So my husband, son(9 y/o) and I are trying to plan a trip to Bali via Seoul. I am looking for hotel recommendations in Seoul and Bali. We would only be in Seoul for 2 nights and then in Bali for 5-7 nights. In Seoul we would like to be near "the action". As far as Bali, people have told us about Nusa Dua. In theory it looks great, but I am not sure how I feel about the whole gated-community resort feeling. We have done that in the Dominican Republic. We are looking for something nice, on the beach, but not so secluded/cut-off.
TIA
Went to Bali in September, it was a trip of my lifetime. I stayed in denaspar not very tourist but was able to get driver to drive to tourist spots very reasonable. Loved traveling Malayasia Air and Cathay Pacific. Long flight and I struggled with jet lag when I returned.
Sorry - I've never been to Seoul or Bali. It sounds like a LONG trip...Seoul is a 14 hour plane ride from Dallas, right? and I believe that Seoul to Bali is another 7 hours....that's a lot of flying for a 2 night stay.
I would talk to a travel agent and tell him/her what you are looking for and when the best time to travel would be, etc.
Happy & Safe Travels!!
I can help a little with Seoul, although it has been 12 years now since I was last there. First of all, just know that when you fly in, you're not going to land in Seoul - you'll be about a 45 minute drive from the city. Count on a taxi ride or a train ride into town. The train is cheaper, but the taxi is much easier with luggage.
Be aware that unless things have changed, people smoke in public places much more than we do. You may be hard pressed to find a restaurant without a cloud of smoke, and when you book your hotel, if you are not smokers yourselves, be sure that you ask for a non-smoking room.
Good food is cheap and plentiful. Bulgogi, kalbi, tofu kimchi chige, bibimbap... mmmm. Sanitation, however, may not be up to the standards you're used to, especially if you eat street food. I've seen the same chopsticks used without washing at street stalls. I got around this by keeping my own in my purse.
I can't give you a hotel recommendation simply because when I was there, we were military, so we usually stayed on base when we were in town.
I can tell you this - Seoul is immense, and it doesn't really have a city center. The best advice I can give you is head to the library and check out a stack of guide books (I like Lonely Planet). See what two or three activities or sights interest you the most, and stay close to them. There are fabulous museums and historical sites in the city, and some of those are clustered in the same area.
One of the most fun things I ever did while in Seoul was to attend a show of traditional Korean music and dance.
Even the locals don't drink tap water.
Public bathrooms are not necessarily segregated by gender. If you see toilet paper in the wastebasket, that means you shouldn't flush any, either - in some areas the plumbing is quite old and temperamental, and you don't want to cause an overflow.
Try a travel agent or google. Those places are very far Re,over. Not sure how many of us on this site have been there.
If you are only going to be in Seoul for a couple of nights, you may want to find an American chain - a local Marriott, Hilton, Sheraton/Westin, etc. It will be an easy transition and you can be fairly certain of getting a high quality hotel. I don't know of anywhere specific, but I'm sure you can find major American chains there in the heart of the action. You'll be tired from such a long trip and it'll be nice to feel a bit at home in an American chain. Once you get to Bali, you'll be a bit more rested and ready to hit up a local resort.
