Hello fellow members, from January 9th to 16th, 2017, I had the opportunity to visit Japan again (I don't understand myself, it's really hard to cut off and go somewhere else). But this time it was my first time in Hokkaido, which was my first trip of the year. I mainly visited Sapporo and Otaru (because the train tickets were secretly expensive). Actually, the first time I planned this trip, I had a budget of 20,000 baht for airfare and hotels, so I was looking at Nagoya. It turned out that in early September, there was a sudden promotion from Korean Air for around 12,xxx baht (Economy Class). As soon as I saw it, I didn't have to think about it. It took me about an hour to book the tickets and the Apa Hotel susukino in Sapporo for January 9th-16th, 2017, a total of 7 nights, for 4 people at 75,169 baht, an average of 18,792 baht per person, which was an acceptable price. In fact, I was quite happy with it. Perhaps because hotels in Sapporo are not expensive at all compared to other major cities like Tokyo, Kyoto, or Osaka.
The travel details are as follows:
1. Bangkok - Seoul, January 9, 2017:
Flight KE 660
Departure: Bangkok (BKK/Suvarnabhumi) - 9:50 AM.
Arrival: Seoul (ICN/Incheon) - 5:10 PM.
Flight duration: 5 hours 20 minutes.
Aircraft Type: Airbus A330-300
I arrived at the airport around 6 am on the morning of my trip, giving myself a generous four-hour buffer time. I have a deep fear of missing flights, and Suvarnabhumi Airport can be quite crowded in the mornings. I also had to pick up the pocket Wi-Fi I had ordered from Tripizee, which involved a long walk to their counter near the train station. As for check-in, the Korean Air counter was located in the N zone, where there were few people and the process was quick and easy.
Swiftly entering the gate, Thai immigration didn't take long this time. I continued snacking on various treats. Many people may already know this, but I just learned for the first time that the price of bottled water in the Boots store is cheaper than other stores. A small bottle costs 10 baht, and a large bottle costs 25 baht (just sharing this information). I had bought a small bottle for 40 baht from a nearby store before entering Boots, so let's just say I was a bit disappointed. While waiting for the gate to open, I took some photos to pass the time.
The interior of the aircraft is in excellent condition, with a 2-4-2 seating configuration.
It has a USB port for charging.
Comprehensive entertainment options, including movies, music, TV shows, games, and flight information.
This feature provides valuable information about the destination airport, including connecting flights, departure details, and most importantly, the gate number for our next flight.
Movie Trailer
The seats are very wide.
Regarding the bathroom,
The highlight of this airline is the food. I was eager to try the bibimbap, and it did not disappoint. It was as delicious as I had hoped.
The gochujang sauce was truly exceptional, even without ordering bibimbap, you can request it with any meal.
Mix it all together and enjoy! However, there was only one flight available, and no more after that.
This is my partner's meal, noodles with black pepper chicken sauce, also delicious. Another highlight was the bread and butter, which was excellent. The disappointment was the salads, none of which were particularly tasty.
After a satisfying meal, we relaxed, watching movies and listening to music, eagerly anticipating our upcoming trip to Hokkaido, our dream destination.
Upon landing in Seoul, the captain announced an outside temperature of -1 degree Celsius. We quickly disembarked from the aircraft, eager to make the most of our 1 hour and 40-minute layover. As we exited the jet bridge, we were surprised to see four Thai staff members holding a sign with our names, seemingly awaiting our arrival like celebrities. We naively assumed we would be whisked away in a golf cart, but to our disappointment, the staff member simply spoke to us in Korean.
"We are sorry to inform you that your flight has been cancelled due to snow in Sapporo."
The scene would have been hilarious if there was a 360-degree camera panning our faces. Our smiles would have gradually faded, replaced by expressions of disappointment. However, we were somewhat prepared for this, as we knew that it snows every day in this city. Oppa explained the process thoroughly, and here's what we learned:
1) Retrieve your luggage at Lost & Found, as your original luggage will be transferred to your connecting flight.
2) Proceed to the airline counter (located at the far left of the arrivals hall) to obtain a new ticket. The flight is scheduled to depart at 9:35 AM on January 10, 2017.
3) Voucher for accommodation and meals at the same location as item 2.
4) Simply wait for the shuttle to take you to the hotel.
