Travel Tips: Visiting Hong Kong, China, South Korea, Japan, Thailand
General/Applicable Almost Everywhere
Cheapest international sim cards: I signed up for the 3GB plan for 30 days that worked in 13 countries across SE Asia for $10
https://www.airalo.com/
$3 off next sim card when using this referral code to sign up: BAILI2250
Cambodia
China
Hong Kong
Indonesia
Japan
Laos
Macao
Malaysia
Philippines
South Korea
Taiwan
Thailand
Vietnam
I added the eSim right after purchase. This does not start the 30 day period as the eSim I bought specifically states: “ACTIVATION POLICY
The validity period starts when the eSIM connects to any supported network/s.” Thus, it does not activate instantly but rather when you are in one of the 13 Asian countries where service would connect to. My eSim took about 30 minutes to activate.
List of phones that support eSIMs (rather than physical SIMs) here
Make sure also that your phone is unlocked. Otherwise, you probably will not be able to use another SIM card.
If you are with multiple people, you can consider looking for pocket wifi such as from Klook here ($3.59/day for Unlimited 4G WiFi)
If you need to make a call from abroad to the US to a landline number, you can do so for 1 cent a minute with toovoip (there is an initially 5 cents per call for dial up)
Download the offline dictionary for your desired language on Google Translate app. You will even be able to take pictures of text and get a translation. Voice recognition will not be possible without wifi or data. If in China, make sure to turn off data and wifi for Google Translate to work.
If you are trying to avoid international cellular charges, make sure to keep your phone in airplane mode or turn off cellular data. I turned my U.S. Sim card off in the iPhone Settings under Cellular and only had my international Sim on.
I suggest using Google Authenticator as your 2FA instead of text message. For example, you might want to login to your bank and change 2FA. Moreover, tell your banks and credit card issuers that you will be traveling internationally so they don’t block your card for suspicious activity.
You may consider opening a new bank account. The Schwab Bank High Yield Investor Checking account gives unlimited ATM rebates worldwide and no foreign transaction fee.
Schwab brokerage account $101 opening bonus
$101 bonus https://www.schwab.com/investing-starter-kit
I would try to use a no foreign transaction fee credit card when possible as the exchange rate was more favorable than ATM cash withdrawals. However, be wary if your card has foreign transaction fees as that may make your exchange rate worse.
When using the ATM, you may see something below with an exchange markup, click “Proceed without conversion” to avoid that exchange markup fee and Schwab should refund you the access fee at the end of the month.
I used cash when credit card was not an option or if there were extra fees. Use a no foreign transaction fee credit card for free cash back such as the Alliant 2.5% Visa Signature credit card: https://www.alliantcreditunion.org/bank/visa-signature-card
If given option to pay in local or USD, always pay in local currency with credit card as it’s cheaper.
Use this free itinerary app to plan your travels:
wanderlog.com
Here is an example itinerary I made with some friends for Tokyo, Japan: https://wanderlog.com/view/deixaufjln/trip-to-japan/shared
I especially like being able to see places as you add them, allowing you to optimize your route.
You can pay for the premium features if you want.
I would print the trip so that you can have access offline (unless you want to pay for the premium features and get access offline).
If you happen to accidentally click on a place and find that you need to fill it in again, just click the most recent result in the dropdown to get your information returned.
You could search for other alternative apps or use a google sheet if you want for organization.
You can google “Best 4 day itinerary for Tokyo, Japan” as an example to get ideas
For China, this app may not work so well since google maps is banned in China and wanderlog uses google maps.
Try posting on social media some version of this to see if you have any friends there: “Planning a trip to Bangkok, Thailand from 1/24-2/2/25. Anyone have ideas, itineraries, or want to meet up there, let me know.”
If you don’t know where to eat, you could try GuideMichelin app https://apps.apple.com/app/id1541129177
There are even some cheap places and street market vendors on the app.
