Incheon: Impressions of a 'best airport in the world'
This airport has won so many accolades and awards such as the 'Best Airport in the World'. Incheon International Airport in Incheon, South Korea has literally taken the air industry by storm in just a short span of time. Its actually a relatively new airport, opened in 2001. So I felt the need to share with you my impressions and pictures. You be the judge, OK?
Here is a short video I took of our landing on Incheon International airport from Amsterdam on board Korean Air:
Awarded 'Best Airport' many times
It is a great airport nonetheless and I can understand why it has won many awards (this after you have been to boring, ugly, chaotic and archaic airports), but I find Incheon International Airport just a bit soul-less. Lots of steel and so much space. I am looking for the familiar cosiness and the homey touch, like you would feel when walking on the hallways of Schiphol Airport, afterall I am human.
This is just outside the airport by the taxi stand:
The airport is like a big shopping mall complete with live music and dance entertainment. There was a musical show when we arrived, and how it is staged truly brings me to the realisation that I am in Asia. You will not see this kind of act in Europe.
Below pictures are inside the terminal and the check-in area. It's one big colossal space.
First things first and we headed to the self-service kiosks. Unfortunately they were out of order and the queue to our flight's check-in counter was not a happy sight. Luckily, with Dutchman's sharp eye he saw someone in uniform in the corner printing out boarding passes. He went to the man to inquire while I lined up for the check-in counter queue (just to be sure). The man was indeed temporarily assigned there to help assist those that have already checked in online (which we did) because the kiosks broke down. We escaped the queue.
Going through immigration and security were a breeze. Having done that, we are now looking for the food court. After a week in Seoul eating Korean and Asian dishes, Dutchman is craving for bread, but he doesn´t want a sandwich. Hmm, a burger perhaps? McDonalds? Burger King? Where are they?
Now we had problems finding where the food court is because the directional signs were not big enough and were not strategically placed. Finding your boarding gate is not an issue, the numbers are flashed right above you, but not the sign to the food court! In large spaces, there is a danger for other types of signs to become invisible if they are not big enough and placed properly.
The food court is located upstairs and the signs were hidden on a corner just by the entrance escalator. Not handy. Across the food court (on the other side of the building) are the restaurants. We are done with restaurants for now, we want something fast, simple and easy.
Korean Whisky
Here I am goofing around with the Dutchman with the Soju drink at the food court. This is by the way Korean whisky. They are lethal. And they are made from fermented rice.
Question: Why did they use a young picture of a woman on the bottle to promote this product when this is hard alcoholic drink? If I have not known, I would have thought this drink is some light apple cider. Different market, different tricks? Hence the goofing around, unfortunately, I am not anymore young!
Anyway, drink moderately please.
Korea Traditional Cultural Experience Center
There is the Korea Traditional Cultural Experience Center for those seeking some culture stuff. This area is also a great place for kids to hang out and try their hands on Korean-style handicrafts. There is an entertainment show here as well and they sell lovely Korean dolls at the gift shop.
Introduction to the local culture is very important when visiting a new country, so this is a plus point.
Duty Free: Korean delicacy
These are the favourite Korean delicacy souvenirs at the Korean (Lotte) Duty Free: Different types of dessert pastries and puffed rice (King's Cookie). They are not cheap.
The puffed rice is quite like the 'ampao' in Carcar, Cebu but the Korean version is more gourmet.
Here are a few more pictures of the terminal. Everything is open, there is so much space and the boarding gates are just beside the shops and restaurants. Duty Free shops in major corners of the airport.
Transport to/fro Incheon
Incheon is about an hour from Seoul City Centre. Taxis, buses, the metro and the train runs from the airport to different parts of South Korea.
As advised by our Hanok Homestay host, we took the 6011 bus to Seoul old city centre (the route passes by the Gyeongbokgung Palace) and vice versa. Our accommodating Hanok hosts picked us up by car at the bus station and brought us here as well when we departed so that was nicely arranged.
Bus fare is 10,000 Korean Won per person. The buses leave twice every hour.
This is Korean money:
So, what do you think so far?
Official website: Incheon International Airport
Wikipedia: Incheon International Airport
Travel Period: October 2012
Destination: Incheon, South Korea
Keep in touch and follow me on Facebook: Travel & Lifestyle Diaries by Dutched Pinay Travels
Happy Travels! Enjoy Life =)
Incheon International Airport in South Korea looking very futuristic. Picture from Wikipedia.