Upon arrival at immigration, the officers were quite strict with the women. It's best to be well-prepared. They asked my girlfriend a few questions but let her through. However, they almost didn't allow my mother entry. Apparently, two Thai people had been sent to the detention room earlier, and my mother kept looking in. (My girlfriend told me that there weren't many Thai people entering, so she was a bit nervous.) When asked if she was traveling with us, my mother said, "No, no, no, I'm with my husband and son," and explained the reason for their visit to Korea. She pointed to us and beckoned us to join her. The officer then said, "Okay, okay," and finally let us through.
The airline arranged for a hotel with dinner and breakfast at the Holliday Inn, which is located in Incheon City, allowing for a day of sightseeing in Korea. This was the first time my flight had been canceled, but it was a pleasant surprise because the hotel was excellent, and the food was delicious.
The hotel shuttle bus took approximately 30 minutes to reach the hotel. Upon arrival, we proceeded to the 9th floor lobby for check-in using the voucher provided by the airline.
Having eaten our last meal 5-6 hours ago and checked in around 7 pm, our stomachs were growling. We placed our bags and belongings in the lobby, joining other hungry travelers.
The cuisine is predominantly Asian and European (with a small selection of steaks, salads, cheeses, and breads). Everything is delicious, or perhaps I was just very hungry.
I decided to have sushi first because I had a dream that I would go looking for sushi to eat when I arrived in Sapporo.
Large mussels, I don't know what they were used for, but they were in a sauce. The pizza was also good.
Korean-style seafood soup
The highlight of this place is undoubtedly the dessert buffet, making it a paradise for dessert lovers.
After a satisfying meal, we headed back to our room to drop off our belongings before venturing out to explore the city of Incheon. Since we were already here, we figured we might as well take advantage of the opportunity.
The room is spacious and luxurious.
A soft bed, I want to sleep in for a long time.
View of Incheon City from the room
The bathroom is also very spacious.
It also has a butt nozzle.
Complete bath set
After checking into the hotel, we decided to explore the city in search of beer and fried chicken. The walk to the city center was quite a distance, and we had no prior knowledge of the area. We had only glimpsed the city's nightlife district while passing by in a car, noticing a concentration of bars and restaurants. However, it was too late for shopping. Incheon appears to be a modern city, judging by the relatively new buildings, residences, and infrastructure. The city's layout seems well-organized.
This is a hotel and is similar to an avenue with many coffee shops.
Strolling along, I came across a scenic public walkway by the river, where I stopped to take several pictures.
After a long and tiring walk in the cold, I stumbled upon a vibrant food and beverage district. I couldn't resist the temptation of indulging in some cheese-covered fried chicken, a dish I had been craving for a long time.
The portion was incredibly generous, enough to feed several people. I believe it was priced at 21,000 won. Paired with a refreshing beer, the meal cost me a total of 30,000 won.
.
.
After that, I took a taxi back to the hotel for 4,000 won. I went to bed early for fear of missing my flight to Hokkaido the next day.
2. Seoul - Sapporo, January 10, 2017: Flight: KE 765
Departure: Seoul (ICN/Incheon) - 9:35 AM.
Arrival: Sapporo (CTS/New Chitose) - 12:55 PM.
Flight time: 3 hours 20 minutes.
Aircraft Type: Boeing 747-400
On the morning of January 10, 2017, the alarm clock rang at 5:45 a.m. I packed my things, took a shower, and went to have coffee while waiting for the car. The airline was scheduled to pick me up at 7:33 a.m. I was sleepy and still feeling full from the fried chicken I had eaten the night before. At that time, I started to worry. The boarding time was 9:35 a.m., and it would take 30 minutes to get to the airport. I thought to myself, "Will I make it in time?" But I decided to be optimistic and believe that they wouldn't leave me behind.
The suspense finally hit when I arrived at the airport at 8:10 AM. The queue for baggage drop-off was ridiculously long, taking a good half hour to get through.
08:40 AM: Arrived at the immigration queue. The sign indicated a 30-minute wait. I desperately needed to use the restroom, but I couldn't leave the line. The queue moved slowly, inch by inch. Finally, at 09:20 AM, I reached the body scanner. After clearing the scanner, I arrived at the immigration counters around 09:30 AM. There were only 4-5 open counters for hundreds of thousands of passengers. I rushed through the immigration process, still without my belt from the scanner. Thankfully, the gate was nearby. I arrived at 09:35 AM, just in time. However, the flight was delayed from 09:35 AM to 09:55 AM. If I had checked the departure board, I wouldn't have needed to rush.
