I always try to visit at least one city other than the capital to get a better feel for the realities of daily life in that nation.
Situated 325 km away from Seoul, on the country's southern coastline, Busan seemed like the ideal destination to glimpse another aspect of South Korean life.
I found there to be a much broader selection of apartments and hotels at competitive prices compared to Seoul.
I stayed at the Urbanstay Yeonsan, a national apart-hotel style chain, with well-priced, modern apartments. I'd definitely stay with them again, but I would opt for their location in Seomyeon where you are closer to more amenities.
For a prolonged stay during the peak midsummer season, a popular domestic holiday period, try to book your accommodation as far in advance as possible.
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Alongside the two WeWork locations in the city centre, there are a number of independent operators with options dispersed around other neighbourhoods.
There's no shortage of coffee shops that would make for suitable workspaces with locaitons like DAUNT coffee offering dedicated workspace areas.
International chain stores like Starbucks in the central districts can often be found open late into the evening.
On every level, prices were in line with what you would expect in Seoul. The big difference was accommodation, where more affordable options within the centre could be found more easily.
Day-to-day expenses compare favourably with what you would expect to pay in Western Europe, with eating out representing particularly good value.
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While this is undoubtedly a negative for the Japanese, it makes for an exceptionally good time to visit Japan from abroad. Although this trend is unlikely to reverse significantly in the short term, it's still worth checking before visiting.
Read moreWhile lacking some of the intensity of the nation’s capital, there’s still a lot happening in Busan, which is a large city with various urban hubs. There are plenty of dining and drinking options, along with cultural attractions, although the overall intensity is somewhat diminished due to their dispersion across what is a huge city.
Korean Standard Time is +9 hours ahead of GMT, making it 7 hours ahead of CET during the summer months. In relative terms to other destinations in Asia, this is +2 hours on Bangkok and +1 on Kuala Lumpur.
I had already been working in the region for the three months previous, so it wasn't a huge change in working hours, but it's right at the edge of where you would class an acceptable working time whilst not impacting your daily schedule.
I've written a guide on how to structure your day to get the most out of the time difference.
Without doubt, being able to speak Spanish with a degree of fluency is a huge asset when visiting South America. I had always put off visiting the continent due to my Spanish skills not extending beyond requesting a "cerveza grande".
But even with my incredibly primitive linguistic capabilities, it was not in any way to the detriment of the trip. English is spoken sparsely, but armed with a few phrases, some polite enthusiasm and a translator, it shouldn't deter you from visiting.
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Similar to Seoul, the city has well-maintained public spaces with miles of uninterrupted cycle and bike paths lining its river and coastline.
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Sandy Gwangalli Beach is well-maintained and easily reachable by metro from anywhere in the city. The surrounding area has plenty of bars, restaurants, and cafes. The Gwangan Suspension Bridge, just out of shot to the right, is an iconic sight.
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Haeundae Traditional Market, a short walk from the metro station, is lined with eateries serving local delicacies, with seafood featuring prominently.
Given the instability in Argentina over the past few years, I found that most advice on key topics, even if written within the last 12 months, bordered on being dangerously outdated.
I have attempted to summarise some of the most misleading points I encountered.
Card availability is now excellent across the city. Even if you are purchasing a single empanada, bananas from a greengrocer, or buying cans of beer off a man in the street before a football match. Some businesses may offer a 10% discount if you use cash, or charge a small surcharge for card payments.
"It's difficult to get a SUBE card"
This was true in recent years, as there had been a shortage of the cards across the city due to a lack of the plastics needed to create the card. I had no problems going to the nearest off-licence and getting a card on my first attempt. It's worth asking your Airbnb host who may have a spare.
The biggest misconception that may still linger, even if you are reading articles from 2023. If planning on eating out heavily, then expect European prices or even higher on more imported day-to-day goods. Eating out aside, day-to-day expenses are still good value by global measures.
This advice would continue to make sense for Americans who already have dollars, but I wouldn't recommend making an effort to purchase with the intent of exchanging them on the ground. Collecting money via Western Union was convenient and good value, which I would recommend to anyone visiting from outside the US.
"Make sure you get the blue-dollar rate"
The dramatic stabilisation of the peso by late 2024 means that this difference is nowhere near as significant as it was 12 months ago. At the time of writing, there was only a 10% difference between the official and blue rate. If you are only in the city for a short period you may not even have to grapple with this.
"Restaurant service is poor"
I did see some evidence of this, especially in cheaper, traditional restaurants. In comical fashion, drinks would not appear or the bill would never materialise. In more contemporary outlets, it was never a problem.
"It is a football mad city"
There is absolutely no doubt that this is as true as ever in 2024.
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