Ebenezer Hotel

It's in a convenient spot right by the beach, with lots of tasty, reasonably priced places to eat nearby. We came for the Canola flower field, but were a week or two too early for the blooms. Still, it was memorable, and staying somewhere cozy made it a nice trip. We used the bus to and from Dongmun market twice. The hotel was clean, with nice wood or wood-laminate floors and a modern-looking, chic bathroom. It shares a building with another hotel, but from the little we saw in the halls while staff were cleaning, Ebenezer's rooms looked more updated. Front desk service was quick and considerate. The only tiny thing I noticed was some weathering or dirt along the bottom of the walls, but it barely showed and didn't bother me. We also liked being able to set the room temperature ourselves since it was chilly outside.

This coastal town is touristy, with plenty of food, attractions, and other conveniences close by. An ocean-facing room gives you a great view for the price, though the rooms are basic and the bed is hard.

The reception staff were friendly and polite, and I was surprised they checked us in early. That hadn't happened during our three weeks moving between Korean accommodations. The ocean views are fabulous, but the hotel is noisy. You hear doors slamming and cupboards banging, and soundproofing is especially poor if the people next door have a private party until 1am. The AC temperature is set in winter and spring, so it can't cool the room enough for sleeping. The mattresses are very hard; if you have back problems, book somewhere else. We changed rooms and the bed was just the same.

The beach view was decent, but the beach itself was small and nothing like the online pictures. Getting there was a letdown. We arrived around noon on a day of heavy rain and spent three hours waiting because check-in wasn't allowed before 3. Everyone was stuck in the lobby. About five minutes before three, we went to ask if rooms were ready and got turned away. We were first at the desk, but after our question the line had grown, and the receptionist sent us to the back while local guests were served first. It felt awful, like overseas customers were being treated unfairly. The room was okay and relatively clean, but one chair had some chocolate-like stuff on the side, and towels were missing. Communication was difficult because staff hardly spoke English. The Samsung AC was odd: it shut off when it hit the set temperature, then made a loud noise when it came back on as the temperature changed. There was no quiet sleep setting. I was disappointed with that brand choice. They don't provide toothpaste or toothbrushes, so bring your own. Jeju-do doesn't seem well set up for international tourists. It's not only the language barrier; the service and courtesy were also very disappointing.