Our flight was at 10.40am but we are the typical kiasu Singaporeans and decided to reach the airport at least 1.5 hours before although it is a domestic flight.
So we chionged for the Airport Bus really early, the one right outside our hotel here. We opted for the 8.13am bus after having breakfast at our hotel.
can I just PSA: THE BUS UNCLE WENT OFF EARLIER THAN 8.13AM LOL My mum was super kiasu and insisted we stand at the bus stop from 7.55am ded. But guess she was right coz the bus came at about 8.09am. After hopping on the bus, the bus uncle actually drove off at 8.11am LOL WALAO. So please please please be there early.
Hihi BTS everywhere~
Our journey was super chill coz... we skipped all the stops and there were NO PASSANGERS ROFL.
Heng uncle could speak a bit of english because he actually wanted to alight us at the international airport, which was the stop prior to the domestic airport.
The domestic airport was simple and fuss free but only has a few eateries like Angeinus Coffee and Dunkin Donuts. Don't expect to find a full meal here! Though I am sure there might be a food court somewhere.
Something to note is to remember that FLIGHTS ARE INDEED UNPREDICTABLE AND DELAYS DO HAPPEN.
The staff for Korean Air gave us the option of changing our flight to the 9.40am one, which will be delayed for 1 hour instead of taking our original 10.40am one, which is delayed for 10 minutes.
We were like HUH but since we did not check in online due to difficulties with the online system and our inability to read korean comprehensively.... we had the chance of changing our flight as suggested by the staff.
We were glad we did so, because even after changing, we only took off at about 11.05am! So if we had taken our original flight I think it would have been worse.
Aiya I forgot to take a picture of the plane itself but my seats were so comfortable and the space for my legs was much more than my sad silk air flight lol.
We landed at Gimpo International Airport, which is actually nearer to the city than Incheon International airport. Follow the signs to take the Airport Express towards the city! And don't be surprised by how far you have to walk.. I think the distance was about a 7-10 minute walk, or walking within Dhoby Ghaut Station from red line platform to purple line platform and back again lol.
Holiday Inn Express Hongdae Review
Getting here was super convenient because the moment we reached Hongdae, exit 5 was right above the Airport/Arex Line and once we tapped out, took an escalator up and turned right, the entrance to Aekyung Tower was there and the lobby to the hotel was at level 7.
Aekyung Tower is this new building with 5 stories of shopping.
What I liked
As a 3-star hotel it was fuss-free and no-frills. I can sleep comfortably and go out to explore for the whole day and come back to a nice and clean room.
I also liked the wide selection available for breakfast and the super convenient location to Hongdae.
Other than exit 5, which is unfortunately an open-air exit, there is also exit 4, which is the other side of Aekyung Tower that is sheltered. Look for this exit and make the detour through Aekyung Tower level 1 to get to the main lobby with the 3 lifts that bring you to the hotel.
I also liked the service staff at the reception desk they were super helpful! They even gave us early check in and late check out because of my mum's membership or something wew.
What I did not like
Because this place was so new... taking a cab here was VERY HARD.
Like. I have to write korean and uncle use GPS and we still sorta can't get here kinda hard.
One of the reasons is because this play is NEW and even putting in holiday inn express in the GPS (assuming you can convey the name of the hotel to the driver) could give no results.
SOOOOOO ask the reception for help to have a piece of paper with the address in korean, coz the keycard holder doesn't have it.
Other than that, the roads leading up to Aekyung Tower are quite tricky, with one-way roads and no right turns and other traps that make me think this is a navigation test route area. Urgh
Last complaint is that I have to queue like a typical Singaporean for breakfast...
I mean, this was really a turn off on day one but they also warn us that this long line occurs only during the 'peak hour' of 8am to 9.30am.... So head out for breakfast or come earlier! Breakfast ends officially at 9.30am
Overall, I would stay here again and my mum agrees! We do like the service and the convenience of this location, getting from here to anywhere we want in Seoul was quite a breeze.
Part 2 is next, where we spent our day completely in Hongdae and nowhere else.