budget travel

How to Stretch Your Won and Save Money While Living in Seoul

A few years back, I quit my job as an English teacher and decided to study Korean full-time as a university student. At the time, I had forgotten what it was like to live without a steady income and it didn’t take me long to realize that my habits of frivolous spending had to come …

10 Ways to Stay Warm During Winter in Korea

Let me just make one thing clear. I am not a fan of Korean winters. Sure, the snow can be beautiful and the holiday decorations do make me all fuzzy on the inside but on any given day from December to March, the last place you’ll find me is outside. Coincidentally, many Koreans share my …

Final Fall Encounters at Seoraksan National Park

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again.  Korea in fall is a sight to be seen.  There are plenty of places to experience all the wonderful things about the season, but there is one special destination that allows visitors to experience autumn in all its glory: Seoraksan National Park. I had traveled to …

An Impromptu Hike on Dobongsan

“Serendipity.  Look for something, find something else, and realize that what you’ve found is more suited to your needs than what you thought you were looking for.” – Lawrence Block Earlier this week, I felt the need to get out my apartment and take advantage of the beautiful weather.  A friend had told me about …

Budget Travel Tip: Gangwon Shuttle Service

Traveling in Korea doesn’t have to break the bank. It’s also easier than one might imagine, even for foreigners. Especially for foreigners. In an effort to increase tourism in their regions, many provincial governments have begun to offer special services to international guests. Lucky us! One such example is the Gangwon Shuttle Service sponsored by Gangwon …

Six Things You Need for a Korean Picnic

Is the weather not glorious right now?! In sunshine like this, I refuse to be inside for any longer than I absolutely have to. This includes for meals. In fact, one of my favorite things to do in this weather is picnic. And with all the great green spaces the city has to offer (like …

Behind the Scenes of KLM Royal Dutch Airlines iFly TV: Secrets of Seoul

In January, I had the pleasure of hosting a film crew from KLM Royal Dutch Airlines’ iFly Magazine as they filmed a travel documentary on Seoul. When they first contacted me, they requested that I compile a number of destinations that I felt best represented various aspects of the city including great views, interesting local …

Seoul on a Shoestring

Whenever I tell friends and family at home about my adventures overseas, they usually go on and on about how much they would like to travel and do similar things. When I ask them why they don’t, they always give me the same answer: it’s too expensive. Well, I’m here to say that that explanation …