Seoul Tower Ville - Hotel Review

It was my second time in Seoul with a friend and it was freaking cold morning  and we’re lost, looking for our hotel in the heart of Myeongdong shopping center.

Hellp!! - Lost in Myeongdong, Princess Attic asking for direction

Then  when we found it, it was unfortunate because the hotel, (which I don’t want to name it here) did not want to accept an early check in.  So what are we gonna do??! Should we wait until 2pm? Should we walk around and do some sight seeing with all our stuff?

That was cold crazy morning , we’re tired, we’re cold and no hotel. We’ve already lost few hours looking for that hotel and I don't want to loss more hours again waiting for that hotel to check us in. So armed with all our back pack we headed to Seoul Tower Ville a homey apartment style in a hilly walk up residence just 5 minutes away from the subway, hoping that they have vacant room since it was peak season and we don’t have reservation.

At Seoul Tower Ville we are greeted by Mr. Ko and his wife, they speak Chinese and English. They are so friendly.

They gave us one of their new rooms and it is huge! Good for four! Whoa so much for two person room that we’re hoping. I’ve noticed that they had recently upgraded their rooms. It has fully functioning kitchen - provided with electric flat cooking tops, microwave oven, conventional oven, 2-door fridge, laundry washing machine, flat screen TV, fantastic. Like other hotel they have heater, blower, super clean bathroom with essential needs like fresh towel, tooth brush, tooth paste, shampoo, bath soap, shower gel, and more. Not to mention their free Wi-Fi was so awesoome! The room facilities were working well. It really felt like a home stay with the kitchenette and washing machine. Nothing fancy like a hotel - this place is more like an apartment . But it is clean, neat & comfortable with homely facilities.

Our room just above the reception office with terrace

Princess Attic at the Terrace

our oven and 2 door ref

cupboard with free instant tea and coffee

unlimited stock of disposable chop stick and spoon & fork! Its bundle of stock is in the lower cabinet.

if only I could use that machine!

clean comfort room

Our shoes and boots will greet you at the door

view from our bed..is that drama on TV?

their bathroom has full of necessities ~~

Did I mention that we have 2 bathrooms?

need that cups for our coffee

I almost missed our stove - it blend to the color of the tiles! 

thoughtful to have that green tea and coffee .. and the kitchen has a pile of stocks

our 3 bed! one double bed, and 2 single and we're only two!!

STV was not my first choice because  it wasn’t located at the heart of Myeongdong, its about 10 minutes walk from shopping center. However on the other side STV’s location is good, because its away from the noise but near enough to walk to the heart of action and just 5 minutes walk to the subway. There are lots of shopping & food outlets near by which open till late night.
I recommend this apartment style located at Myeongdong, one of the prime shopping areas in Seoul. All you have to do is (1)to take a bus from the airport (6015), drop off at Sejong hotel, then call the owners or (2) ride AREX All Stop [it was ‘All Stop’ since it will stop to all station and other one is ‘Express’ for non stop] to Seoul station and transfer to subway blue line 4 to Myeongdong Station and call the hotel. They will drive down to pick you up . The owners speak Chinese and English. Since it is located halfway up a hill, so expect daily hikes up and down it's manageable though, there're stairs and they aren’t that long.

Kind Mr. Ko during our checkout

Mr. Ko sending us off to Myeongdong station

If you're travelling to other cities you can leave your luggages with them until your next check in. Upon departure, they will send your luggage at a pre-arranged time at the bus stop outside Sejong hotel so you could just take the airport bus transfer from there. It was really convenient because after check out, you can leave your belongings with them and you can still do sight seeing, kill some time  before your flight  - worry and luggage free.

What is not good though is the steep walk up to the apartment which could be tiring for people with strollers & elderly folks, so if you have elderly peeps with you this apartment is definitely a no no for you.

stair to STV

But other than the climb up, everything was great at STV. Kind owners and staff, clean room, really a comfy stay. If you're travelling during peak seasons, please try to book earlier because they are really popular with tourists.  Please visit their website for more information and booking. This place is also recommended by Korea Tourism Organization.

It has been 2 weeks since I came back, so sorry for the late post!! And erm, I might have accidentally left out some stuffs since it has been some time.. Hope this post helps you though! Oh photo credit to a very good friend and also a back packer -  Joanne Roña.

Seoul Tower Ville
Email:        st2495@daum.net
Address:    8-14 Yejang dong, Jung-gu,
                   Seoul, South Korea
Tel:   +82 - (0)10 - 6218 - 8808
       +82 - (0)70 - 7018 - 2495
Fax:  +82 - (0)2 - 318 - 2570

Inked with Love,
Princess Attic

What Place Would You Most Love To Visit?

