Korean Job Discussion Forums

ChrisHannah · Joined: 20 Jun 2008 Location: Daegu

So what's up with the jjimjilbang in the airport? Anybody stayed over night there? I'm looking to crash in a jjimjilbang near the airport, but if the airport has one, then why not stay there?

I have a little experience in the way of the jjimjilbang sleep, but do you know if there's a blanket/mat service provided? And is this available for both males and females?

Thanks

mmstyle · Joined: 17 Apr 2006 Location: wherever

I haven't stayed there myself, but a friend did on her way out of Korea. She said it was perfectly comfortable. I think she said she actually slept on something that was kind of like a couch, but I'm not certain about that. She mainly stayed there for convenience and price, but had no issues.

In terms of convenience, you definitely can't go wrong staying right at the airport!

Haze Daze · Joined: 02 Sep 2009

The jimjilbang at Incheon is called Spa On Air and is in the basement.

It is really new and modern, but a more expensive than an average jimjilbang.

For those who don't really like the communal sleeping thing though there is an option to get a very small room to sleep in within the jimjilbang.

I think it is 20,000 normally and 30,000 if you want your own room.

The staff speak some English too, which is always a bonus!

hugekebab · Joined: 05 Jan 2008

Michelle · Joined: 18 May 2003

i · Joined: 10 Apr 2008 Location: Seoul

You can make reservations for the private rooms. Made one for a couple weeks from now. Their number is 82-32-743-7042.
I asked someone who speaks Korean to make it for me.

hochhasd · Joined: 05 Jul 2008

i · Joined: 10 Apr 2008 Location: Seoul

Don't know about the lock. It's 32,000 for a night. 20,000 for the sauna, 12,000 for the private room.
They have a place for luggage, so it's not in your little room with you.
We'll see.

hochhasd · Joined: 05 Jul 2008

i · Joined: 10 Apr 2008 Location: Seoul

You have to pay for the sauna plus the private room. I think if you do not reserve the private room, you sleep on a mat you have to pay for in an open area, on a recliner, shelf, or the sort. Just got this from reading other posts on here. One guy stayed in a room with his GF and mentioned it was noisy. Another that it was pretty warm. But no info on locks. I hope someone can chime in on this. If not, you'll have to wait till I get home to give a report in a couple weeks.
I don't expect much. Just a few hours sleep would be nice. Just wary of carrying a nest egg while sleeping. Or of going to a motel near the area and waking up late or not getting a taxi.

Michelle · Joined: 18 May 2003

hochhasd · Joined: 05 Jul 2008

i · Joined: 10 Apr 2008 Location: Seoul

To Michelle. Thanks. That's the best info I've read anywhere.
To the other poster, you don't need a credit card or anything to book the room. Just a name and number. No problem to cancel up to 6PM the day you are to stay. I reserved almost 2 weeks early. So I'd book it asap, knowing how things go in Korea. Can't hardly get tickets to the US or Japan in March, so the airport's bound to be busy.

Michelle · Joined: 18 May 2003

i · Joined: 10 Apr 2008 Location: Seoul

I agree. Sticky please.
I stayed there last night (on a Monday). Will try to not repeat info in other posts. The spa is for both men and women. 20,000 to use it. 12,000 additional for a private room. It is "Spa on Air" and not "Spa One Air" as posted elsewhere on the Net.
In the lounge area for both men and women, there are:
12 chairs
6 couch/sleepers
5 recliners
2 big screen TVs
Adjacent to the lounge, also for men and women are 2 rooms called foot treatment rooms. One has 6 recliners, one has 3 beds/cots. This　is all first come, first served. I only saw people laying there and no foot treatments.
Also a concessions area for drinks and chips. You can order food in from a restaurant down the hall.

Then there are the spa areas, one for men, one for women. I assume the women have the same things. In the men's area were:

8 private rooms (about 4'x8', with a blanket and pillow on a firm massage-type bed.) It had a real lock. But you can not lock it from the outside. They keep the key. And they want you to only go in when you go to bed. I think because of the culture of being cheap and bending the rules, people would just go in there and sleep if not locked. But, the room was really warm. There is ventilation, but seemed to be 30 C or more and I couldn't sleep much because of the heat. These rooms are down a dark dead-end hall, so you are not on display or anything, but the door is glass and people can go down the corridor and look at you sleeping. It is much cooler in the open sleeping areas, but no privacy and not as quiet.
Several showers with glass dividers, but no curtains or privacy.
Dry and steam saunas.
Huge hot tub.
Drinking water machine (bring your own bottle), body wash, shampoo, towels, t-shirt, swim shorts, blow dryers provided.
Sleeping room with 6 mats and 1 recliner that was cooler than the private rooms.
There are also 4 massage rooms each for men and women.

Some things to consider...
I went there to sleep. They want you to stay there once you check in. They told me I could only leave for 1 hour. So I checked in at 5 PM, went in the airport to eat and exchange the rest of my money and sat in the lounge with a lot of people just watching TV, then went to bed early. There were lots of places for people to sleep when I went to bed, but when I got up at 4 am, every sleeping spot was taken and people were sleeping in chairs and on the floor on mats they must have rented. So if you don't mind the heat, make a reservation.