I spent almost 3 weeks in South Korea — completely solo.
But here’s the part most people don’t realize:
I didn’t just “take time off”
I didn’t just disappear from responsibilities
I actually structured my trip around my schedule.
The Reality: I Was Still in School
Even though I planned this during my winter break from my DPT program…
I was still taking classes through AAPC for my CPB certification.
My class schedule:
- 🕖 7 PM – 9 PM EST
Which meant in Seoul…
👉 That was morning for me in Korea
How I Structured My Days (Week 1)
During the first part of my trip, my days looked like this:
Morning (CLASS TIME)
- Logged into class from Korea
- Usually from my hotel or a quiet café
- Treated it like a non-negotiable
Midday (Transition + Reset)
- Brunch / coffee
- Getting ready
- Light exploring
Afternoon → Night (FULL KOREA MODE)
This is where I lived my life:
- Skincare appointments
- Shopping (Myeongdong, Seongsu, etc.)
- Café hopping
- Exploring neighborhoods
- Nightlife in Hongdae
Because I handled class early, my entire day was free after.
Then Came the Best Part: 2 Weeks Fully Free
Once my classes were done…
I had two full weeks with zero obligations.
And that’s when I went ALL in.
What I Focused On During My Free Weeks
I already had everything planned ahead of time — so I didn’t waste time figuring things out.
I focused on:
Cafés
- Aesthetic spots
- Study-friendly places
- Hidden gems
Beauty + Self-Care
- GU Clinic
- Sulwhasoo Spa
- Juno Hair
- Daily trips to Olive Young
Experiences
- Animal cafés
- Day trips like Nami Island
- Lotte World
- Pop-ups, photos, exploring
Food (obviously)
- Street food
- Korean BBQ
- Café desserts
- Random spots I found walking around
The REAL Strategy Behind This Trip
This trip worked because:
1. I Used My Time Zones Strategically
Instead of seeing time difference as a problem…
👉 I used it to my advantage
Class in the morning = freedom all day
2. I Planned Ahead
I already had:
- Appointments booked
- Places saved
- Areas mapped out
So I never felt lost or overwhelmed.
3. I Balanced Structure + Freedom
- First week → structured (class + travel)
- Next 2 weeks → full freedom
And that balance made the trip feel: productive AND relaxing
Where This Leads Next
Now that I’ve done this…
I can break down:
📊 My full Korea budget
✈️ The exact travel credit cards I used
💳 How I paid for flights + hotels (using points + strategy)
The Setup I Used
I kept it simple and used a mix of:
- An American Express card for points, perks, and flexible rewards
- A Chase travel card for booking flights + maximizing redemptions
💡 I also opened a new card right before my trip to hit the welcome bonus — since I already knew I’d be spending on flights, hotels, and activities.
And Yes… I Filmed Everything
This trip is turning into:
- A YouTube series
- Day-by-day breakdowns
- “What’s actually worth it” content
Final Thought
I didn’t just go to Korea.
I learned how to:
- Travel solo
- Work around my schedule
- And still fully enjoy the experience
👉 You don’t need more time
👉 You just need a better strategy