Bonus tip: Use LAX as connecting flight for cheaper airfare rather than a direct flight when traveling to some international countries such as Japan and Hong Kong
If a U.S. website does not work abroad, you might need to use a VPN. More details below.
Hong Kong
I stayed with my family so free for me.
For public transport, you can use google maps for navigation and the Octopus card (Get it at airport or MTR customer service). If you choose to buy one way tickets instead of octopus car, the machines only accept small coins (no card).
Make sure to get an adapter if you are from the U.S. (Or have a family friend who can just lend you theirs).
China
Censoring/VPNs
China censors many websites such as Google, Youtube, Facebook, WhatsApp, and so on. I had to use bing.com in China unless I turned on my VPN. ExpressVPN was unreliable for me. It would connect for a few minutes and then be blocked. Since I was on the ExpressVPN trial, I got a refund given their 30-day money-back guarantee. However, when I used my own data from SIM card (as opposed to wifi), it seemed to work. For the most part, I had to use AnyConnect VPN (many colleges use this VPN but you might not have access to this VPN). Thus, here is a reddit post for VPNs that work in China: LetsVPN & Astrill are the recommendations. Windscribe might also work. I suggest looking on reddit before leaving to China so you can download a working VPN. The Great Firewall that censors China is constantly updating so you need to stay on your toes for the most recent updates.
Paying for Things
Visiting China can be tough without using WeChat to pay for things electronically. Unfortunately, I was unable to connect my USA credit card or debit card to WeChat. Instead, I had to use my cousin’s Chinese card in order for WeChat Pay to work. You can ask your visiting relatives or Chinese friends to gift you a “relative card” through WeChat Wallet to help you use WeChat Pay. However, foreigners can use Alipay for electronic payments using their foreign cards. Alternatively, you can try cash. But some areas or places may only accept WeChat and not cash. I believe most of the big cities will accept cash but smaller and more rural cities may not.
Turn off your VPN when using WeChat or WeChat Pay or any Chinese app.
You can still use WeChat for communication as a foreigner but you won’t be able to pay for things unless you have a Chinese friend’s bank card.
Nearby restaurants and activities: “大众点评“ App
Transportation
Different cities have different apps for public transport. Qingdao had a pretty good public transport system. Didi (the equivalent to Chinese Uber) is more expensive than public transport but still relatively affordable (much cheaper than U.S.A. based Uber).
高德地图 with Apple Maps to navigate China
Apple Maps alone was good for the most part.
Visas
U.S. Citizens require a tourist visa: https://mychinavisa.com/china-visas/china-tourist-visa/
Communicating
Use WeChat over wifi or data (make sure VPN off)
If you downloaded the offline dictionary on Google Translate app, make sure to turn off data and wifi for Google Translate to work. You can also use Microsoft Translator for free.
Bing.com works in China (google.com search engine does not unless you use a VPN).
Chinese apps below
wechat.com
Didi is located inside wechat.com app:
3-7. Other Apps:
Apple Maps
South Korea
Navigation
Use Naver Maps and google translate to convert an English address to a Korean address for easier input into Naver Maps
Naver Maps App Store link here
If Naver Maps does not work for you, use Google Maps. However, in Korea, Naver Maps is far superior. (This is because of South Korea’s national security law….google yourself for a better explanation).
Get a T money card. You can buy one at GS25 at ICN airport before you enter metro.
U.S. Citizens do not need a visa.
Go to the palaces during the free guided tours in your preferred language (you may have to pay an admission fee but tour is free. You can also rent a hanbok which is a traditional Korean clothing to visit all palaces free of charge. The palaces are also free on major holidays and the last Wednesday of every month.). You can also buy the Seoul Palace Pass or Combination Ticket which allows visitors to explore all four of the royal palaces in Seoul and Jongmyo Shrine for 10,000 KRW (saving 4000 KRW). The pass is good for 3 months. I was not able to visit all of them but I liked Gyeongbokgung Palace the best.
