Busan with a local friend. From $25 an hour, and the day is yours to decide together.
Most of what we have written so far is about Seoul, because that is where most of our Crew lives. That is changing. We now have Crew members based in Busan, and bookings there are open. This post covers what a Busan hangout looks like, what it costs, and how to set one up whether you are coming down from Seoul or flying straight into Gimhae.
Who you meet
Our Busan Crew is small and growing. Each Crew member has their own page with photos and their city, and you can start chatting right there. Pick someone whose vibe matches yours, say hello, and tell them roughly when you will be in town.
What a day in Busan has looked like
A few real days our Crew have spent with travelers recently: bare feet on Gwangalli sand with Gwangan Bridge behind, a cable car ride over the sea in Songdo with a glass floor nobody was ready for, a playground stop that was supposed to be five minutes, and a market evening in Haeundae with a lobster picked out on the spot and snacks from the stalls.
None of that was fixed in advance. You and your Crew member talk in the chat about what you are into, agree on a date and a start time, and decide the rest together. On the day, if the beach is better than the market, you go to the beach.
What it costs
Same structure as Seoul. From $25 per hour, with a 4-hour minimum, so a booking starts from $100. You can extend by the hour, even on the day, if your Crew member is free afterwards.
The fee is for your Crew member's time, plus online help before and during your trip through the chat. Day-of expenses are separate: food, drinks, cable car or entrance tickets, and transport around the city, for both of you. There are no other fees.
Seoul and Busan on one trip
Plenty of travelers do both. The KTX takes about two and a half hours between the two cities. If you want a local friend in each, that is two separate bookings with two Crew members, and the chat is the same place to set both up. Some travelers have also had a Seoul Crew member join them for a Busan day. Whether that works depends on schedules and travel costs, so ask in the chat and we will tell you straight.
Booking and payment
Once the date, start time, and number of people are settled in the chat, you get a PayPal link and pay upfront. After payment you are in a group chat with your Crew member and our manager, and that is where the details for the day get decided. Cancellation works like this:
- 2+ weeks before your date: full refund.
- 1 to 2 weeks before: 50% refund.
- Less than a week: no refund.
- Once your Crew member has started the online preparation for your day, about 20% is non-refundable at any point, because that work has already been done.
- PayPal fees are yours to cover. The processing fee on your payment and the fee on the refund are deducted from what comes back to you.
One honest note on availability
Because the Busan Crew is still small, there are fewer open slots than in Seoul. Message earlier than you would for Seoul, and if nobody is free on your date we will tell you quickly rather than leave you hanging. You are never charged until a Crew member has confirmed.
FAQ
- Do Busan Crew members speak English?
- Korean and English are the base. If you need another language, say so in your first message and we will point you to the right Crew member before anything is booked.
- Can I meet at my hotel or at Busan Station?
- Yes. Pick the meeting point together in the chat. A station exit or a hotel lobby works well, and we meet in public places.
- Is a Busan hangout different from a Seoul one?
- The structure is the same. The difference is the city: Busan days tend to lean toward the sea, the markets, and a slower pace, and distances between areas are longer, so a 4-hour block is better spent on one or two areas than on three.
Ask Jake
Seoul
