Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Mashimaro]

Anyone had experience living in a love motel in Seoul for a month at a time? (Shinchon Hongdae Kangnam etc.)

I vaguely remember hearing it costs about 400-450k a month. Can anyone verify that?

Sounds pretty cheap really for a decent room. When you factor in maintenance fees etc. much cheaper than my officetel.

I don't cook much, so I wouldn't miss having a kitchen, I would be a bit concerned about the safety of my stuff though.

Any thoughts?

[JiH]

Most won't let you stay for a long booking.

Think about it. They can book the same room in one day for the same price 2-4 times a day.l

I know because when I had family coming to visit, I even had some non "love motel" looking hotels say no.

[the_beaver]

Back in '97 I stayed in one in Chongno. The whole floor was teachers (mostly from the nearby Sisa). I think it was around 300 or 350, but that was 10 years ago (it's been ripped down since then).

The condom machine above my bed was a great conversation starter.

[Masta_Don]

Why wouldn't you stay at a 고시원/고시텔? Way cheaper and you'd have a place to cook. Never have had problems about other people coming and going (although never had sex in one, suppose that might be a bit too much) or drinking in the room.

[isthisreally]

Really i would much prefer a goshiwon, the rooms might not be as nice, but the price will be better, you'll probably have a computer there, you'll have a kitchen probably some free food and maybe some ajummas to cook for you.

[shaunew]

What about the step down from love motel, I forget what they are called. But they are 25,000 a night and 300,000 a month. I stayed in one by Seoul stn. I had a bed t.v. fridge and a computer. But no hot tub.

[isthisreally]

don't know, but you can also stay in a hostel, for 25,000 a night i think you can get your own room, you can probably negotiate for a month.

[waynehead]

Someone once told me he stayed in one here in bupyeong for a month for 300,000. He was a serial exaggerater, tho, so figure 350-400. Still not bad if you don't mind living in the sticks.

[Smee]

I doubt you'd find one in Gangnam for 450,000 a month. 450,000 a week would be more reasonable. Most places around there cost at least 70,000 a night, and over 100,000 a night isn't unheard of. You can find prices and pics for motels in Seoul at http://www.hotel365.co.kr (in Korean)

Your best bet, if you're going for a motel, is to find one in an older part of town, or at least a second-tier one in a newer area . . . one that doesn't get tons of business of which you'd be depriving them. Remember, these places also make tons of money by renting rooms by 2-hour blocks. 20,000 - 30,000 for two hours beats 50,000 for the whole night.

As others have said, if you want to book something for a month or two, go with a goshitel. If you find a good one you'll have a lot of the same amenities as a motel. I like this site: http://www.gosi1.net/subway/subwaysearch.php3 You can search by subway stops (in Korean).

edit: haha, go-shi-tel is beeped.

[Young FRANKenstein]

[Mashimaro]

Yeah, 400k a month does sound unlikely in a fun neighborhood, just remember hearing that number somewhere.

Hadn't thought too much about ahem.. noise problem either.

Guess I'll stick to my officetel. The motel would only be an advantage if it was in a more interesting area than I am now and similar price if not cheaper.

[bassexpander]

[Smee]

I'll share this story again:

I was in at the Pharoah Motel, a block behind the Windmill Motel in Gwangju. As you know the controls for the lights are often on a box under the TV. I was having a hell of a time getting the main light to turn off. I pressed all the buttons, tried diferent combinations, etc. I even tried taking the key out of the wall to see if that would reset something. Well, this went on for about five minutes and I had just resigned myself to sleeping with the light on. Then I got a call from the front desk that asked what was wrong and told me to look on the remote control . . .

[twg]

[bassexpander]

Look on the remote control?

We did that.

But my question to you is, "How did they know you had a problem?"

Did they see you through the camera, and thought you were dead on the bed?