Korean Job Discussion Forums

[jgrant85]

I'm spending Christmas break with my girlfriend in Seoul. We're looking for a decent motel that doesn't go above 40,000 won per night, preferably one with a double-bath or jacuzzi (hehe). Also one that has adequate heating in the rooms and that just looks nice overall. It doesn't have to be the best, just not the kind of room where you walk in and are like, "Oh crap, this is a waste of money."

Any suggestions? Directions are a plus.

[gmarthews]

I think expecting to pay 40,000W on Christmas eve and then a Friday and Saturday night, and expecting it to be decent is asking a lot to be honest.
I've just been looking for rooms for that night hoping to pay around 80/90,000W and I haven't had much luck.

[jgrant85]

The only reason I said 40,000 won is because I assumed most motels have fixed rates and they didn't change depending on the time of year. If that's not true, than I suppose I could go as high as 60,000 won.
I'll just investigate the prices myself, I guess whoever is reading this can just give me their suggestions for good motels.

[lifeinkorea]

Distance is another factor. Do you want to search around for a place or just crash near a station? The savings just don't outweigh the rigors. It's not like you are staying a month.

[jgrant85]

As long as it's within a reasonable walking distance of a subway station, I don't mind. But if I have to walk more than 30 minutes that would be a little too much. lol

[schwa]

In my experience motel rates are fixed according to the day of the week. 40000 gets you a nice room on a weeknight but figure at least 60 on a weekend. Xmas shouldnt make a big difference except maybe qualifying a thursday pre-holiday night as "weekend." Theres a cluster of newish motels just up the hill behind Macdonalds on the Shinchon Rotary in that range. Nice enough neighborhood too. One of them might serve you okay.

[jgrant85]

[schwa]

Shinchon. (Not to be confused with Shincheon.) Drops you right there.

[madmil]

Shinchon is way more expensive on a weekend. I tried to stay there and it was a minimum of 80,000 a night.

I found a few places near the Anguk subway station which puts you near Insadong (a "traditional" shopping area) and not far from the downtown of Seoul.

It's called Motel Aubeson and I put a video on my blog and on youtube that explains how to get there. (I think it's exit 3 and about a 5 minute walk from there.

http://www.justenoughkorean.com/blog/2009/11/where-is-the-best-motel-in-seoul/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Sn-zmLj1Ys

Hope that helps!!!

[Hyeon Een]

I strongly advise you to NOT go to Seoul Motel in Itaewon above the McDOnalds. I stayed there in 2005 and it was disgusting. I doubt it's improved since then. Any other place in Seoul will probably be better.

[acebris]

There are a heap of nice Love Motels one street back from exit 5 of Jongno-3ga station. Around 50,000 - 60,000 for a friday / saturday night. Haven't had a room with a jacuzzi though.

Hotel Tomgi is very nice, but the price is a bit more (80,000 - 100,000) than the surrounding places. There are rooms with a jacuzzi there.

[rgv]

probably a little late, but there's a great gem in Insadong.

Anguk Station, exit 6. Go down the main street of Insadong and at the first little alley on the left (there's an shop selling old Chinese trinkets on the corner) turn and look for the red sign with a sombrero on it about 50ft in front of ya.

Name of the place is 사랑방. It's 40,000 a night, rooms are clean, some have internet, some have tubs, it's quiet in the mornings if you've had a late night, and the old man/lady who run the place are super nice (toast/milk in the morning if ya want it). Taxis from Sinchon are ~5k, Itaewon/Hongdae ~7-8k.

I used to stay there when I was visiting my gf in Seoul and it was perfect.

[jgrant85]

We ended up using Emerald motel at Jongno-3ga station. It was 40,000 won for 1 night. The room was a little small, but it was pretty decent when you consider the time of the year and the price. We checked out Tomgi Hotel, but they wanted to charge us 150,000 for 1 night... no thanks, haha.