Jeju Orastay Hotel

This seems like a convenient choice for people with an early flight, since it’s close to the airport. Dongmun market and Chilsung street are nearby too. The rooms feel like small apartments, with separate doors for the bathroom and bedroom. There’s a floor warmer and a hair dryer in the room. The building is older, and they still use metal keys instead of NFC cards. Also, you have to climb half a flight of stairs to get to the elevator. There wasn’t anyone at reception at 1400 during our stay.

The one good thing was the quiet neighborhood. Otherwise, the stay was a mess. I was hoping to save money in Jeju rather than pay $50 a night or more, and the photos looked okay, but the minibar made so much noise that sleeping was difficult. The mattress was extremely worn, with what felt like holes in it, and I slept terribly. In the bathroom there was a partly used tube of toothpaste, less than half full, and a hard soap that had already been used. Leaving used soap for another guest is disgusting, with or without corona. Every time the bed was made, it looked like the picture I added. I could have done a better job myself. The whole experience was bad.

The staff were kind and helpful, and they cleaned the room and changed the towels every day. I booked a standard double room, which had all the necessary facilities. It was more than okay for a stay of two or three days, even as a couple. Highly recommended.

The guests seemed oblivious to other people staying there. Most nights, doors along the floor were left open so friends could yell between rooms. I booked last minute because of the location, but this is a converted love motel, complete with mirrors at bed height where you can watch yourselves. Korea needs to revisit its laws on hotel naming. Seeing the “chef” sneeze into the bowl of noodles she was making in the breakfast room put me off eating there. Avoid it. For $3 more a night, a place a few doors down would make you much happier.