Gangneung Gyeongpodae Wynn

The floor was so warm that I slept really well, and I actually preferred it to the bed. The room was small but reasonably clean, and the owner kindly gave me the key when I arrived at dawn. Haha. Pine trees block much of the ocean view from the room, but once you step outside, the blue Gangneung sea looks amazing.

You can hear the waves all night from the terrace facing Gyeongpodae Beach. It’s an older place, so the facilities are dated and there’s a bit of a smell in the bathrooms. Still, on a weekday in the off-season, you can stay in this retro-style hotel for just 30,000 won. They’ll even offer a free room upgrade if you insist, which is a nice touch.

The owner was kind and let us check in early, even though the official time was 5 PM. For a quick one-night stay, it was clean and having a balcony was nice. The trees block most of both the ocean and lake views, so those were a bit disappointing. I was nervous after reading the reviews on Yaxx, but for a day trip it was perfectly fine. Just think of it as an inn for sleeping, not a fancy hotel or motel. They provide toothbrushes, shampoo, and body wash only.

The facilities are a little dated, but I had a great, affordable stay in Gangneung. The location was perfect, and I liked having a veranda.