Crib 49 Guesthouse Seoul

The hill up to the guesthouse was quite a struggle with my luggage, so keep that in mind. Still, it's near the subway and kampungku (halal restaurant), and I remember the place fondly even three years later. It was my first Seoul trip, and staying here was part of what made it so great. The room was clean, the pantry spacious, and the rooftop view at night was amazing.

The hostel sits at the top of a huge, steep hill. Cars struggled to get up it, so if you're carrying a heavy bag or can't manage the climb, a taxi from the subway may be a good idea. Email the hostel for directions to have the taxi drop you at the main road at the hilltop. The women working there were so caring and went out of their way to help. They gave us a great KBBQ recommendation and did much more than they needed to with our laundry. The rooms are spacious and clean. The showers are right over the toilet with no separate stall, but that wasn't a big deal.

Staff were responsive and the atmosphere was pleasant. It's a nice place on a quiet street, about five minutes from the subway.

The location was awful, down a dirty, narrow alley in the middle of nowhere. I arrived for my reservation around 6 p.m., but nobody was there. I knocked for 20 minutes and rang the bell without getting an answer. Later they emailed to say they'd charge me a late penalty too. The worst hotel and service I've had.