Layover guide
Eating near the crew hotels in Seoul
Water and side-dish refills are free, every table has a call button, and tips are not expected.
All of Seoul
Asking for more water or more side dishes costs nothing extra. More restaurants now let you serve yourself water and side dishes, or order at an unmanned machine.
Every table has a call button: press it when you need a server.
Tipping is not required or expected in Korea.
Many major hotels and upscale restaurants add a 10% service charge to the bill, on top of the 10% VAT.
- Korea Tourism Organization (VisitKorea): About Korean Food · checked 2026-09-28
- Visit Seoul (Seoul Tourism Organization): Money · checked 2026-09-28
The rest of Seoul
The whole guideGetting out of the airportExpress train, 43 minutes from Terminal 1 and 51 from Terminal 2. The last express back leaves Seoul Station at 23:00, and the last airport-bound all-stop at 23:40.Ride-hailingMetered taxis from numbered ranks outside arrivals, with surcharges that are published rather than negotiated.Local laws that catch crew outCannabis sits with opium and cocaine on the restricted list, food is a quarantine matter, and cash over ten thousand dollars is declarable in both directions.Staying connectedRoaming centres at Incheon and Gimpo sell SIMs and rent Wi-Fi eggs, convenience stores sell SIMs too, and free public Wi-Fi is widespread.WeatherJanuary in Seoul runs between minus 5.5 and 2.1 degrees, August between 22.9 and 30, and the rain arrives in one concentrated month.What to buyDuty-free bought inside Korea counts against your 800 dollar allowance, and the VAT refund starts at a kiosk before you check your bags.TippingTaxis do not require a tip, and the extras on the meter are published percentages rather than anything discretionary.