Get a Fashion Makeover on a Budget at Dongdaemun, Korea

Dongdaemun Fashion District is a mega shopping center that are comprised of more than 20 shopping malls, department stores, wholesale shops, individual designer studios and street vendors, featuring all types of  latest and trendy fashion items.

The place goes way back to 1905 when it has established itself as the wholesale clothing market. Here, you can pretty much find any clothing you want whether it's a celebrity fashion or a dress that was showcased in a fashion show a few days earlier.

In recent years, number retail shops grew due to popular demands and growing number of tourists visiting the area.

The shopping district is actually divided into two distinct sections.  Even though both sections host both retail and whole sale stores, section 1 on the Doosan tower side is geared towards retail customers and vise versa for section 2.

In short, section 2 is where you will find great deals for the latest and unique fashion items.  Many shops here also sell clothing under their own brands; some are favored by Korean celebrities.  Interestingly, the shops in this part of the district opens up around 8PM until next morning, which is great for those night owls who can enjoy shopping at any time of the night.

Oh, by the way, you can also have your custom clothing made here on a budget by some of the world's best skilled hands.  Some of the designers running their own small shop ends up making a big name for their line of clothing.  If you are visiting Seoul, stop by Dongdaemu for one-of-a-kind shopping experience.  It is easily accessible by the metro train.

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Wednesday, February 05, 2014  No comment

Best Time to Buy Cheapest Flights to Asia

Is there a secret to buying a bargain airline tickets to Asia?  Sure there is.  I'll share tips that will help you avoid paying the highest premium as the price can fluctuate as high as double.

Cheapest time of the Year to Travel

The flights from U.S to Asia are generally destined to three countries; Japan, South Korea and China, which accounts for about 70%.  Even though there isn't a significant seasonal fluctuations in price, the flights to Asia surges at the beginning of school vacations which is May to June, December and April.

The spike in the number of travelers during these times is attributable to students studying in the States traveling back home and families with school aged children taking vacations.

In general, the prices tend to be at the lowest level in the fall and early spring.

How early should I buy the tickets?

Special promotions for flights to Asia are spotty at best; sometimes even unannounced in advance.  Some travel experts even claim that reserving tickets as early as 5-6 month in advance works in favor of discounted tickets, but that's very rare.  In fact, most airliners do not release discounted tickets that early.

It is highly recommend to plan and possibly purchase the tickets at least a month prior to your departure.  There are some travel agencies that deal heavily with Asian customers flying back home, and they usually know upcoming specials better than anyone else.

You can usually contact one of those agency to let them know your time frame so the agent can notify you as soon as the promotion is announced.  Typically, these tickets sell out pretty fast.

A study done by cheapair.com shows that 11 weeks in advance is the time to buy the lowest priced tickets for international flights statistically.

What is the range of price for an economy seat?

It really depends on where you are flying from.  Flying from east coast is usually higher than west coast since it is about 5 hours further away.  Considering all departure cities, a single economy ticket can cost anywhere from $700 to $2,000.

That's a huge variance if you are traveling with a family of four people.  We will be updating and adding more resource shortly on this topic, so stay tuned.

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Monday, February 03, 2014  No comment