The greeting when we arrived in Korea from Amsterdam.
Here is a short video I took of our landing on Incheon International airport from Amsterdam on board Korean Air:
Awarded 'Best Airport' many times
It is a great airport nonetheless and I can understand why it has won many awards (this after you have been to boring, ugly, chaotic and archaic airports), but I find Incheon International Airport just a bit soul-less. Lots of steel and so much space. I am looking for the familiar cosiness and the homey touch, like you would feel when walking on the hallways of Schiphol Airport, afterall I am human.
This is just outside the airport by the taxi stand:
The airport is like a big shopping mall complete with live music and dance entertainment. There was a musical show when we arrived, and how it is staged truly brings me to the realisation that I am in Asia. You will not see this kind of act in Europe.
Below pictures are inside the terminal and the check-in area. It's one big colossal space.
First things first and we headed to the self-service kiosks. Unfortunately they were out of order and the queue to our flight's check-in counter was not a happy sight. Luckily, with Dutchman's sharp eye he saw someone in uniform in the corner printing out boarding passes. He went to the man to inquire while I lined up for the check-in counter queue (just to be sure). The man was indeed temporarily assigned there to help assist those that have already checked in online (which we did) because the kiosks broke down. We escaped the queue.
Going through immigration and security were a breeze. Having done that, we are now looking for the food court. After a week in Seoul eating Korean and Asian dishes, Dutchman is craving for bread, but he doesn´t want a sandwich. Hmm, a burger perhaps? McDonalds? Burger King? Where are they?
Now we had problems finding where the food court is because the directional signs were not big enough and were not strategically placed. Finding your boarding gate is not an issue, the numbers are flashed right above you, but not the sign to the food court! In large spaces, there is a danger for other types of signs to become invisible if they are not big enough and placed properly.
The food court is located upstairs and the signs were hidden on a corner just by the entrance escalator. Not handy. Across the food court (on the other side of the building) are the restaurants. We are done with restaurants for now, we want something fast, simple and easy.
Korean Whisky
Here I am goofing around with the Dutchman with the Soju drink at the food court. This is by the way Korean whisky. They are lethal. And they are made from fermented rice.
Question: Why did they use a young picture of a woman on the bottle to promote this product when this is hard alcoholic drink? If I have not known, I would have thought this drink is some light apple cider. Different market, different tricks? Hence the goofing around, unfortunately, I am not anymore young!
Anyway, drink moderately please.
Korea Traditional Cultural Experience Center
There is the Korea Traditional Cultural Experience Center for those seeking some culture stuff. This area is also a great place for kids to hang out and try their hands on Korean-style handicrafts. There is an entertainment show here as well and they sell lovely Korean dolls at the gift shop.
Introduction to the local culture is very important when visiting a new country, so this is a plus point.
Duty Free: Korean delicacy
These are the favourite Korean delicacy souvenirs at the Korean (Lotte) Duty Free: Different types of dessert pastries and puffed rice (King's Cookie). They are not cheap.
The puffed rice is quite like the 'ampao' in Carcar, Cebu but the Korean version is more gourmet.
Here are a few more pictures of the terminal. Everything is open, there is so much space and the boarding gates are just beside the shops and restaurants. Duty Free shops in major corners of the airport.
Transport to/fro Incheon
Incheon is about an hour from Seoul City Centre. Taxis, buses, the metro and the train runs from the airport to different parts of South Korea.
As advised by our Hanok Homestay host, we took the 6011 bus to Seoul old city centre (the route passes by the Gyeongbokgung Palace) and vice versa. Our accommodating Hanok hosts picked us up by car at the bus station and brought us here as well when we departed so that was nicely arranged.
Bus fare is 10,000 Korean Won per person. The buses leave twice every hour.
This is Korean money:
So, what do you think so far?
Official website: Incheon International Airport
Wikipedia: Incheon International Airport
Travel Period: October 2012
Destination: Incheon, South Korea
Keep in touch and follow me on Facebook: Travel & Lifestyle Diaries by Dutched Pinay Travels
Happy Travels! Enjoy Life =)
