Time Motel

I was looking for a place in central Gyeongju, but the legitimate hotels were booked, so I gave Time Motel a try. I wasn't sure about it after seeing the room photos, which made me think of something pervy. I booked three nights in September 2018. The room turned out to be hilarious, like a 12-year-old girl's fantasy of pink, anime, poetry, and sex. Still, I was honestly surprised by the room quality, amenities, and price. The walls had huge anime girls painted on them. There was a kettle, AC, dehumidifier, toothbrush and paste, big TV, a PC with Korean Windows, heated toilet seat and bidet, shower, and a mini fridge restocked each day with two waters and two cans of juice. The deep massage tub had colorful LED lights, and the mattress had both massage and thrusting options. Getting checked in was awkward. I don't speak Korean, so I usually smile, say "check-in," and hand over my passport. Here, the receptionist was behind a wall with only a small exchange window, apparently so guests could stay anonymous. He looked through my passport, slid it back, said something in Korean, and seemed to refuse me. I crouched to peek through the opening and say hi to the older receptionist, who looked shocked and called someone. I thought maybe the police, but it was a translator. She asked what I was doing there, and I said I was trying to check in. After she relayed that, he gestured for my passport. He spoke with her again, then she asked if I was the Kevin on the passport. I said yes. He hung up and passed me the key with my passport without saying anything. The mattress was very firm, which I liked, but the AC made loud clicking noises that woke me, and I heard sounds from the hallway and nearby rooms. There were microwaves and water dispensers on the first and third floors, plus a popcorn machine on the first floor that I never saw used. The elevator signs explained how to access free movies on the TV, which I didn't try. I could detect WiFi from nearby rooms, but couldn't find a signal for mine or work out if there was a special way to turn it on. Other than ordinary wear and tear, nothing seemed particularly dirty. It was an interesting stay, and I would recommend Time Motel. Their motto is "Fun time & hot time".