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The Best Korean SIM Cards For Your Trip
I was recently tasked with helping 15 tourists get SIM cards for their trip to Korea and ended up in an email string back and forth with quite a few companies and down a rabbit hole of information. Did you know there are more than 500,000 public WiFi hotspots in Seoul? Wifi is readily available and easy to access in Korea, but you do need a Korean phone number for a variety of things so a SIM is a convenient travel requirement really. So, with that, here we are. Everything you need to know about SIM cards in Korea and which one will be best for your trip to Seoul.…
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Sanrio Is Trending In Seoul: The Sanrio Pop-ups To Visit Now!
If you’re a fan of the company Sanrio and their many cute characters, then you’re in for a treat in Seoul right now. From the Sanrio Lover’s Club Café to the Cinnamoroll Cafe, there are pop-ups and more just for the Sanrio lovers out there. Though Sanrio is all about the most kawaii (cute) characters of Japanese pop culture, this trend is not just for children. People in the 20s are jumping on it too. It seems that nostalgia is trending in Korea and anything that is a couple decades old or older is coming back in with a fun and cute vengeance. Are you ready for the revival? Or…
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These 4 Art Parks In Korea Will Make You Happy To Hike
I love getting outside and it’s even better when there are cool artworks or exhibitions to see. It certainly makes it more fun when our little kiddo is involved too. Whether you’re looking to find nature and art at the same time on your own, or with your kids in tow, there are some great art parks, or sculpture parks, in Korea that you should check out. The combination of art and nature is unbeatable in many ways and the art installations also make the outdoors fun even in the winter when the view is rather stark. PS, some or most of these parks don’t really require a lot of…
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The Best Overseas Money Transfer Service: SentBe
Whether you’re trying to send money abroad to pay off your student loans or sending gifts to family, the need for easy money transfer services has grown immensely. It’s amazing how much easier it is now. I remember in 2006 when I first arrived in Korea how much paperwork at the bank it required and how long I had to sit there to do it. Now, there are apps and online services connecting banks in amazing ways. I sent money home with SentBe for the first time a month ago and was SHOCKED at how fast and easy it was. I don’t think I’ll ever go back to bank transfers.…
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Why Everyone Is Talking About Kahi: Multibalm Sticks to Sunscreen
The Korean skincare company Kahi has been trending and has had some really good ad placement in Korean dramas which has brought it to the attention of a lot of high profile skincare influencers and beauty magazines lately. So, when I was invited to an event to learn more about their products, I was super excited. You may have seen their balms in the hands of Lil Nas X, Doja Cat, and Ava Max. They’re leading the trend when it comes to multi-stick balms but they’re more than just that. I recently attended an influencer event with Kahi and learned a lot about their brand and their goals for the…
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Papa Recipe: Four Great Serums For Sensitive Skin
Looking for gentle skincare products? Korean beauty products that are ideal for sensitive skin types? You definitely need to look into Papa Recipe. This Korean skincare company is devoted to creating skincare products that are ideal for people with skin concerns just like the founder’s daughter who kicked off his education in skincare regimes. Papa Recipe recently release four new serums focused on a variety of skin concerns from wrinkles to skin tone and more. Which one will you try? Find out more about Papa Recipe’s new serums: (This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a certain percentage of a sale if you purchase after clicking at no…
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Where To Stay In Busan: A Complete Guide To The Hot Spots
Busan is one of my favorite cities. Actually, if I could choose where to live in Korea, I’d probably choose Busan. Not only is my husband from Busan, but it’s got beaches to the south, mountains to the north, and plenty to do in between. Anyway, if you’re taking a trip to Busan, then you should really think about where to stay in Busan because unlike Seoul that has a central point and radiates out, Busan is sort of long and follows the coast instead. If you want to see things on the west end of Busan, you don’t want to be in the east because it can be a…
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Papa Recipe: Noble Rot Lifting Ampoule & Essence Review
Korean skincare is ever evolving and always using natural ingredients that it would never occur to me to put onto my skin. If Noble Rot is new to you, don’t worry, it was new to me as well and it’s not as bad as it might sound… really. Papa Recipe, born from a parent’s concern for their child’s skin, has created skincare that uses raw materials from nature and noble rot is one of them. If you’ve had skin issues, then this might just be the Korean skincare company to look to for understanding and grace. We’ll get into that and more below. Looking for a new Korean skincare company…
