The truth about traveling in Jeju Island! Lessons learned from my first trip abroad

I just got back from Jeju Island and want to share my honest thoughts with everyone. It was my first time traveling abroad, and I thought I had done enough research, but I still fell into many traps and was so tired that I had to lie down for two days after returning home to recover… I'm sharing my hard-earned experiences, so be sure to read this if you're planning to go! 📅 Itinerary log - Day 1: Got up at 4am to catch the plane, so sleepy I could barely open my eyes. Went straight to Hamdeok Beach and Woljeongri after dropping off my luggage in Jeju Island. Although it was raining, the misty seaside was quite atmospheric. In the evening, I strolled around Shilla Duty Free and Baojian Road, my legs were about to break, and I went back to the hotel to crash at 10pm. - Day 2: Chartered a car to Seopjikoji, the scenery was indeed beautiful! But Seongsan Ilchulbong Peak was just so-so, and the seafood wasn't tasty either. The most annoying thing was that when we went to Udo Island, the driver said he wouldn't go with us, so we had to rent bicycles ourselves, and we were really pressed for time. But the speedboat ride was quite exciting, which was the only consolation. - Day 3: Strolled around Chilseongro, which was similar to Baojian Road, nothing special. In the afternoon, I took some nice photos in Aewol, but because of lack of time, I didn't get to Hyeopjae Beach and Windmill Coast. If I had known that taking a taxi and splitting the fare wasn't expensive, I should have just taken a taxi! - Day 4: Rushed to catch the plane early in the morning, and it was already 3pm when I got home, I was completely exhausted… 💣 Big traps I fell into 1. Luggage tearjerker: Spring Airlines doesn't allow 20-inch suitcases as carry-on luggage! I saw on a third-party platform that it was allowed, but I had to pay extra for checked baggage on the spot, which cost me an extra three or four hundred RMB for the round trip, so painful! 2. The itinerary was too rushed: I was walking non-stop every day for four days, so tired that I doubted my life. You should set aside at least five days, and it's more appropriate to charter a car to play on the west side on the third day. 3. Transportation blunder: When going to Udo Island, be sure to find a driver who can take the car onto the island! Or just take a taxi and split the fare, don't rent a car yourself like we did, it's tiring and time-consuming. 4. Meaningless attractions: There's really no need to go to Chilseongro and Dongmun Market, and Korean food isn't as delicious as I imagined. I didn't go to the south side this time, and I heard it's so-so, but I want to try it again next time. 5. Accommodation suggestions: Although it's more expensive to stay by the sea, it's convenient to go to the attractions. Although it's far from the city center, it's enough to go to the airport and shopping once, so it's still worth the experience. 6. Bus blunder: Be sure to check the GPS when taking the bus! I asked the locals for directions, but I still took the bus in the wrong direction for one stop, so embarrassing… A little consolation I earned a few hundred RMB by buying things for my friends, which made up for some of the losses. But next time I go, I will definitely do my homework in advance! Are there any sisters who have been to Jeju Island? Share your experiences in the comments section so I can avoid some traps next time! 👇