New Grand Hotel

We ended up leaving after one night of a multi-night booking. Maybe it would do for a single night before catching a train, but be aware this is a love hotel. It was easily the worst hotel stay of our three weeks in South Korea, despite the convenient public transport location. We'd been here ten years earlier, when an older couple owned it and check-in was on the first floor. In 2022, check-in had moved to ground level and it seemed to have new owners. The rooms were mostly the same, just worn down. Check-in itself was quick: we showed our reservation and ID and got a key. The room was spacious and the AC worked, but there was a tobacco smell everywhere. The bedding had holes and stains, and there were drips and marks on the bed frame and other furniture. Limescale covered the bathroom mirror and bidet controls, as shown in the pictures. The mattresses were hard. There was a package with c*ndoms, lube and similar items in the room, and mine had two packages, one with things missing. Ads for various 'massage' services were posted around the room too.

The room had plenty of space, a big smart TV with channels, and a refrigerator stocked with drinks. Best of all for me that day, there was a computer and high-speed wifi. The bed was nice and came with a warmer, and the bathroom had a bidet, which matters a lot to me. It's a classic-style hotel but very well equipped, and close to Daegu station. I'd recommend it.

We booked three nights, and the one good thing was the unlimited free bottled water on the second floor. Otherwise, I'd tell other visitors to stay away. The room was equipped with things like a tiny sofa, but it was really dirty: old toothpaste in the bathroom, hair everywhere, a bad smell, and little bits of the previous guest's food on the tea table. We decided to stay as planned anyway. On day two, the sheets had been folded when the room was cleaned, but our T-shirts had been balled up and left on the sofa. We tried to give the staff the benefit of the doubt. Then on the third day, we found the door unlocked. Thankfully nothing was missing, but a dirty, smelly rag had been left by the cleaner on the desk, the only spot we'd thought was clean. We didn't try the breakfast, for obvious reasons. You can also hear every train passing Daegu station, and homeless people living right outside the window are there to see.

We arrived very late and hungry, and when we asked where to eat, the staff actually walked us to a nearby restaurant instead of just giving directions. They were very friendly, possibly the owner and her son, and happy to answer questions. The price is fairly low for the location, less than a minute from the Line 1 Daegu station exit, and the room was spacious. The air conditioner could work better, though.