How I Did Korea Solo for 3 Weeks (With Online Classes)

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