Disclaimer:
This content is based on my first-hand experience, which should not be used as advice for your travel routine. Each country and quarantine facility may have different travel rules and protocols.
08/29/2020 Eighth Day of Quarantine
• The quarantine room provides two types of electrical outlets: 110 volts and 220 volts. You should not harm yourself or damage the appliances.
• Each room is supplied with some orange biohazard waste bags. They are not regular garbage bags – they’re thicker and more resistant to leakage. They are marked with “X” to identify the biohazards and warn others.
• This morning, we requested only two small bags of liquid laundry detergent, but the staff misunderstood and other supplies were also delivered to us, including a pack of masks, hand sanitizer gel, a digital thermometer, a soap bar, and few biohazardous waste bags.
• The parcel of the ramen pot was finally delivered to the facility, but the staff notified us that we cannot get it until we leave. Other parcels should be delivered shortly!
Photo Credit: Two types of electric outlets, @tiffany.ironfan’s Instagram
Photo Credit: Orange biohazard waste bags, @tiffany.ironfan’s Instagram
Photo Credit: Extra supply, @tiffany.ironfan’s Instagram
08/30/2020 Ninth Day of Quarantine
During the quarantine period, we were fortunate to purchase Korean-made masks with good filtering features for protection against Covid-19. Package delivery to the facility is permitted only in an emergency case, and all the packages are inspected before being sent to a room. A package can be discarded if it is considered inadmissible. Our full name, as displayed on our passport, as well as the room number must be written on the package.
Face masks became a top priority on my shopping list, as Korea doesn’t have a mask shortage and the price is insanely cheap when compared to other countries. There are many mask options available from online stores such as Gmarket.co.kr (Korea’s number-one online shop) or Coupang.com (you may need to use Google Chrome to translate the web page into English) and local pharmacies.
Tips for purchasing masks online
• Check the product availability
• Check the shipping date (when it can ship)
• Read the customer reviews to double-check the quality
• Different types of Korean masks are available to meet your needs: first-rate 3M N95, KF94 (the “Korean filter” standard similar to the US N95), KF-AD anti-droplet), dental/medical masks, and general disposable masks
If you want a super high-quality mask, just check all the other boxes: breathable, made in Korea, and Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS)-certified. Here are some photos of masks I purchased from Gmarket (3M Auro 9322, Dongkook KF94, and 3M KF94), which can protect wearers from airborne transmission.
Photo Credit: Parcel received, @tiffany.ironfan’s Instagram
Photo Credit: 3M Auro 9322 respirator, @tiffany.ironfan’s Instagram
Photo Credit: 3M Auro 9322 validation, @tiffany.ironfan’s Instagram
Photo Credit: 1st Rate 3M 9322 mask, @tiffany.ironfan’s Instagram
Photo Credit: 3M 9322 in a box of 10 pieces, @tiffany.ironfan’s Instagram
Photo Credit: Dongkook KF94 masks, @tiffany.ironfan’s Instagram
Photo Credit: Dongkook KF94 masks in a box of 60 pieces, @tiffany.ironfan’s Instagram
Photo Credit: 3M KF94 Package, @tiffany.ironfan’s Instagram
Photo Credit: 3M KF94 validation, @tiffany.ironfan’s Instagram
Photo Credit: 3M KF94 Mask, @tiffany.ironfan’s Instagram
Photo Credit: 3M KF94 in a box of 20 pieces, @tiffany.ironfan’s Instagram
Photo Credit: KF-AD masks, @tiffany.ironfan’s Instagram
On your next trip to Korea, don't miss the opportunity to buy masks, though we hope the pandemic is over soon!
