Explore Korea Now

 When I first started planning my trip to South Korea, one question kept nagging at me: How would I survive without speaking Korean—or even English fluently? I was planning this adventure with my family, none of us bilingual, and I couldn’t help but worry. Would we be able to ask for directions? Order food? Check into a hotel without awkward stares or misunderstandings? Turns out, we weren’t alone in wondering this. Many travelers—especially from French-speaking countries like mine—face the same fear: “Can I travel in Korea without speaking Korean or English?” So let me reassure you right away: yes, you can. And you might be surprised at how much fun you’ll have doing it. 📱 Your Best Friend: Papago, Not Google Translate Before the trip, someone recommended I download Papago , a Korean-made translation app. I didn’t expect much—but wow. It’s built specifically for Korean, and honestly, it outperforms Google Translate, especially when it comes to casual phrases and signs. We used...

 If you're planning a trip to South Korea and it's more than a quick stopover, you've probably already asked yourself: Should I book every hotel and Airbnb in advance—or can I just figure it out as I go? I’ve been there. It’s the kind of question that doesn’t seem urgent—until you're standing outside a fully booked guesthouse in the middle of a festival weekend with your suitcase, Wi-Fi that barely works, and not a single room in sight. To help you avoid that scenario, here’s what I wish I had known before my trip—along with advice from other travelers and locals who’ve done it all.  Is It Safe to Book Hotels As You Go? The good news: In big cities like Seoul, Busan, Jeju, or Daegu , it’s perfectly doable. With platforms like Booking.com , Agoda , and even Naver (if you're a little adventurous), you’ll have plenty of options at your fingertips. I’ve booked places the night before—or even the same day—with no issues. However, if you're hoping for specific areas ...

 So, your flight’s booked, your suitcase is open, and the excitement is building—you're going to South Korea! But then the practical stuff creeps in: Wait, should I exchange my money now or when I land? It’s one of those nagging travel questions that no one talks about until it’s too late and you’ve lost a chunk of your budget to bad exchange rates. Let’s not let that happen. Here’s a guide that walks you through the real options—based on 2025 realities—with the goal of saving your money and giving you peace of mind before your trip. 1. Should You Exchange Money Before Leaving Home? Let’s be honest—there’s a certain comfort in having some cash in your wallet before you step on the plane. But here’s the deal: exchanging large amounts of money at your local bank or airport counter usually means you’ll pay more and get less. Better idea? Just swap enough to get through the first few hours—maybe $50 to $100 in Korean won. That’ll cover a coffee at the airport, a subway ticket, or you...

Want to go beyond sightseeing? This guide is for travelers who don’t just want to visit Korea—they want to experience it like locals do . Instead of hitting only the tourist hotspots, this post introduces everyday activities, neighborhoods, and tips that allow you to live a slice of real Korean life, even if just for a few days. 🌿 1. Start Your Morning Like a Seoulite Forget Starbucks. Begin your day at a neighborhood coffee shop where real locals go. Order a sweet potato latte or dalgona coffee and enjoy slow time watching morning commuters. 🏥 Local picks: Anthracite (Hapjeong) Cafe Onion (Seongsu) Perception (Yeonnam-dong) 🛍️ 2. Shop at a Traditional Market Skip the convenience stores and head to a traditional market where locals buy their groceries and meals. 🚗 Experience tips: Mangwon Market: Try bindaetteok, soondae, and seasonal fruits Gwangjang Market: Grab a stool and share a table with strangers over mayak gimbap 🍣 3. Eat Where Office Workers Eat Instead of touristy B...