Jinan Todam Pension

The interior has a nicely done classic look, but I wouldn't come here outside of summer. On this autumn night my eyes and nose are stinging from the smoke in the ondol room, where they burn firewood. It brings back old memories, but I'm not sure I'll be able to sleep. Some rooms have traditional underfloor heating, and guests were stamping their feet and arguing because the owner wouldn't light the firewood. The rooms that use an oil boiler were cold too. I arrived in late September for Chuseok, after the weather had cooled, and the room was freezing. When I asked for the boiler to be turned on, the owner was drunk and leaning crookedly. He glared at me and asked whether I really needed heat when everyone else said they were hot. Soon afterward, the guests and owner were yelling at each other. There is no gas supply, so it seems they use an oil boiler. Maybe he was trying to save on oil, but he refused to turn it on and had hidden the controller in his room. I couldn't believe I ended up staying at a pension with central heating. I can bundle up under blankets and get through an autumn night, but in winter I imagine I'd drive home in the middle of the night because it would be so cold. Some rooms have no kitchen, and the ones that do are makeshift, so I'm also worried about how we'd grill meat in winter.

Yongdam Lake is right there, and the view is lovely. With the friendly owner and the quiet setting, it's an easy place to relax and enjoy some peace.

The firewood was so generously provided that it felt like being in a sauna. The place is tidy, the owner is friendly, and I'd definitely like to come back.

The owners are really friendly, and the place has a lovely charm. I liked it even more with snow around.