Hotel Kobos

The first person who helped me at check-in later that evening was extremely kind and upgraded my room. That made a big difference, and I’m only taking off one star because of him. Earlier, I’d asked about checking in early and understood that it might not be possible, but the two staff members I dealt with were quite aggressive and unfriendly. It made me consider canceling right there. The younger staff really need to work on how they speak to guests. They shouldn’t act like they’re lecturing you.

We had a great two-week stay at Kobos Hotel in Yeouido, and the subway was just a short walk away, so getting around was easy. It was also close to the Yeouido Cherry blossom festival, though a bit far from some other sights. Taxis in Seoul were cheap and quick, so that wasn’t a big problem. The area was quiet, with a good choice of restaurants and convenience stores. The room was quite large, and the bathroom even bigger. I loved the relaxing rain shower and the lovely-smelling body wash. Having laundry nearby was handy too, especially the washer-dryer combo. My only room complaint was the very dusty window screen and sill. I wiped them down so we could get some clean air, though maybe Seoul’s fine dust was a factor, I’m not sure. Best of all was General Manager Mr Choi Elgene. He always greeted us in a cheerful, booming voice and asked if we needed anything. He was so kind and sweet, and made returning to the hotel feel welcoming. Thank you, Mr Choi! I’d recommend Kobos Hotel.

The room was just okay for one night, and the window was useless. At first the staff were overly sweet, but when we checked out late the next day, after telling them well ahead of time, they were rude. They kept calling every two minutes and made us feel really guilty, even though we paid extra for the late checkout.

The staff were friendly, and there’s a nice little cafe where you can meet friends. The laundry room is free to use, though you have to buy your own detergent. We liked staying in the office district, even on holiday: it was nice seeing people head to work, and the area wasn’t as crowded as the tourist neighborhoods. We also had what we needed nearby, including 7/11, restaurants, a mall, and even a Night Market next to the river. The airport was about a 40-minute taxi ride, and getting to places around the city usually took 15-30 minutes by taxi.