Dongchon Amusement Park Gallery Hotel

After catching up with friends I hadn’t seen in a while, I looked for somewhere to stay. There was no front desk, so I called out. The owner opened a little motel-style window and poked his head out. I’d booked a high-floor twin room with a river view, but he rudely said they only had twin beds on the first floor. When I asked about the open door, he casually said they leave it open after cleaning. I expected a warm welcome and got a really unfriendly experience. Highly recommend!!!

For 50,000 won on a weekday, this was a really decent find for a Daegu business trip. With COVID-19 limiting occupancy to 50% at the time, prices had gone up and were a burden, so I appreciated finding a place like this. Standard rooms start at that price. There are Standard, River View Standard, Premium River View, and Twin rooms, but they’re pretty much alike, with the river view being the main difference. I thought people outside couldn’t see through the windows, but apparently they can. lol..... The room looks over Geumho River and Dongchon Amusement Park, and it’s spacious and warm, with a big bathtub, strong water pressure, and plenty of hot water. There’s also an air purifier, a fancy fan, a bedside lamp, and an electric blanket. After picking up Dongin-dong Jjim Galbi and one serving of Hanwoo beef for 28,000 won, I walked along the river at Dongchon Amusement Park, then listened to classical music and meditated in the warm tub. I’m 190cm tall and the water came about 5/4 of the way up. Ending the day in a cozy bed felt like heaven. There was a Brown Dot right across the street. I don’t usually recommend Brown Dots around the country because they tend to be expensive, cramped, and awkwardly laid out. I hope this place keeps going for a long time with its good value and clean, hotel-like feel. I’ve seen so many places become total failures before they’ve even been open a year. I’ll definitely stop here when I’m in Daegu or nearby. Highly recommended!

The floor-to-ceiling windows gave the view I booked for, but they were so filthy that the scenery didn’t look pretty. Seeing cobwebs on the glass was the worst part. There was hair and dust everywhere, including by the headboard, and even dead bugs. I couldn’t photograph it all. Maybe I was just unlucky with my room, but it was bad enough that even one star felt generous. I don’t usually complain this much, but this motel will stick in my memory as the worst place I’ve ever stayed. All flash and no substance. I’ll never go back. Please just clean the place.

The interior is decent and everything else was good, but I couldn’t sleep well because the windows couldn’t be opened at Dongchon Amusement Park. There were gnats and mosquitoes. If I’d been able to open the windows, I would have given Star Sleep 5 points.