Sivunigunta Family Trip

Satya · Carmen · Natalia | PHX → Seoul → Beijing → Shanghai → Guangzhou → HK → India → PHX

Sun

Mon

Tue

Wed

Thu

Fri

Sat

✈ PHX→SFO 8:05am
UA1372

✈ SFO→ICN 2:30pm
Air Premia YP112

🛬 Arrive Seoul ~7pm

🏨 Novotel Dongdaemun
Check-in

🗺 Light dinner + rest

🏨 Seoul

🗺 Palace + Myeongdong

🏨 Seoul

🗺 Hongdae + COEX

⚠ Leave hotel by 8am!

✈ ICN→PEK 11:10am
Korean Air KE855 Biz

🏨 Grand Hyatt Beijing
Check-in

🏨 Beijing

🏨 Beijing → checkout noon

🚄 High-speed train → Shanghai

🏨 Pudong Shangri-La
Check-in 2pm

🏨 Shanghai

🏨 Shanghai → checkout noon

⚠ Train → Guangzhou
NOT BOOKED

⚠ Guangzhou hotel
NOT BOOKED

⚠ Guangzhou

🧵 Prototype work
(Carmen)

⚠ Guangzhou

📅 Decide: extend or leave?

⚠ Guangzhou

🚕 Guangzhou → HK (taxi)

✈ HKG→Chennai 9:20pm
Cathay CX641 PremEco

🛬 Arrive Chennai 12:35am

🏨 Chennai TBD
(1–2 nights)

📍 Chennai or
Tirupathi (TBD)

🙏 Tirupathi TBD
(VIP darshan?)

✈ → Guntur

🏠 Guntur family
(TBD)

🏠 Guntur

🚗 → Hyderabad

⚠ Must arrive HYD by evening!

✈ HYD→HKG 1:55am
Cathay CX672 Biz

✈ HKG→LAX 12:35pm
Cathay CX884 Biz

✈ LAX→PHX 12:59pm
AA 7587

🏠 Home 2:34pm!

🗺️ Seoul Recommendations Mar 5–8 · tag: SEOUL-REC

Mar 5 · Wednesday · Arrival Night

🛬 Arrive ~7 PM — Recovery Night

ALL Check in Novotel Dongdaemun. Short walk to Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) — lit up at night, zero effort, great intro to Seoul.

SATYA Dinner: Sundubu jjigae (soft tofu soup) or doenjang jjigae nearby. Small protein-forward portions — ideal for GLP-1 first night. Avoid fried chicken night one.

ALL Early bed. Seoul is +17hrs from PHX — jet lag hits hard on day 1.

SEOUL-REC

Mar 6 · Thursday · Culture + Beauty Day

🏯 Gyeongbokgung → Bukchon → Myeongdong

ALL Morning: Gyeongbokgung Palace (opens 9 AM, ₩3,000). Rent hanboks at the gate for photos — Natalia will love it.

ALL Late morning: Walk Bukchon Hanok Village — traditional tile-roof alleyways, 15 min from palace.

CARMEN Afternoon — Myeongdong: Olive Young (flagship), Innisfree, Etude House, Laneige, COSRX, Sulwhasoo all within 2 blocks. Prices 30–50% cheaper than US.

NATALIA Myeongdong underground mall + street stalls. K-pop albums, character goods, indie accessories.

SATYA Dinner Myeongdong: Galbi (short ribs) or samgyeopsal restaurant — eat 2–3 pieces of grilled meat with banchan spread. Skip rice or eat ¼ portion. High protein, GLP-1 friendly.

SEOUL-REC

Mar 7 · Friday · Anime + Gangnam Day

🎌 Hongdae → COEX Mall → Gangnam Dinner

NATALIA Hongdae (all morning): Seoul's anime/manga hub — Animeta store, multiple doujinshi shops, indie K-pop merch, manhwa bang (manga cafes). She could spend the full day here.

CARMEN Hongdae indie beauty boutiques — Korean brands not found in Myeongdong (Tamburins, Aestura, local indie labels).

ALL Afternoon — COEX Mall, Gangnam: Starfield Library (landmark atrium bookstore). Bandi & Luni's has dedicated manga/manhwa floors for Natalia.

