It can sometimes be a little confusing, when you try to take care of every day tasks in a new country for the first time. Even visiting a bank or going to a post office can become a major task, when you do not speak the language. On first visiting a post office in Seoul, I was not familiar with having to use a ticketing system, with an organised queue (line in American English) being the normal way in England. Not only did I need a ticket, but there is also a separate line for paying bills and for posting things, which meant I needed to take two tickets for two sections at the same time. It was no surprise that my two numbers came up at exactly the same time, so I had to hand the lady the money for the bills and then move over to the other side of the post office to get my stamps to send some postcards and then back to collect the receipt and change from the bills payment.
The Korean post offices though provide an excellent service, particularly in that they usually have a special counter for sending parcels and where you can buy boxes and get tape. The staff in the post office at the parcel section, in my experience, will often help to out the boxes together and tape them up. Going to a Korean post office for the first time and without yet knowing very much Korean, can be a real tough. A few months ago, in the ticket hall in Amsterdam train station (Holland), I saw similarly confused Koreans as they travelled Europe - as they tried to work out the ticketing system in an Amsterdam train station. I know they were Korean because, after two years in Korea, I heard them speaking and could recognise the Korean language.
Talking about queues in the previous paragraph, also reminds me of the situation with queuing in Korea and also in countries such as Italy. In Italy there is no such thing as a queue or as waiting in line. Italians do not seem to understand the meaning and on a recent trip to Sicily, Italy I was not surprised to experience about 30 people pushing and shoving each other, as they tried to get to the ticket counter to re-book their airline flights, after their initial flight was cancelled. Korea is much better, with people lining up patiently in most situations. People line up patiently to get onto the subway, to buy a cinema ticket or to pay for food for example.
The only thing that did sometimes bother me was when I would be about to board a subway train and I would experience an adjuma (middle to older aged woman) pushing me with her arms as she attempted to jump ahead of me and board the train. The same situation happened a few times when I was about to step into a lift (elevator in American). As I was about to enter, I found myself pushed to the side by a short and determined lady. Some of the middle-aged women in Korea are very tough!
Seoul Korea blog and news
SEO training Spain
Tags: book, corea, culture, food, kangnam, kimchee, kimchi, koreanm, kyobo, seoul, south korea, travelbook, corea, culture, food, kangnam, kimchee, kimchi, koreanm, kyobo, seoul, south korea, travelShare This
I recently received an email from a traveler considering two tours to Copper Canyon, Mexico. She indicated Tour B was less expensive than Tour A and therefore was the better deal. When I looked at two itineraries she was referring to, my initial reaction was: “She’s right.” But then I read a closer. Here were some of the differences:
- Tour A’s average group size was 15. For Tour B, the average group size was 38-44 people. In addition, Tour B was open to men as well as women meaning the travelers will mostly be couples (which is fine–if you are a “couple”).
- Tour A had one Tour Leader for 15 individuals; Tour B had one guide for 40+ people.
- Tour A guaranteed a roomshare (and therefore lower room cost) if you wanted one. For Tour B, you had to pay for a single room if you didn’t have a travel companion.
- Tour A offered 4 days on the train. Most of Tour’s B was by bus.
- While Tour A and B overlapped one hotel, closer inspection revealed Tour B was using lesser quality hotels elsewhere.
- A closer look at itineraries showed fewer included activities and meals on Tour B.
- While Tour A’s itinerary allowed for some free time, Tour B had several mornings of free time with no planned activitiesmeaning you would have to entertain yourself.
- Finally, while Tour B advertised cost was lower, reading the fine print revealed government fees and taxes were not included, making the advertised cost less than the actual cost.
It took a lot of close reading of the itinerary and the terms and conditions to dig out all of this information. In fact, some of the information was buried pretty far down in the fine print, where most people would not even take the time to read. Bottom line: when you compare similar tours offered by two different companies-there is always a reason for the price differential.
Consider the Intangibles
When selecting one tour over another, know what you are getting for your money-not just in activities and meals, but also the intangibles. Consider the value of traveling with a small group verses a large group, going with all women instead of a mixed gender group and having a guaranteed roommate if you want one. Doing this, you will find that what a company charges for their tour is reflective of what you are receiving.
Debra Asberry was first bitten by the travel bug at age 11 during a visit to Yellowstone. As an adult, she wanted to travel more but often found that friends, family or her husband couldn’t or wouldn’t go on the trips she wanted. Not wanting to travel alone, in 1997 she founded Women Traveling Together which today offers over 30 tours a year for women. For travel tips and more about Debra and Women Traveling Together visit http://www.women-traveling.com
Tags: Comparision Shopping, Package Tours, travel, WomenComparision Shopping, Package Tours, travel, WomenShare This
Your well-deserved vacation is near and you are thinking about making reservations. You have two basic choices:
Do you book different components of your holiday such as airline, hotel, and car rental separately or do you book the components as a package, all in one booking?
Depending on whether you have the time and the patience, you could book separately, which sometimes can lead to some savings. However, if you prefer to have everything ready and included in one price, then the package alternative is for you.
Holiday packages can be cheaper than other alternatives because the company selling the products has already negotiated substantial discounts, some of which are passed down to you, the consumer. The principle of packaged holidays is that places and seats are reserved in huge numbers, thus making an individual package relatively cheap.
In a sense it is good to know that all the reservations have taken place. An added bonus can be traveling with other like-minded people possibly leading to friendship. Also in case any difficulties arise, there is often a company representative who will be able to help you.
It is worth bearing in mind, the apparent ease and convenience that packages bring can have downsides too. This is how lower prices are achieved:
1. Your plane may depart late at night. Be prepared for this and it won’t be too much of a disappointment. Alternatively if you have the choice to have a late night departure you should notice a lower price. If not, “ask” for the discount. You’ll be amazed how often you get discounts by simply asking.
2. The allocated seats on the aircraft are sometimes in the middle (away from windows). This may be important if you are traveling with children. Make sure you carry plenty of suitable entertainment. Note that the in-flight movie may not be interesting for the children.
3. If there are several members in your party, you may not all be able to sit together. Again this is even more important if you have children with you.
4. Your hotel room may not offer the best view possible, nor may it be the quietest. Can you handle this? Ask before you book, find out the situation and take alternative action if necessary.
5. Packages are geared to suit groups, as opposed to individuals. They are not always flexible. Flexibility costs extra, quite a bit extra.
6. Cancellations usually involve a penalty or at least an administration charge, which can be more than you expect. Always “ask” before booking.
7. Extras such as upgrades and add-ons can attract a substantial premium.
8. You are stuck with other travelers in the group, whether you like them or not. There is always at least one annoying person in the group but then there are usually a few very interesting and likeable people too.
8. Popular packages are usually fully booked early. You may have to settle for an alternative.
9. Your airline may take an indirect route and a stopover may be on the cards. The right holiday packages can be fun and the majority of people using them are pleasantly surprised. Don’t let the downsides to package holidays put you off.
Remember, there is no such thing as a ‘perfect set-up’. Provided you go into it with reasonable understanding and an open mind, you’re sure to have a great time.
Sami T Fab operates a dedicated travel and vacation information website packed full of free travel tips and informative content.
For more tips on travel deals and other travel subjects of interest to you, please do visit http://www.Travel-Hotel-Beach-Vacations.com
Tags: beach vacation, cheap holiday, hotel, tourism, travel, travel baragain, travel deal, travel discountbeach vacation, cheap holiday, hotel, tourism, travel, travel baragain, travel deal, travel discountShare This