International > General Travel Discussion

Traveling before Korea

(1/2) > >>

astoriagables:
Has anyone traveled before coming over to Korea? I can't be the only one stopping one or two places on my way over.

I'm asking because I keep getting told not to book my tickets yet til I have visa. There is a full month between the worst case scenario visa issuance date and when I'll actually be heading overseas. More than enough time to sort out paperwork issues, I would think. But a month is such a short period of time to book plane tickets, and prices are going to skyrocket, I'm thinking.

I haven't booked anything so no need to lecture me on the wisdom of waiting. I am waiting. I'm just getting impatient and would like to talk to others who might have insight or experience.

cknowles87:
You should probably wait to book your flight.  You're school should be reimbursing you your flight money anyways.  I booked early to get a cheap flight and try to pocket some of the flight allowance, but my work documents took longer than expected so I had to rebook my flight.  Cost way more to actually change flights and also the higher price of a the newer flight turned out to the be the most expensive way to go.  I'd wait until you are sure when you will have your documents/visa by, then head to Japan or Thailand before you go to Korea.

livzy:
In my experience schools want you to come straight from your home country, so you don't pick up anything unnecessary in the interim (like a tropical disease or a kilo of ....). Sorry, I can't be more help with your dilemma. Maybe a decent travel agent could give better advice?

DPmiddleschool:
A few weeks in Thailand or exploring Japan would be a fun thing to do before coming to Korea, but I'd check with your agent/school/employer or whatever what the deal is with your flights. If they're giving you a flight allowance then it doesn't really matter but my shool only reimbursed me for the exact cost of the flight from the immediate destination, so if I'd have been in Thailand or Japan I wouldn't have been reimbursed for the cost of the place ticket to that destination. It's a technicality but it could be the difference between a few hundred dollars.

justanotherwaygook:
Most contracts either pay for, or reimburse you for, a flight from your home country to Korea, and then back at the end.

If you don't come directly from your home country, you may very well be out of luck when it comes to your flight money.  Don't expect them to give you even a portion of flight costs.

the same goes for the end of your contract.

The concept behind paying for flights is that it's transportation for you to get to the job (and back at the end).

Also, your hagwon may want you to start right away (if I remember correctly, you're looking for a hagwon job).

Navigation

[0] Message Index

[#] Next page