15 December (Monday)
As usual, mummy is the first one to wake up and do any last minute pack up before waking up hubby and the kids. Our flight is at 10.10am and we left the house at 7am so that we can check in early at the airport. We are flying via China Eastern and there are no online check-in service. The flight will take about 5 hrs to reach Shanghai, Putong Airport where we will rest for 3 hrs before proceeding to Seoul Incheon Airport.
We chose to fly China Eastern as the flying hours will not disrupt the kids' sleeping hours and of course, a cheaper option.
There was personal in-flight entertainment with movies and games to entertain the kids during our flight there but not on the return trip. The kids had no kids meal and the normal meal was a bit spicy for them. So once we checked-in the transfer counter at Shanghai, Putong Airport, we were off to find food for them. We settled in a little food eatery that sells japanese food as my daughter wanted noodles. The food was average but it was nice to get some warm soup and tea as the temperature there was about 10 degrees.
We arrived at Seoul Incheon Airport by 9pm. After collecting the lugguages, we went straight to the airport bus counter to purchase the airport limousine tickets but were told that we had to proceed to the bus stop outside if we were using the discount coupon. You had to hand the coupons and the bus fare to the driver directly.
This is the airport limousine bus discount coupon I printed out for 1000won discount off the bus fare.
I printed out 8 of them for the 4 of us to be used for 2 trips. Adult ticket is 10000won while child ticket is 8000won. Funny thing is when we board from the airport, the driver charged me 32000won for the 4 of us, that means 9000won for adult and 7000won for child after discount. However, on the last day of our trip when we board the airport limousine bus from Myeongdong, the driver told us no discount for child even with coupon. So it was 34000won for the return trip.
Ok, so our hotel, Sejong Hotel is located in Myeongdong and we took bus 6015 there. I booked this hotel 6 months back as it offers triple room, which has 1 queen and 2 single beds which is great for my family. Not to mention that the airport limousine bus will stop right in front of the hotel. But just weeks before our departure, I checked out the details again and discovered that they have relocated the Myeongdong bus stop. Luckily it is only 70m away from the hotel, else I will get strangled by hubby who is the luggage porter.
Bus 6015 from Incheon Airport to Myeongdong
So for folks with small family, Nine Tree Hotel or Myeongdong Skypark III Hotel might be a more convenient option.
The bus trip from Incheon Airport to Myeongdong took slightly more than an hour.
Coming Up : Korea 2014 Day 2 - Seoul Grand Park/Lotte Mart
