sometimes,
expensive restaurants and luxury hotels may add a service charge of
10%. Taxi drivers are usually tipped if they assist with
baggage.
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