SATYA Dinner Gangnam: Hanjeongsik (Korean multi-course set) — many small dishes, eat what you want, leave the rest. Best GLP-1 format in Korean cuisine. Or upscale galbi restaurants here.

SEOUL-REC

Mar 8 · Saturday · Airport Morning ⚠

✈ Leave Hotel 7:45 AM → ICN KE855 11:10 AM

ALL Settle hotel bill the night before (Mar 7 evening). Store bags at front desk if needed.

ALL AREX Express train: Seoul Station → ICN T2, ~43 min, ₩9,500/person. Leaves Seoul Station ~8:15 AM to arrive ICN by 9 AM.

SATYA Light hotel breakfast only. Avoid airport food before long flight — GLP-1 + altitude + food = uncomfortable. Eat small on the plane instead.

NATALIA ICN Duty Free has a large anime/character goods section airside — small buffer time for a quick browse after check-in.

SEOUL-REC

GLP-1 Seoul Cheat Sheet · Satya

🍽 What to Eat & Avoid in Seoul

✅ GO FOR

Sundubu / doenjang jjigae (soups)

Galbi, samgyeopsal (grilled meat — eat 2–3 pieces)

Banchan spread (many small dishes)

Bibimbap (eat ½ the rice)

Japchae (glass noodles, small portion)

Hanjeongsik multi-course set

Grilled fish

❌ AVOID

Full Korean fried chicken serving

Pajeon (oily scallion pancakes)

Bingsu (sugar bomb)

Large naengmyeon portions

Full rice bowl meals

Airport food before long-haul flight

SEOUL-REC

Item	Confirmation	Status	Amount
PHX→SFO · United UA1372	AWFWW5	PAID (miles)	33,900 mi + $114
SFO→Seoul · Air Premia YP112 (Biz row 1)	S8UBTG	PAID	$2,794
Seoul · Novotel Dongdaemun (3 nts)	A5U6AC40616	PAID · Non-refund	$983
Seoul→Beijing · Korean Air KE855 Biz	A9RGKF	PAID	$953
Beijing · Grand Hyatt (3 nts, 2 adults + child)	#62895765	NON-REFUNDABLE	~CNY 4,900 + tax
Shanghai · Pudong Shangri-La (5 nts, 2 rooms)	20125SG359683/84	PAY AT PROPERTY	CNY 18,895
HKG→Chennai · Cathay CX641 Prem Economy	EWFSER	PAID · Free change	HKD 14,993
HYD→HKG→LAX→PHX · Cathay Biz (return)	A9CRGG	PAID	$7,910
Total USD confirmed spend (approx)			~$13,800 USD

⚠ Guangzhou Hotel — Mar 16–20 (4 nights)

Nothing booked. Suggest: Ritz-Carlton Guangzhou or Four Points Sheraton near leather district.

NOT BOOKED

⚠ Shanghai → Guangzhou Train — Mar 16

High-speed G-train, Shanghai Hongqiao → Guangzhou South, ~5.5 hrs. Book on Trip.com now.

NOT BOOKED

? Guangzhou extension — Carmen stays / all stay?

Decision needed by Mar 18 once prototype work is assessed. If Carmen extends, change CX641 (free).

OPEN QUESTION

? Tirupathi VIP darshan — whole family or Satya alone?

Confirm TTD VIP quota. If secured → bring all 3. If not → Satya solo, Carmen + Natalia go to Guntur.

OPEN QUESTION

⚠ Chennai → Tirupathi → Guntur transport

No flights/trains booked. Book IndiGo/Air India Chennai→Tirupathi or Chennai→Vijayawada (closest to Guntur).

NOT BOOKED

⚠ India accommodations (Mar 21–27)

Chennai hotel (1–2 nts), Tirupathi if overnight, Guntur (family or hotel), Hyderabad night of Mar 27.

NOT BOOKED

⚠ Seoul departure timing — URGENT

KE855 departs ICN 11:10 AM on Mar 8. Must leave Novotel by 8:00–8:30 AM. Call hotel to arrange early departure.

ACTION NOW

✈️ Sivunigunta Family Trip — March 2026