The trip at a glance
A 5-night Seoul trip built for repeat travelers: neighborhoods, food, shopping, and a blossom day, paced for a group with a mean age of 50. Use the tabs to confirm your spot, track your visa documents, install the trip app, see your cost, and follow the day plan.
Base area
Myeongdong (shopping/transport hub) or Ikseondong (hanok cafés, quieter)
Pace
Moderately packed — 2 to 3 anchors a day with rest buffers
Season note
Late-March blossoms opening toward early-April peak (±3 days)
Who's in
Live roster — updates as people confirm from any device.
| Name | Location | Status | Credential | Docs |
|---|
Confirm your participation
One entry per traveler. You can edit later by entering the same name. Required: name + status.
Responses
| Name | Status | Credential | Room | Arrive | Depart |
|---|
Visa & documents
Only Philippine-passport travelers need a Korean tourist visa. Visa-exempt members skip to the K-ETA note. Pick your name to track your own checklist — ticks sync to everyone.
Your document checklist
No name selected. Choose your name above, or add yourself on the Confirm Attendance tab first.
Philippine passport — Korea C-3-9 tourist visa
Single-entry, stay up to 59 days. Visa is valid 3 months from issue, so time the application to land inside that window before 29 Mar 2027.
What to prepare
- Passport valid 6+ months beyond travel, plus a photocopy of the bio page
- Completed, signed visa application form + one recent colored photo (3.5 × 4.5 cm, white background)
- Bank certificate showing Average Daily Balance — note: the 3-month bank-statement rule was waived in Feb 2026, but the bank certificate still matters
- Proof of ties: Certificate of Employment (with salary + approved leave), or business papers (DTI/SEC + ITR), or school certificate/ID
- Latest ITR / BIR Form 2316
- Round-trip flight reservation + hotel reservation + day-by-day itinerary (a reservation is enough — do not pre-pay non-refundable flights/hotels until the visa is approved)
- PSA marriage/birth certificate if travelling as a family or for minors
- If retired/unemployed: a sponsor's documents (affidavit of support, sponsor's COE, ITR, bank certificate, proof of relationship)
How & where
- Apply at the Korea Visa Application Center (KVAC) Philippines — by appointment only, no walk-ins
- Korea now issues a digital Visa Grant Notice (no passport sticker) — print a copy to travel with
- Middle-East-based applicants: apply at the Korean mission/visa center in your country of residence (e.g. UAE/KSA), not Manila — bring your residence visa / Iqama / Emirates ID
A valid Middle East residence visa does not waive the Korean visa for a PH passport holder. It supports an application filed where you reside. Always confirm the current document list with KVAC before booking your appointment.
Express & simplified tracks
- Express processing: about 5 working days vs ~12 for regular (as of mid-2026) — ask KVAC about the express lane.
- Simplified documents (exempt from bank certificate, bank statements and ITR) apply to these groups — they submit an original Certificate of Employment / appointment + proof of relationship instead:
- Elected officials: senator, congressperson, governor, provincial board member, city/municipal mayor
- Senior government employees: rank ≥ Assistant Secretary; AFP/PNP Brigadier General and above (not acting)
- PRC professional license holders: physician, dentist, lawyer (IBP), CPA, pharmacist, veterinarian
- BDO Gold / BDO Elite principal credit card holders (not supplementary)
- This simplification is confirmed through 31 Dec 2026 — re-verify it still applies for a 2027 application.
Suggested timeline (counting back from 29 Mar 2027)
By Sep 2026Lock the final traveler list; flag everyone who needs a visa.
Oct – Nov 2026Book flights + hotel early (cherry-blossom peak sells out and the bookings are visa evidence).
Dec 2026Renew any passport under ~8 months validity; start gathering employment/financial papers.
Early Jan 2027 (~12 weeks out)Prepare a freshly dated bank certificate; complete forms; print itinerary.
Late Jan – mid Feb 2027 (~8–10 weeks out)Book the KVAC appointment and submit. This keeps issuance inside the 3-month validity window.
Feb – early Mar 2027Receive and print the Visa Grant Notice; final document check. Keep ≥4 weeks buffer for any re-submission.
Visa-exempt members (Canada & Australia)
No Korean visa needed for short tourism. The open item is K-ETA (Korea Electronic Travel Authorization).
- Korea's temporary K-ETA exemption currently runs to 31 Dec 2026. For a March 2027 trip, plan as if K-ETA is required again, and re-check the official status about 3 months before travel.
- If required: apply online at the official K-ETA site at least 72 hours before departure (fee ≈ KRW 10,000; typically valid for multiple entries over ~3 years).
- Carry the e-Arrival Card details too unless your K-ETA covers it.
Group/tour-mode entry rules differ from individual entry. If anyone travels on a different passport not listed here, check their specific status before booking.
Install the trip app
We use the JV Travel App for the shared itinerary, bookings, budgets and expense splitting. It installs straight from the browser — no app store needed. Address: jv-travel-app.vercel.app
📱 iPhone / iPad (use Safari)
- Open Safari and go to jv-travel-app.vercel.app
- Install first; set up your account afterward (see "After installing" below)
- Tap the Share icon (square with an up-arrow) at the bottom of the screen
- Scroll down and tap Add to Home Screen
- Tap Add (top right) — the app icon appears on your home screen
- Open it from that icon to run full-screen
Must be Safari (the install option won't appear in Chrome on iPhone). iOS 16.4 or newer recommended.
🤖 Android (use Chrome)
- Open Chrome and go to jv-travel-app.vercel.app
- Install first; set up your account afterward (see "After installing" below)
- Tap the ⋮ menu (top right)
- Tap Install app (or Add to Home screen)
- Confirm Install
- Open it from your home screen or app drawer
If you don't see "Install", refresh the page once and make sure Chrome is up to date.