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Recommended Travel Adapters For Korea
I recently had a group of tourists here in Korea and one of them didn’t realize there were different power sockets in different countries. If you haven’t traveled abroad that often, or maybe stuck to one continent if you did, you may not have noticed that there are different kinds of power sockets all over the world. It’s important to know what the right power adapter for Korea is, if you’ll be coming here. Don’t get here and realize you can’t plug a darn thing in. Power up! When you start packing to travel to Korea, here is what you need to know about travel adapters to travel to Korea.…
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The 9 Best Areas To Stay In Seoul, Korea: From Gangnam To Hongdae
The capital city of Seoul in Korea is sprawling and you could easily spend one to two hours on the subway getting across the city. When it comes to deciding where to stay in Seoul, it’s important to focus on what it is you want to accomplish while you’re here. From the traditional sites in Bukchon Hanok Village to the artsy district of Hongdae, there is a lot to choose from and plenty to do. Here is a breakdown of the best places in Seoul to stay and what to do nearby. This guide to the best hotels in Seoul in each area of the city is sure to help…
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6 Folk Villages In Korea You Can Visit
There are some really popular folk villages in Korea, but there are also some that are retaining the traditions but have lesser crowds. Whether you’re looking for a touristy experiential filled folk village or a living museum folk village, there are different ones to find all around Korea. Folk villages tend to be quieter and less populated areas to tour in my experience and they’re also beautiful year-round. Whether you’re a tourist in Korea or a resident, you need to visit one, or maybe six, folk villages while you’re here. They’re a completely different vibe and really show more of Korean history than you might realize. Take A Trip To…
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Haenggung-dong Mural Village: What To See In Suwon
There are probably more mural villages around Korea than you might realize. They are just everywhere and it is so fun to find them. Mural villages in Korea often provide an artistic and creative hunt with a good walk outside simultaneously. Some you find by chance and others you’ll probably seek out. A few weeks ago we happened upon Haenggung-dong Mural Village (행궁동벽화마을) in Suwon by chance after visiting the Suwon Museum of Art. Just across the street from the art museum and the Haenggung Palace and Hwaseong Fortress Wall, it’s a great area to see something and then get a snack or food by stopping into one of the…
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Autonomous Cars In Seoul: How To Take A Ride
So you’ve heard there are autonomous cars in Seoul. Yes, there are autonomous vehicles that you can take a ride in. See what the future has in store. Literally. Seoul Mayor Oh Se Hoon said “Seoul will become one of the top five cities leading the self driving technology by 2026.” They are well on their way. There are autonomous taxis in Sangam-dong Seoul right now and they’ll be in Gangnam, around the Cheonggyecheon, and other places before you know it. Read on to figure out how to have a ride in an autonomous car in Korea. Ready to take an autonomous car ride in Seoul? Here’s how: What To…
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The New Zealand Wine Festival Is Back For 2022!
It’s about to be wine time! After a Covid-related hiatus, the New Zealand Wine Festival hosted by the Kiwi Chamber of Commerce is coming back to Seoul and Busan and you can feel the excitement in the air. Festivals and events around Seoul are kicking into high gear and people are buying the tickets at a fast pace. Don’t be left out of the fun. With a selection of high quality red and white wines from over 20 New Zealand wineries and vineyards, if you’re a true oenophile, or wine lover, you need to be there! Learn more about the New Zealand Wine Festival in Seoul and Busan 2022: When…
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Is the tap water safe to drink in Korea?
The simple answer is yes, the water is potable. Tap water in Korea is safe to drink. But, if you fill up a glass of water from the sink and start to sip it in front of most Koreans, you might get some weird looks. So, what gives? While the tap water in Seoul goes through more quality tests than most developed cities, citizens of Korea still opt for bottled or filtered water in their homes and outside. Let’s break down what is happening and then you can decide for yourself if you want to drink the tap water in Korea or not. The primary water source in Seoul is…
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Pil-dong: The Arts & Culture District Near Myeongdong
If you travel like I do, then you’re constantly staring out bus or car windows until something catches your eye and then you quickly tag it on the map to come back to later. That’s how I found the Pil-dong Arts and Culture Street. Located just outside of the Namsangol Hanok Village and the beautiful Korea House in Jung-gu up the road from the popular Myeongdong shopping district in Seoul, Pil-dong is a hidden gem of colorful facades and artistic installations in backstreets where you’d never expect to find them. I love that Seoul has so many of these arts and culture areas. Some of them are much more popular…