Gwangjang Traditional Market in Seoul

Question: What place would you love to visit in a foreign land?

I got this question in one of the writing contest that I joined..yes, I do join contest once in a while..whether its a simple survey, or a blog, or an essay one. 

Well, One place that I would definitely love to visit is - markets, I love market - this is where you can really see normal local life and real people, smell the smells, and find real local food.

This cannot be found by clubbing and sipping wine or sitting by the pool at your hotel.
Visiting a market is a feast for the senses, all kind of sights and smells.

Different stores, restaurants, street foods, the traffic both on roads and sidewalks, people rushing about in many different directions, buses, cars, a totally motion of colors and noise.
The endless street and market noise is like a background music on a musical play.

It's always worth a look at a local market, you'll also learn history on every corner.
Touch, smell and taste culture by visiting one of magnificent busiest place: the local market.

How about you? What place would you love to visit in a foreign land?

Cheers! 

HOW TO APPLY SOUTH KOREA TOURIST VISA (FOR FILIPINOS)

Finally, a little time to write after a year of not posting anything!!

And my first post is....what else but ~~ South Korea!! 

Hmm this ajumma finally had a chance to visit and sniff kimchi in South Korea!!hihi ~~~ (and I'll blog my adventure there but before that here's my 1st entry)

Well here's what you need to visit Seoul - Visa. If you're Filipino like me, lucky you because it's free!! It’s generally FREE, but you still have to apply for it and visa release is as short as 3 days and as long as a week!!         

 Applying South Korean tourist visa in the Philippines is not as easy and straight forward as before because last February 17, 2015 the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in the Republic of the Philippines issued new requirements. But don’t worry if you have fund to show and complete requirements it’s just a piece of cake.      

 

The new requirements for Korean tourist visa effective March 1, 2015.

Steps
A. Gathered all the needed documents,
1. Application Form (you can download here)
2. 1 piece of Passport size colored picture
3. Original Passport (should be valid for more than 6months)
4. Photocopy of Passport Bio-page (page 2)
5. Original & Photocopy of valid visa/s and arrival stamps to OECD member countries for the past 5 years (If applicable, and Korean Visas will not be counted)
6. Original Certificate of Employment
   (must include applicant's position, date hired, compensation, office address, HR landline number (cell-phone number is not allowed), HR e-mail address)
7. Original Personal Bank Certificate
   (must include account type, current balance, account opening date, ADB)
8. Bank Statement
   (original or certified true copy of bank statements/passbook for the last 3 months)
10. Photocopy of ITR (Income Tax Return) or Form 2316

B. Photocopy your OECD visas, (if you have, if none skip this)
 OECD visas help a lot, it will expedite the process of your Korean visa and cut short the waiting period.

C. Once completed go to the Embassy and submit your requirements, No need for appointments, visa application happens every day from 9.00am to 11.00am only.

Address : 122 Upper McKinley Road, McKinley Town Center, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig city 1634, Philippines
Contact number : 632 856-9210 local no. 270 or 500.

Here’s how the process goes:
a. Register and leave an ID at the guard’s station before entering the consular center.
b. Once inside, get a number from the personnel stationed by the door. He will check if you have all the docs. If he’s satisfied with your documents, he will give you a number.
c. Wait for your number to be called. Note that there are separate windows for those with and without past OECD visas.
d. Once called, the staff will double check the requirements and gives you a slip of paper with the DATE OF RELEASE in it.
e. Then you’re done - Mine was less than a minute.

IMPORTANT!

Schedule of application: Monday-Friday 9am-11am only, be there on time! I remember going there 10 minutes before the cut off time! LOL.

■ Processing Time
: 3 working days (for those who have been to OECD member countries within 5 years as tourist)
  5 working days (for those who have not been to OECD member countries within 5 years)

■ Visa Fee: 59 days (or less) stay in Korea -- GRATIS
                   60 to 90 days stay in Korea -- PHP1,800.005.

Lastly claim your visa on the scheduled date of release.
Releasing of visa schedule: Monday-Friday 2pm-4pm

Tip 
1. Make sure all your documents are complete and fully accomplished before submitting
2. Your Bank Saving should have at least 30k (as per the experience of someone I know), if more than that the better, basically you just need to show that you have the capacity to pay for your trip.
3. Also check the embassy’s WEBSITE for updates.

Lastly, Good luck and enjoy your trip!