Changnyeong Bugok Spadium Ddaogi Hotel

It was just okay.

The room was clean and roomy, and the building seemed fairly new. What put me off was the tub: it took more than 50 minutes to fill because the water flow was so weak. I'd expected the usual setup at other hotels, with weak cold water and very strong hot water, but here it was the other way around. I came to Bugok Hot Springs hoping to try somewhere different from my usual Royal Hotel, Samsung Hotel, and Gagopa Motel. I arrived at 10:30 in the morning, saw that checkout was normally at 11, and figured I'd wait. Instead, they offered a three-hour family bath for 70,000 won, so I went with that. It cost the same as the Royal, which charges 60,000 won plus 10,000 won for elementary school students. Next time, I'll return to my usual place.

The spring water was excellent, and the sauna wasn't as busy as I thought it would be on a Sunday morning. With around 300 lockers, it has the feel of a small public bathhouse, and there are hot, cold, and ice baths. You can park in front, but spaces are limited, so the open lot about 100 meters away is a better bet.

There was a double bed and a separate dining table, which suited me well, and the bathroom was large even though it wasn't a family bath. The bath had a bucket and chair, a personal touch. I hurried here hoping to make it before winter ended because Bugok has brought back good memories since I was young. Even on a weekday, most rooms were already unavailable for that day. A lot of the rooms seemed past their prime and worn, but mine was clean and comfortable enough for a day.