[Travel/ Food Guide] Itinerary to Jeju, South Korea (济州，韩国) 2020

One of the best travel destinations of South Korea is of course the south island of Korea peninsular- Jeju island. The place is practically designed for tourism- visa waiver programs, countless of resorts and hotels, plethora of museums and point of interests for tourists. As for Malaysians, Air Asia X offers direct flight from KLIA2 to Jeju and the whole journey takes approximately 6 hours. While Jeju International Airport is only a 15 minute drive away from Jeju city, the island's transportation is not as friendly. The common mode of transportation is to travel either by Bus or Taxi but if you are travelling with family members (especially elderly or infants), the best way to explore the island is to rent a car. 

Renting A Car on Jeju Island:

There are plenty of car rental companies on the island but it is best to have reservations before hitting the island and it may be a little complicated since most of them cannot communicate well in English. We used The Sixt  and whole process was quite smooth except the slightly long wait at Jeju International Aiport (car rental lounge right outside the airport). The petrol price at Jeju (or South Korea) is definitely higher than Malaysia but for a Hyundai Sonata up to 3/4 tank, it costs a little over 50,000 KRW. There are no tolls around the island but a lot of traffic lights and speed cameras. While the speed limit is generally very slow on the island, the fact that South Korea practices left-hand driving (totally opposite to Malaysia), it is generally quite different and would take some time for Malaysians to get used to (note: obtaining an international driving license is a must before travelling to South Korea if you wish to rent a car). GPS is available in most cars; though it is a common practice for drivers to key in phone number of the destination for navigation.

[Travel/ Food Guide] Itinerary to Jeju Island (济州岛), South Korea (韩国).

Known as the "Hawaii of South Korea", Jeju Island is no doubt one of the most popular holiday destinations by both domestic travelers and international tourists. The natural wonders- Volcanic Island and Lava Tubes were inscribed into the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The island is 45% larger than Penang State as a whole (1,848 sq km for Jeju VS 1,031 sq km for Penang State) but less populated. The island is fairly big but the transportation system is less-advanced as compared to the country's metropolitan cities.

How to go to Jeju-do from Seoul, South Korea?

We departed from Gimpo International Airport, Seoul and flew with T'way (47,900 KRW per person/ return ticket) to Jeju International Airport. The experience flying with the carrier was alright (they provide complimentary 15kg check-in baggage allowance) but there were slight delays in schedule. Checking in was smooth and easy. Considering the prices we paid were lower than the famous Jeju Air, we thought it was a good deal.

Car Rental in Jeju Island?

Jeju Island is not small and the tourist attractions can scatter around the island. Public transportation is not as convenient as it seems and the bus-waiting period can be quite long. After some research over the internet and we thought it would be wiser for us to rent a car. To drive legally in South Korea, Malaysians are required to present International Driving License to car-rental provider. Getting one is easy, in case you are wondering, it costs Rm 150 and you may check out their website for more information.

We booked via RentalCars.com and it costs us approximately USD $110 for Kia Morning *Picanto in Malaysia* (including full insurance for 3 days 2 nights). The process of getting the car was easy and fast but with AJ Rent A Car (the car rental provider), we had to take a Bus (free) to their office (not within walking distance from the airport) and proceed with the booking. Hertz on the other hand, has an office directly opposite the airport (within walking distance). Driving on Jeju Island was fun, the road users were generally friendly but South Korea is a left-driving country. Do get yourself familiarized on the rules before you hit the road. Also, another word of caution... the petrol in Jeju Island is not cheap. On our trip, though we did not drive a lot (we've only used up 20% of the full tank Petrol) and it costs us 19,000 KRW!