08/31/2020 Tenth Day of Quarantine
The best way to reserve a hotel room for the lowest price is to book in advance. You may find some last-minute deals, but they may not be cancelable and refundable. There are so many options to save money on hotels online, such as booking.com, Kayak, Priceline, hotels.com, Expedia, TripAdvisor, Trivago, etc. But today I would like to share some tips and tricks on how I got the lowest price on the hotel for our Korea trip on agoda.com:
• Join the membership for access to exclusive deals
• Set the currency suggestion to Canadian Dollars
• Choose the dates you want to reserve
• You can pick a room with a “kitchen” (a small one), which will be convenient
• Besides the room and non-smoking options, other options are:
o Free Cancellation
o Book Without Credit Card/Pay Later
o Pay at Hotel – the most flexible option, where you only need to confirm your reservation and are not required to pay anything until your arrival
• Get cash back from your booking and use it on the next trip
• Book one month earlier for the best rates
Photo Credit: Agoda hotel booking, @tiffany.ironfan’s Instagram
Photo Credit: Agoda options to reserve, @tiffany.ironfan’s Instagram
09/01/2020 Eleventh Day of Quarantine
Explore the three largest duty-free online shopping platforms in Korea. The best goodies are cosmetics, electronics, bags/wallets, and other fashion products. These duty-free stores allow you to purchase your favorites online for even more of a discount:
1. Lotte http://eng.lottedfs.com/kr
2. The Shilla https://m.shilladfs.com/comm/kr/en/main
3. Shinsegae https://store.ssgdfm.com/store/en/main
By signing up on their website, you can join a free membership and enjoy exclusive privileges. Simply choose and pay for the products in advance and pick them up from the allocated location, as noted on your receipt. You can often save 10,000 won and even more!
Photo Credit: Lotte Duty Free Online Store, @tiffany.ironfan’s Instagram
Photo Credit: Brand deal on Night Repair Complex Duo 100mlx2, @tiffany.ironfan’s Instagram
Photo Credit: Login Price on Night Repair Complex Duo 100mlx2, @tiffany.ironfan’s Instagram
Photo Credit: Special Price on Night Repair Complex Duo 100mlx2, @tiffany.ironfan’s Instagram
09/02/2020 Twelfth Day of Quarantine
The Quarantine Facility Pros and Cons
Pros:
* The Korean government’s strict orders will flatten the COVID-19 infection rate
* Room is very spacious and has comfy beds
* The facility offers very clear and organized quarantine instructions on room policies, supplies, mealtime, how to dispose of waste, etc.
* The facility provides dedicated service to make you feel safe and protected
* It’s a very quiet environment for you to adopt a new life
* You can create your own agenda to make a “sweet jail”
Cons:
* Makes it very difficult for foreigners and non-Korean citizens
* The room doesn’t have an open-able window for fresh air
* All food is served cold and there is no microwave
* Some quarantine supplies are limited; you may need to bring your own
* No physical contact allowed, so you may feel loneliness, social isolation, or depression
* The facility staff doesn’t speak good English, so communication may be difficult
Photo Credit: The facility quarantine instructions, @tiffany.ironfan’s Instagram
09/03/2020 Thirteenth Day of Quarantine
• Created a photo gallery for all 14 days of quarantine meals – unfortunately, we were informed that there will be no breakfast provided to us on the day we leave the facility.
• Filled out the form called “Leaving the Facility” in order to notify them which transport we will use to leave the facility. We checked the second option, which is to take a shuttle bus from the facility to the Unseo Airport Railway Station. Then we take a train/subway via Hongik University Station to Yeoksam (Gangnam-gu). It is one of the cheapest ways to get from the airport to Gangnam, which costs Korean Won ₩6,500 and takes 1 hr 37 mins.
Photo Credit: Leaving the Facility Form, @tiffany.ironfan’s Instagram
Photo Credit: The subway routine from Unseo Station to Gangnam-gu, @tiffany.ironfan’s Instagram
09/04/2020 Last Day of Quarantine
It was a sunny morning and our last day of quarantine. We were excited to pack again and prepare for a new routine in the hotel we booked.
Thank you for your support and for spending time on reading this quarantine post!
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