Ansan XYM Hotel

Good.

There are plenty of places to eat just outside, which makes this a handy spot for a night or two. The hotel is about a five-minute walk from the central station, and weekday rates are reasonable at around 30,000 won. You can make coffee, drinks, or ramen yourself, and there’s an ice maker too. The service is excellent.

I’ve stayed at Spa Bagroom about twenty times now, and it’s become the one place I keep returning to near the central station. The rooms are stylish, clean, and nicer than the older places nearby. Still, every now and then I’ve ended up with a room that had a strong cigarette smell despite being non-smoking, or one that hadn’t been cleaned well. A dirty bathtub and things like toothbrushes or razors left by the previous guest really put me off. You can ask to switch rooms straight away, though I’m not great at doing that, so I factor it in. Haha.

It’s handy to get to, right by the parking lot, and the staff are fairly friendly. Rooms tend to be small, and they vary a lot. A good one is clean and pleasant, while a bad one can feel run-down. I found the price a little high. Since the building is in a busy entertainment area, noise could be an issue for light sleepers.