Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Howard Roark]

My friend and I are going to Seoul tomorrow. We want to stay in Itaewan. I've stayed in cheap "hooker hill" type places there before, but I was with my boyfriend so I felt safe pretty well anywhere. This time I'll just be with my girl friend so we're trying to find a mid-range, decent hotel that's not too expensive, say 40-50 000/night, and a little safer and cleaner than the really cheap places.
I've heard many a first-hand tale of people having stuff stolen from their rooms, being bothered by dubious characters trying to enter thier rooms, etc. I'm a little worried about things like this.
Can anyone suggest some hotels that are reasonably priced, safe, and clean?

[JackSarang]

No such thing in Itaewon, in my experience. You've either got the "real" hotels.. Hamilton, Crown, Hyatt etc.. or you've got the shady yeogwons.

I stayed in the yeogwon behind Seoul Pub one night, wasn't too bad.

[Mashimaro]

The dirtiest / most disgusting 'hotel' / Yeogwan I ever stayed in was in Itaewon. Can't remember the name, but it was towards the end of the street heading towards McDonalds.. For 30,000 won you'd think they'd clean the bathroom once a month or so

[peppermint]

I stayed at the Song Ji motel near Itaewan once. It's in Haebangchon, up the hill from Noksapyong Station. It was a yeogwan but it was clean and seemed safe enough.

[osangrl]

suprising enough,,, the hilltop motel on top of hooker hill isn't too bad. And each room has a bathroom. about 30 thousand.

[tokki]

Itaewon? WHY? WHY? WHY? Itaewan is the sleaziest, dirtiest, most disgusting hole in Korea. There is no reason to go there. Sleep there? WHY? Its garbage.

[Saxiif]

If I'm here and need a room, I usually end up in a taxi to kangnam, its not that far and there's plenty of decent places to stay.

[UnJef]

I stayed at the Seoul Motel for a few nights, which is above and kinda behind the McDonalds. It was small, but decent -- tv, refridgerator, bathroom, etc. I think I paid about 40k per night, or so.

Hope this helps.

[sparkx]

If you can, hit the love hotel block near Olympic Stadium -- un-fricken-believable. I stayed in one of these a few months back - 50+ inch LCD TV, computer w/ internet, kingsized bed, 4 person jacuzzi, steam/sauna, complimentary beverages - all for around 50-80,000 won per night.

[matthews_world]

[indytrucks]

Seoul Motel, behind McDonalds, is fine. I always stay there when I go to Seoul. Clean, conveniently located, lady speaks English. 45,000 won.

[rudyflyer]

take a bus out to Namyeong station or Samgakji stations, up by USO are two very nice hotels The Kaya and the Rainbow run around 50,000-60,000 nite and are very nice.

thing is both tend to book out as GIs also like the place

like other posters said, yogwons in Itaewon are disgusting, stayed in one out on the hill near the Yongsan garrison end, lousy for 30k. Unless you have the money for the Hamilton or Crown stay somewhere close

[batman]

My vote goes for the Seoul Motel behind the Mcdonald's in Itaewon. Though the rooms are small (big enough for the bed and tv stand and not much else) they are clean (as are the sheets, the towels and the bathroom). The woman behind the desk is very friendly and speaks pretty good english. Rates are 40,000 won during the week and 45,000 on Friday and Saturday nights.

Prefer the Seoul Motel to the Hamilton. (The Hamilton, ugh, why would anyone want to stay there.)

[aussie col]

my advice is to never look under the bed. I stayed at this nice place in seoul, so clean. I was unpacking my bag and something went under the bed. I still have nightmares about it. I dont think a broom had ever made it's way under this bed... used condoms, tissues everywhere. Yuck

[Ilsanman]

I would sooner sleep on the sidewalk than sleep in a hotel in the ITaewon area.