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Tank you very much, olddude and gerybrette. They are indeed very helpful tips. Will consider hotel in Itaewon.
Another questions are: 1. Can we bargain in local stores or road side stores?? What about in Namdaemoon ?????
2. Are koreans generally helpful towards tourists especially when the tourists encounter directional problem??? I have heard some negative remarks about them and was told they can be rough??? Any truth in it???
I always bargained at the markets and small shops.
I had to use sign language.
After the seller gives you the first price, grab your heart like if he is giving you a heartache. Stay smiling; they understand.
Another method was: have the seller punch in the amount on his calculator (the only thing you can read). Then hit the divided by 2 knobs and start the game.
Btw some sellers will speak some English but have difficulties with hundred, thousand and ten thousand. You could profit from the 10-fold mistake some make (and they will not admit their mistake (loose of face)); but I recommend you solve the situation for the real price and not for the ten-fold profit.
Actually, it is expected that you will bargain in those stores! And bargaining is also standard in any market. Keep in mind that you will be more likely to get a discount, and a larger one, when you're buying several things, so always be sure to ask for the total, and then bargain on that. Just be friendly and keep a sense of humor through the whole process.
As for the directions, people will want to try to help you - even if they don't actually know the way! It never hurts to ask a few people on your way to where you're going, just to be sure you're on the right track. There are area maps in the subway stations and outside the subway exits that you can use to help you get where you're going. People might have a hard time understanding your pronunciation of place names, or they might now know the English translation of them, so if you have a guidebook with the name of the place, you can show it to the person you are asking. I've never been treated rudely when I've asked for directions, and in fact a couple of times the person I asked walked me at least part of the way there!
I've been approached by Koreans that want to help me before I even asked. I guess I look lost all the time. I usually pick out a young person and ask them. They are super nice, always. More Koreans speak English than they let on. They are just really shy about speaking it.
Funny story. I asked a girl a few days ago if bus 15 went to Itaewon. We both looked at the map and she said, yes. We turned around and there was a bus there, no numbers on the side. She jumped on, looked at me, I said thank you in KOrean...she bowed and off she went on the bus. I stood and read the number on the back of the bus. It was bus 15, my bus. I'm sure she was as puzzled as I was why I wasn't on it. I guess?
Overall super nice people and very helpful.
One tip for taxis. If you have the phone number of the place you are going (like a restaurant/hotel) give that to them and they will call the place and get directions.
Taxis are cheap, use em. Subway is great but can take a long time transferring and walking beneath.
1) i could bargain in Namdemum and Itaewon, but not at the stores i.e. shopping malls. But at bazaar and some roadside stalls ( not stores), yes you can bargain.
2) hmmm....generally i find koreans helpful but i think language is a problem....the koreans i bumped into can't really underst english.....Maybe now it's better?
Enjoy your shopping in Namdemum!!
Btw dun miss out Mydong! it's a great shopping belt too. Take a rest at their unique coffee house after your shopping spree.
