When friends ask how we actually book things for our weekend trips around Korea, this is the page we send them. No fluff β just the specific tools and services we use ourselves, updated as things change.
ποΈ Tickets & Attractions
For the big theme parks and attractions, we almost always book ahead through Klook β it’s usually cheaper than the gate price and skips the ticket line.
- Everland tickets β our full price comparison (Klook vs. gate) after 10+ visits
- Lotte World β honest review of what’s actually toddler-friendly
π Incheon Airport β Seoul
Three ways we’ve used, depending on luggage and how tired the kids are:
- Airport Limousine Bus β the easiest option with kids. Drops you near major hotels, no transfers. Around β©18,000 for adults, β©12,000 for children (6β12).
- AREX Express Train β fastest and cheapest if you’re staying near Seoul Station, but you’re carrying your own bags through the station.
- Private transfer β worth it with a stroller, a lot of luggage, or a late-night landing.
Book the airport limousine bus β
π KTX & Trains
Heads up: foreign cards are sometimes rejected on Korail’s own site/app with no clear error. If that happens to you, booking through a platform built for international cards (like Klook or Trip.com) is usually the easiest fix β or buy in person at a station counter with your passport.
If you’re visiting more than one city (Seoul + Busan, Seoul + Gangneung, etc.), it’s worth comparing the Korail Pass against individual tickets β it often works out cheaper.
Browse Korea rail tickets & passes β
πΆ SIM Card & eSIM
Two options when you land at Incheon:
- Physical SIM β pick up at the carrier counters in the arrival hall (both T1 and T2), open roughly 7amβ10pm.
- eSIM β buy and activate before you fly if your phone supports it (iPhone XS or newer, recent Samsung/Pixel). No counter, no queue β it just works when you land.
For a 1β2 week trip, a 7β10 day unlimited data plan (roughly β©15,000β22,000) covers most families comfortably.
Compare SIM & eSIM options β
π‘οΈ Travel Insurance
We always say the same thing: if you can’t afford travel insurance, you can’t really afford the trip. A toddler ER visit or a cancelled flight costs a lot more than a policy does. Two options other traveling families commonly use:
- SafetyWing β simple, flexible coverage popular with traveling families
- World Nomads β covers a wide range of activities, easy to buy once you’ve already left home
This page is a work in progress β we’ll keep updating it as we find better options or prices change.