The flight was unexpectedly overbooked, necessitating a change to a larger aircraft, which resulted in a significant delay.
The spaghetti with meat is edible.
Our flight is nearing its destination. We apologize for the limited aerial photography due to drowsiness.
Safe arrival in Sapporo, with a white carpet of snow welcoming the entire land.
3. Sapporo - Seoul, January 16, 2017: Flight: KE 796
Departure: Sapporo (CTS/New Chitose) - 8:40 AM
Arrival: Seoul (ICN/Incheon) - 12:00 PM.
Flight time: 3 hours 20 minutes
Aircraft Type: Boeing 737-900 ER
Travel Time: 5 hours 12 minutes
Due to the early departure time and the first train from Sapporo departing at 6:00 AM, arriving at New Chitose Airport at 6:40 AM, I was worried that I would not arrive on time, so I moved to a hotel in Chitose City. However, it turned out that the airport here opens at 6:30 AM, and immigration will start at 7:45 AM. In fact, at that time, I thought to myself, "Why did I book an additional hotel in Chitose?" But I thought it was better to be safe than sorry in case the snow prevented the train from running.
The airport is small, with few check-in counters and flights.
Check-in is complete. Please wait for immigration to open.
The plane's seating arrangement was 3-3. I was unable to take pictures inside the terminal building because I had to go through immigration and then board the plane. However, I did notice that there were souvenirs available at the airport, including Royce chocolates and Tokyo Banana. I didn't have time to see what else was available.
Today's meal is delicious. It's Japanese rice with stewed meat, but it's served in a very small portion.
This is not delicious at all. There is a lot left over.
Full, keep watching the screen.
Upon arrival at Incheon Airport, we proceeded to the transit channel for another round of body and baggage scans. This time, however, we were in no rush, as we had a comfortable five-hour layover to relax, eat, shop, and stretch our legs.
4. Seoul - Bangkok, January 16, 2017: Flight KE 651
Departure: Seoul (ICN/Incheon) - 5:15 PM.
Arrival: Bangkok (BKK/Suvarnabhumi) - 5:10 PM.
Flight duration: 5 hours 20 minutes.
Aircraft Type: Airbus A330-300
Incheon Airport is a vibrant airport that showcases Korean culture through various performances. I found these performances to be delightful and enjoyed exploring the airport.
I have never encountered such a thing, but if it does not exist, it would be quite a sight to behold.
Let's grab some ramen at Karai Noodle. This dish is spicy, but that's all I could taste. The restaurant is located near Gate 40 and costs 9,000 yen.
After finishing dinner with my boyfriend, my mom invited us to continue eating. We went to a restaurant and had kimchi soup (which was delicious) and tacos from Taco Bell. I had tried Taco Bell once over ten years ago in America and stopped after one bite. Today, I gathered my courage and tried it again, hoping my opinion had changed. However, the result was the same: I still don't like it. We ate at the Food Empire food court, which has a wide variety of international cuisines, but unfortunately no Thai food. Interestingly, almost every restaurant there sells banana milk for 1300 won.
After a satisfying meal and enjoyable shopping, the time to wait for the return home arrives, marking the saddest moment of the entire journey.
This flight has a 3-4-3 seating configuration, but the last three rows have only two seats. I chose a seat in the last row, which meant I had to board later, but it was more comfortable.
Goodbye, Korea.
The in-flight meal was a standard chicken and rice dish (everyone was hoping for bibimbap, so much so that they refused to eat at the airport), but it came with a lot of vegetables, so I asked for extra gochujang sauce, as if I were eating nam phrik ta daeng with boiled vegetables. It was surprisingly delicious. The side dish was tofu with soy sauce, which was also good.
The dessert section features a delicious cheese-flavored ice cream. It's incredibly good, and I want more. I'd love to eat it again. Is it widely available? Any experts out there, please let me know.
.
This concludes my review. Personally, I was impressed with the airline's service, but the late arrival in Sapporo and early departure were drawbacks. However, if I have the opportunity and a good deal, I will definitely use them again.
This is my first airline review, and the information may not be complete or accurate. I apologize for any inconvenience.
I am currently working on a review of Hokkaido, so please stay tuned for that.
Exchange travel stories with Jongjorn here.
FB: Jongjourney
IG : Jongkong_jongjourney
Jongjourney - จงเจอนี่
Friday, October 4, 2024 3:10 PM