Gyeongju Seoul Youth Hostel

That private bath was a real highlight. I spent 90 minutes soaking in the warm water with tea, and it was so relaxing. The room's warm boiler, comfortable clothes, and Aromatica amenities also made it feel like the place had thought carefully about helping guests unwind. They even gave us aroma oil and a welcome drink at check-in. Breakfast was abalone porridge, healthy and delicious, and Netflix and Wi-Fi were available. I had a truly restful two days and one night at 'IJE Gyeongju'. It's a 15-minute walk from Bulguksa Temple, and the design, value, and attention to detail were all great. During cherry blossom season, the package was under 300,000 won, which felt like very good value. The surrounding shopping area is quiet, so bring some snacks. The staff were friendly too. I'd love to try the Namhae branch next time. 😊

The communal dining space is separate, but open at the top, so noise carried through and was a real inconvenience for our group with a baby. You can book a bath separately from the one in your room, and dinner and breakfast are served in the same place, but the time slots are very strict.

I went with the plan that included both meals. At check-in they gave me aroma oils and tea bags for the room, which had a wooden bathtub and bath salts. The private bath also came with tea bags and incense, and I enjoyed relaxing there. You have to reserve times for the private bath and meals in advance. This is a Japanese-style hotel. Dinner's main dish was beef, cooked to your preference on a hot plate with grilled vegetables. Breakfast was abalone porridge. Both meals tasted good.

The rooms were warm and comfortable, and the private baths were a nice extra. The whole building has a lovely aromatic smell that made the stay feel restorative. It's quiet and tucked away, but there are plenty of chicken restaurants and cafes nearby. One thing bothered me: the bath water seemed to be reused, and there was debris floating in it before I even got in.