Royal Palaces
Changdeokgung
99, Yulgok-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
(서울특별시 종로구 율곡로 99)
Changgyeonggung
185, Changgyeonggung-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
(서울특별시 종로구 창경궁로 185)
Gyeongbokgung
161, Sajik-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
(서울특별시 종로구 사직로 161)
Deoksugung
99, Sejong-daero, Jung-gu, Seoul
(서울특별시 중구 세종대로 99)
Gyeongbokgung Palace (English tour times) - 11:00, 13:30, 15:30 Monday-Sunday. Closed on Tuesdays. Tour takes 1-1.5 hours. There are also many different museums within walking distance that you should explore such as the National Folk Museum of Korea
Changing of the guard ceremony: 10:00 and 14:00 in the square inside Gwanghwamun Gate
Gate guard duty performance: 11:00 and 13:00 directly outside the Gwanghwamun Gate
Admission fee: 3,000 won (around $2.30) for Adults
Deoksugung Palace:
Bank of Korea Money Museum
Try a temple stay. Learn more here
Search up Myeongdong Nanta here for a family friendly and English friendly comedy show. Moreover, outside the building will be a night market for food.
Food
In terms of food, I just winged it. However, for breakfast, I usually went to a convenience store like 711 and chose some random Korean food since convenience stores are really good in Asia (at least the ones I’ve been to in China, Japan, and Korea).
This ramen place was really good (not Korean but delicious):
Oreno Ramen Insa
오레노라멘 인사점
49-4 율곡로 Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea
This is a picture of the building. To the left of this was a staircase where people were waiting to be seated. Although the line looked long, it was quick to seat.
Other random good food from places I can’t remember:
Korean Traditional Taffy TA-Rae: it was cool even watching them make it.
Mammoth Express: Mammoth Ade (Grapefruit+Orange+Lemon). Large drink: 3,900 won ($3).
Go to guruwalk.com/ for the best free tour guides. Tip them depending on how satisfied you feel. I tipped mine $20 on my 3 hour tour. You can tip more or less (up to you).
This is a reminder to arrive at least 1 hour before your flight departs or else the ticket counter will close!! (I unfortunately did not and had to book a new flight which cost me $1000 extra.) Luckily, I had Air Premia so even though I was a no-show, I got a partial refund. I first emailed cs@airpremia.com in English to get the refund but since I used studentuniverse.com to buy the ticket, Air Premia instructed me to contact them so I did at help@studentuniverse.com. Their reply was “Our record shows that you were already tagged as a No-Show on this flight from Seoul, Korea to Los Angeles, CA last June 20, 2023. However, as per the fare rules of this ticket, this is still refundable with penalty fees which are amounting to USD 232.00 from the airlines, and a StudentUniverse fee of USD 150.00. (USD 150.00 from this fee will be charged to the card on file/or the card you provide). This will make your refund amount USD 382.85. In addition to this, please be informed that promo codes will be charged back if the passenger requests flight cancellation. Therefore, USD 8.00 will be charged to the card on file if you opt to proceed with the refund.”
Original $611.99 Air Premia flight -$8-$150-$232=$221.99 ultimately refunded.
Japan
Other Travel Tips
Mobile Passport Control (MPC): Go through US customs faster for free: https://www.cbp.gov/travel/us-citizens/mobile-passport-control (almost like free global entry)
💼 Travel agents are still valuable for complex trips and provide additional services and support during unforeseen circumstances. You might also get discounts, for example, on cruises but do your own research too.
🌍 Lesser-known European gems: Azores, Madeira Island.
💼 Use "Appointment Scanner" app to find open appointments for Global Entry:
https://appointmentscanner.com/
There’s also Enrollment on Arrival
Or just wait for free.
💼 Compare travel insurance policies on Insuremytrip.com if you want travel protection (rather than defaulting to the last checkout page).
💼 When booking hotels, find a cheap rate online and then ask the hotel to match or beat the price, while also providing extra perks (Same tip if you find Groupon deals. Ask the company directly rather than going through Groupon)