GUDO Collective Gangnam

Good value, and the room was nicely designed and very clean since the hotel is new. Ours had both a shower and a bath, all new and spotless. The lobby was pleasant too, with a self check-in machine and what I think was a small couch. There’s no reception, and there’s no housekeeping unless you request it for 80’000 won. Towels are available, but we didn’t have a table or chairs in our room. I think some of the other room types have them. The main issue was the thin walls. We could hear people talking and laughing in other rooms.

We spent three weeks here in January during a really cold winter. The aparthotel looked new, clean and bright. Our family suite for six had two large double beds, one single bed, and two bathrooms, which made the stay much more comfortable. Building A had a shared kitchen with a microwave and tap water, plus a fitness center and public toilet on the second floor, where the check-in machine was too.

The staff were friendly and the service felt warm. It’s clean and well managed, with a stylish, cozy atmosphere. The space isn’t huge, but it didn’t feel cramped. The bar and restaurant looked great, so I went in for a drink later that evening. I’d been to UH CELL Gangnam and needed somewhere nearby. When I told the clinic I planned to stay in the area, they kindly suggested this hotel and helped me get a small discount. It also seems popular with foreign visitors. A pleasant stay, and a convenient choice if you’re visiting UH CELL Gangnam.

The gym had the best equipment I’ve seen in a hotel. The place was generally clean and tidy, and both the water pressure and drainage were good. Laundry costs 3,000 won per use for each of two washers and two dryers. They’re large enough that I washed and dried a long coat, three pairs of pants, a jacket and other things all together. It’s about a five-minute walk from Gangnam Station along a hilly, bumpy road, but it was manageable. The hotel isn’t on a main road, so outside noise was muted. The walls are thin, though, and you can hear everything from the next room. Check-in is through a kiosk and check-out is by email. There’s no room cleaning; towels are replenished by leaving them in a basket, and for rubbish removal you leave it outside. It was my first unmanned hotel, which felt a little strange, but wasn’t a big problem. At around 30,000 yen a night, I did feel the lack of hospitality and felt a bit lonely. It was also the first time I’d stayed somewhere without tissues in the room, which was really inconvenient. I think it suits travelers who want a quiet stay without having to meet hotel staff.