Jeju Haejodae

The view of the ocean from the room and the location are breathtaking. But the building is quite old, and cleanliness needs a lot of improvement. There was a shocking amount of sand and hair left by previous guests all over the room.

You can walk straight out to the ocean, and the location is handy for good restaurants and hot spots. The ocean right in front is lovely, and there’s even a Starbucks next door, which seems to reflect all the foot traffic. An elevator is a plus too. The facilities are old, and both the facilities and service feel dated, so keep your expectations in check.

If you’re after a direct sea view, this pension is right on the shore and you can take in the ocean as much as you like. Biyangdo Island is visible right away. There’s swimming in the daytime, fireworks at night, and a cafe open until 10 PM, so I wouldn’t pick it for a quiet rest. I’d read reviews elsewhere talking about terrible facilities and loads of bugs, but that wasn’t what I found. I’m pretty particular about flights and accommodation when I visit Jeju, so I read every review before choosing Haejodae. There were no bugs, the bed and bedding were comfortable, the bathroom had good hot water, and the windows and screens were well made. It’s not amazing, but it’s decent if you’re not expecting a 5-star hotel. The small drawbacks were no trash can or mirror in the room, and a cramped spot for hanging clothes. That’s about it.

We had a lovely, relaxing family trip, and the location right in front of Hyeopjae Beach was great. The cafe on the second floor has changed to Hotel Sand, which is so pretty, and the owner is very kind. There’s a microwave and a hose for washing off sand on each floor, and we’ll come back. The rooms could use a little improvement in condition. It’d also be nice if the bathroom shower hose were wiped down.