De Reve Jeju

The building is lovely, and its glass walls give you a nice ocean view. But the glass is a little see-through, so I had to draw the curtains at night. Inside, the house was cold. I knew reviews had mentioned that, but figured late April would be okay. The floor heating was so weak I was freezing without a blanket. Luckily, there was an electric blanket on the bed, and I kept it on. The water pressure was low, though the hot water worked well.

The refrigerator was making such a racket that I unplugged it before going to sleep. The air conditioner was also very loud and rattly, so I called the landlord. A man came by and listened with me, then said that was normal because the unit was old. He left without doing anything. I checked it myself and found the casing wasn't shut properly; closing it quieted the noise a little. I can't help wondering when it was last serviced. There was so much dust, just so, so, so much.

The biggest letdown was the tinted floor-to-ceiling windows. I booked because the listing promised ocean views from every room, despite being far from Sehwa Beach and Seongsan. I didn't notice the tint when I arrived in the evening, but opening the curtains in the morning was disappointing. If privacy was the goal, curtains alone would have been enough. The soundproofing was also poor. From my first-floor room I could hear chairs scraping, showers upstairs, people on the stairs, and music from the wood-fired pizza place next door. It was lucky the upstairs guests were quiet, or I might have asked for a refund. The bedding smelled musty too. I didn't mention it because I couldn't be bothered, but it put me off. Maybe it was because few guests had stayed during COVID-19? There were some good points: it was quiet overall, warm, and had working hot water. It's a 6-7 minute taxi ride or a 40-50 minute walk from Sehwa Beach, so it could suit someone after a peaceful stay. A convenience store next door is open until 10 PM, basic dishes and cookware are provided, and the owner was friendly. All in all, just an okay place. The price is relatively low, but I'd look at other places in the same range.

The second-floor room gave me a lovely ocean view, and I think couples would enjoy staying here. I found it good value during the off-season. There's a convenience store at the pension entrance, though it doesn't stay open all night.