Daol Guesthouse

DAOL is tucked down a small backstreet, though it was fairly easy to find. The room was small but clean and had what I needed for a one-night stop. The bathroom was tiny, but the shower was clean and there was plenty of hot water. Check-in and check-out were entirely by phone, with no human interaction. A QR code on the door takes you to a web page; after entering your details, you get a four-digit code for the reception area, then another code to enter your room after 3pm. I chose DAOL because it was listed as including breakfast, but there was none, and no staff around to help. There is a Hollys Coffee nearby. The biggest letdown was noise from other guests. With wooden stairs and tiled hallways, even small sounds carry like thunder. For a one-night stopover, it did the trick.

It’s only a few minutes from Hongik University Station Exit 3, which has an escalator, and there are plenty of shops and good restaurants nearby. The room is small but comfortable, and the host and her family were so kind. Cleanest place I’ve stayed in Korea.

The basement room was clean and comfortable, and the bathroom had liquid soap, shampoo, small towels and a hair dryer. Breakfast was basic, with cornflakes and milk, toast with butter and jam, a fried egg and sausage, juice and coffee. I only wish the room had been cleaned more often, since it was serviced once in our six nights. We could hear guests using the garden right outside our window, and there was also daytime noise from people passing by. Even so, I’m happy we stayed at Daol. The owner was welcoming, and when we arrived very early in the morning, we were able to contact them and leave our bags. It’s about a 2-3 minute walk from Hongik Station Exit 3, with good cafes and restaurants close by. First time here, but I’d come back and recommend it to solo travelers, couples and families.

In December 2022, we booked a family room to get together with friends in Hongdae, and it was the worst place ever. The semi-basement room was freezing. When we asked about the heating, the host just asked, “Are you cold?” It was the middle of winter, minus 9 degrees. I had to go into the guesthouse building to adjust the heat. We followed the host’s instructions, but it still felt cold, so we turned it up more after snow fell overnight and the temperature dropped. Before checkout, the host came over yelling and got angry that we’d raised it. We paid $282 a night and felt we had the right to sleep in a warm room. It’s a three-minute walk from Hongdae station, but there was no information about the heating, even in winter. The host scolded us, and guests have to buy their own garbage bag in Mapo-gu.