Seoul CityPass Plus, Seoul CityPass and M-Pass Difference Review

T-Money (basic)

The T-money card is rechargeable in amounts ranging from 1,000 won to 90,000 won at any of the T-money vendors or Ticket Vending and Card Reload Devices inside most subway stations.

There's a discount using T-Money, Transfer discounts are applied on bus/subway fares only when using T-money. For instance, when transferring while traveling within a 10km distance, if you use T-money, then transferring is free. This is a much better deal than using cash, as you would have to pay the basic fare each time you transfer. You can transfer a maximum of four times.

T-Money comes in various form: card, accessory and T-Money chip. 

Price: 2,500 won
Sales Locations: Convenience stores (GS 25, CU, Mini Stop, Buy The Way, 7-Eleven, Story Way) bearing the T-Money logo and Ticket Vending and Card Reload Devices inside subway stations
Recharge/Refund Locations: All sales locations
for more information click here

Seoul City Pass Plus

for another 500 won you can purchase Seoul City Pass Plus instead of the normal T-Money card. if you are planning to visit the place listed below, the 500 won is worth the money.

Seoul City Pass Plus is a transportation card with the T-money function and additional tourist benefits that can be used in and around Seoul. The card can be used for transactions at four royal palaces (Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung, Changgyeonggung, and Deoksugung), Jongmyo Shrine, as well as many convenience stores. The card also offers 5% off rides on the Seoul City Tour Bus and discounts at dozens of tourist sites and shops including restaurants, exhibitions, opticians, and beauty salons.

Price: 3,000 won (Discount guide booklet included)
Sales/Recharge locations: Convenience stores (GS25, CU, Mini Stop, Buy The Way, 7-eleven) bearing the T-money logo
Transportation: Buses, subways, and Seoul City Tour Bus in the Seoul Metropolitan City area
for more information click here

Seoul CityPass (is not Seoul CityPass Plus)

A lot of people getting confuse by this different type of card, with Seoul Citypass card you can use the subway or bus up to 20 times a day, regardless of the distance or mode of transportation, and you can enjoy the Seoul City Tour Bus that take you around the downtown and palaces as many times as you wish.

The Seoul City Tour Bus is a tourist bus that takes you to all of your favorite tourist spots and shopping areas. By using the SEOUL CITY PASS you can board and get off from the bus at any time or place you want, all day, as many times as you like.

Using the coupons provided to you in the SEOUL CITY PASS Guidebook, you can go to famous tourist spots for either free or receive discounts.The bus tours that allow you to use the SEOUL CITY PASS are the downtown tour and the palace tour co as well as the night tour.

SEOUL CITY PASS USERS can receive a 20% discount when going on the night tour.

Price: from 15,000 Won to 35.000 Won
Sales location:
GS25, Family Mart, and MINISTOP convenience stores (located on the arrival floor of Incheon International Airport)
Dongdaemun Tourist Information Office
Gwanghwamun Tourist Information Office
Itaewon Tourist Information Office
Gimpo Airport Tourist Information Office
Samilgyo Tourist Information Office
Myeong-dong Tourist Information Office
Namdaemun Tourist Information Office
Jamsil Tourist Information Office.

This is a picture of GS25 in arrival hall in case you are wondering what it looks like

This is the famous KBooks pciture, a lot of people buying (or ordering) prepaid sim card and send it to this place, for guide you can refer to this link EG sim

M-PASS Card

Metropolitan Pass or M-Pass is a transportation card that offers 20 rides a day for the duration of the pass in the Seoul Metropolitan City area, including Seoul Subway Lines 1-9, Incheon Subway, AREX's (Incheon Airport Railroad Express) standard train (i.e. not the express train), metropolitan trains (except the Sinbundang Line), and Seoul Buses (except red buses).

M-Passes come in five different types: 1-day, 2-day, 3-day, 5-day and 7-day passes. They are valid for the designated time period, and expire at midnight on the last day of validity. (e.g. 3-day M-Pass Activation: January 1, 2014 / Expiration: 11:59 p.m., January 3, 2014)

M-Passes are available for purchase at Seoul Travel Information Centers (I-Tour Seoul Centers) in the Incheon International Airport Passenger Terminal. When buying an M-Pass, you must pay a refundable deposit of 4,500 won, and a non-refundable service charge of 500 won. Also, you will receive discount admission coupons to popular tourist attractions. The deposit as well as any remaining T-money balance on the M-Pass is refunded when you return it to any of the I-Tour Seoul Centers.

Seoul Travel Information Centers (I-Tour Seoul Centers)

• Locations: Incheon International Airport Passenger Terminal (1F), Exits 5 & 10
• Price: 10.000 - 59.500 Won
• Inquiries: +82-32-743-3270
• Upon purchasing M-Pass, you will receive coupons for discounted admission to tourist attractions and restaurants (10 to 20% off).

M-Pass Refunds (M-Pass must be returned to Seoul Travel Information Centers located in the Incheon International Airport)

• 4,500-won deposit 
• Remaining T-money balance 

 

Conclusion:

It's really depends on your schedule, for me I only spent 23.000 won on my last trip. For Seoul CityPass it maybe worth if you are taking the Seoul City Bus. For M-Pass I don't think you will spend 10.000 won per day for the transport. so the best option that you can consider is to take Seoul City Pass Plus which cost 3000 Won.

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