Hotel Firststay myeongdong

Dustin deserves a special thank you. He helped me throughout my stay, showing me how to get to Hangang River, where to exchange money, and helping with plenty of other things. The rest of the staff were kind, friendly, and ready to help as well. The room was clean, comfortable, and big enough. I was a little unsure at first because the hotel is tucked away on a small street, but meeting the receptionists and other young staff changed my mind. I chose this hotel on my second trip to Korea, and I’m grateful for such a lovely stay.

For the price, this is hard to beat if you’re after a comfortable base rather than anything fancy. The hotel is small, but well placed for sightseeing, the markets, and the subway. Service was very nice, and my room was clean. I slept well every night on a nicely firm bed with two big pillows. The floor heating was good, the AC worked, and the soundproof windows kept outside noise from bothering me.

I like the location most of all. You’re in Myeongdong, with the subway, cafés, restaurants, convenience stores, and pretty much everything else close by. The hotel itself is on the small side, though my room felt surprisingly spacious. There’s a lounge on the top floor with seating, tables, and a microwave, handy for takeout or convenience-store food. Laundry is available on the second floor, but there’s only one washer and dryer, and you need cash. I’ve stayed at Firststay Hotel twice, in 2023 and again in December 2025, and both visits had clean rooms and the same warm, helpful service from check-in to check-out. Hailey was especially kind and generous during the 2025 visit. I’ll come back on my next trip to South Korea.

The rooftop was lovely, and check-in, check-out, and doing laundry were all easy. We had trouble finding the hotel at first, but workers came out to find us and help us get there. The whole staff was so nice, and when my friend and I needed directions, we felt comfortable asking. One staff member, the girl we asked about everything, was especially helpful, though I can’t remember her name. Dustin was also really friendly. My friend and I sat in the lobby to take a break, chatted with him, and even traded snacks. It was just nice talking with someone so welcoming.