After installing — set up your account
- Open the installed app and tap Sign up / Create account
- Register with your email + a password. Use the same email you entered in your trip registration on the Confirm Attendance tab
- Verify your email — tap the link in the verification message
- Log in, then accept the trip invite inside the app. The trip's plan, bookings and budget are then shared with the group
- No invite showing? Ask the organizer to (re)send it to that exact email
Per-person cost projection
Planning estimates in PHP, per person, flights included, based on twin-share rooms and a mid-range "Standard" tier for the 5-night trip. These are budgeting figures, not quotes — peak cherry-blossom season runs higher, so book early. Make it yours: type your own figures in the “Your ₱” column and untick anything that doesn’t apply — the total updates live and stays on your device (nothing saved).
Edits stay on your device — nothing is saved or shared.
| Use | Category | Estimate | Your ₱ | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Round-trip airfare (MNL ⇄ ICN) | 28,000 | Peak season, booked early, budget carrier + baggage. Range 22,000–35,000 | ||
| Accommodation (5 nights) | 22,500 | Mid-range Myeongdong/Ikseondong, twin share (~₱9,000/room ÷ 2) | ||
| Food (6 days) | 18,000 | ~₱3,000/day: street + casual + a couple of nicer meals | ||
| Activities & admissions | 6,500 | Palace, N Seoul Tower, observatory, etc. | ||
| Day trip (Nami + Garden of Morning Calm) | 3,500 | Shuttle tour incl. transport | ||
| Local transport (T-money, 6 days) | 2,500 | Subway + bus | ||
| Airport transfer (round trip) | 1,200 | AREX / limousine bus | ||
| Travel insurance | 1,500 | 6 days, basic, age ~50 | ||
| eSIM / data (6 days) | 900 | Unlimited data plan | ||
| Korea visa (PH applicants only) | 2,000 | Visa fee + KVAC service. Visa-exempt (CA/AU): K-ETA ≈ ₱450 if required | ||
| Shopping allowance (discretionary) | 15,000 | Adjust to taste — cosmetics, fashion, gifts | ||
| Contingency (~10% of core) | 8,500 | Buffer for FX moves & extras | ||
| Your total (ticked items) | — | Untick a row to zero it out |
Quick tiers
Lean
Guesthouse/triple share, street food, skip day-trip tour: ~₱78,000–88,000
Standard
As itemized above: ~₱95,000–110,000
Comfortable
4★ hotel, more sit-down dining, private transfers: ~₱130,000–160,000
Biggest swing factors: how early flights are booked (blossom peak), room tier and occupancy, and personal shopping. Lock flights + hotel by Nov 2026.
Proposed itinerary · 29 Mar – 3 Apr 2027
Moderately packed, repeat-traveler leaning: fewer first-timer queues, more neighborhoods, food and a blossom day, with rest buffers and senior-friendly pacing. Swap any day freely.
Day 1 · Mon 29 Mar — Early arrival, ease in
Land early, light first day
Early AM: Arrive ICN → AREX/limousine bus to the base. Bags drop at hotel (rooms may not be ready until ~3pm), grab brunch nearby.
Midday: Gentle reset near the base — Myeongdong cosmetics/shopping or a Cheonggyecheon stream walk. No heavy itinerary after the flight.
Evening: Check in, Myeongdong street-food crawl, optional N Seoul Tower night view. Early night.
Day 2 · Tue 30 Mar — Palaces, hanok lanes & market
Old Seoul at a relaxed pace
AM: Gyeongbokgung or Changdeokgung (Secret Garden) — hanbok optional. Bukchon Hanok Village photo stops.
Lunch: Gwangjang Market (bindaetteok, mayak gimbap).
PM: Ikseondong + Insadong — hanok cafés, tea, craft shopping. Unhurried.
Dinner: Majang Meat Market (Majang-dong) — Seoul's famous butchers' market: pick fresh beef/pork at a stall and grill it at an in-market BBQ joint. Hearty, local, great value for a group. (Option: swap with the Day 5 farewell dinner.)
Day 3 · Wed 31 Mar — Blossoms & modern Seoul
Cherry-blossom day
AM: Seokchon Lake blossoms by Lotte World Tower (or Yeouido Hangang park if blooming).
PM: Lotte World Tower Seoul Sky observatory; shopping at Starfield COEX Mall / The Hyundai Seoul.
Evening: Han River sunset; optional river cruise.
Day 4 · Thu 1 Apr — Out of the city
Scenic day trip
Full day: Nami Island + Garden of Morning Calm (spring gardens, blossoms) — relaxed, coach-based; great for the group. Alternative: Suwon Hwaseong Fortress.
Evening: Return to Seoul; low-key dinner near the base.
Day 5 · Fri 2 Apr — Shopping & food
Bring-home day
AM: Dongdaemun (DDP, wholesale malls) or Myeongdong cosmetics run.
Lunch: Korean BBQ or a famous samgyetang house.
PM/Evening: Mangwon/Hongdae or Ikseondong for cafés and final gifts; group farewell dinner.
Day 6 · Sat 3 Apr — Last morning, 7pm flight
One more half-day, then fly
AM: Late checkout if available; slow brunch, final gifts/cosmetics, pack. Store bags at hotel/station if checked out.
Early PM: One easy stop near the base or a relaxed lunch.
~3:30–4:00 PM: Depart base for ICN (allow 60–90 min transfer + spring-peak airport queues) for the ~7:00 PM flight. Be airside by ~5:00 PM.
Blossom timing varies ±3 days. If peak shifts later, swap Day 3 and Day 5 so the blossom day lands on 1–2 Apr.
Victoria Family · Seoul Spring 2027 · planning estimates only — verify visa rules with KVAC and prices at booking.