I'm quite fond of the airport limousine buses going to and from the Incheon International Airport. I've tried it a couple of times and had wonderful experiences on all occasions.
Here's why I like them:
1. They're cheap! For KRW10,000 I can get to downtown Seoul from Incheon Airport.
2. They're huge! My luggage goes into the compartments on the side of the bus. The friendly ahjussis at the airport stop give out luggage tags and help load the luggage into the bus when they arrive. Hence, I only have to take care of my personal bags inside the bus and I can sit comfortably on the spacious chairs.
3. There is useful English is everywhere! The route map on the site, on the stops, and on the bus are all in English. Bus announcements are translated in English as well. Check out the bus routes on their website.
4. Driver ahjussis are very helpful. They acknowledge me properly when I hand in my ticket and emphasize my destination. They also get off the bus and help with the luggage regardless of whether I'm getting in or off the bus.
There could be minor challenges for first time riders though~
1. The last trip from the airport is not as late as I would prefer. There were times when we had to rush to the ticket booth and the bus stops so as to catch the last bus. How I wish they have late night trips for all routes at perhaps a more expensive fare.
2. Traffic can be unpredictable. We once waited for a bus at one hotel and it was incredibly late (like more than 30minutes) that we were really nervous that we were going to miss our flight. Luckily, the hotel chauffeur offered to take us to the airport in exchange for our paid bus tickets. He was going to the airport to pick up a guest anyway so it was fine to bring us along. The traffic was really bad but fortunately we got through our flight with just about 5 minutes to spare before boarding!
3. I've heard that taking the airport train is cheaper ^^. But this works only if the traveler does not carry heavy luggage.
4. Choosing the right bus stop may be a little confusing. Buses normally have 2 bus stops assigned at the airport terminal. The staff at the ticket counter will normally point you to the first stop and emphasize the time you need to be there. This is a good choice since the bus would normally be empty at the first stop. It might be full on the 2nd stop already depending on the time. At first I thought a different bus would start at the 2nd stop and I wanted to go there instead of the 1st since it was nearer to me. Because I didn't understand this, I was confused on where to go haha.
5. I wish they had area maps so I can plot how to go about the area. I find that most hotel maps are insufficient at identifying pedestrian crossings or underpasses near the bus stops. Here's when I find it challenging to determine if I can carry/pull my luggage up to my destination.
Despite the really minor challenges, I still enjoy riding the airport limousine buses. Here are my favorite perks!
1. Bus magazines ^^. The last time I rode in the bus, there were magazines inserted on the back pockets of the seats. They were mostly in Korean but there were English articles here and there too. I love browsing through the ads so that was really nice.
2. The view of the long bridge in Incheon is amazing! It's great to sight see these things on a bus when going to Seoul. These also give me a sentimental feel when returning to the airport hehe.
3. Seatbelts ^^. I find these rare and really interesting. As I work for a global company who places utmost value on safety, I appreciate the use of seatbelts when it is not normally required. I'm sure our safety folks would highly approve of this.
