Hotelette

Booked through Booking.com. The location is central, but I wouldn’t stay here again. A week before the trip, my plans changed and I needed to stay one night instead of the two I’d booked. They wouldn’t offer even a partial refund, which felt unreasonable in the circumstances. The room was much smaller, and the property dingier, than the photos suggested, though it was clean enough and passable. It’s run more like a guesthouse or hostel than a 2-star hotel. They make you take off your shoes at the entrance and put them in an unlocked box. The corridor carpet was very dingy. The Booking.com listing said there were free amenities, but there weren’t any, just a vending machine. I arrived hoping to store my luggage, but reception was oddly closed in the morning. There was nowhere to leave bags before or after the stay, despite what the listing said, and nobody had communicated this beforehand. I was caught off guard and had to scramble to find storage. I got no answer about when check-in was possible, there was no quick way to reach the operators outside their hours, and the phone numbers didn’t work. The front door stayed unlocked all night. As a woman traveling alone, I was put on the ground floor about 10m from the entrance, despite asking for a quiet room. People coming and going made noise during the day and night, I could hear reception from my room, and the police station was next door. Anyone from the street could get to my room door, so I didn’t feel safe.

There was no room service. When I asked for extra water and toilet paper, I was handed a random roll that had been sitting on the receptionist’s desk, even though I was about to head out and only wanted them to bring it to my room. By evening, the room still had no water or toilet paper. The room smelled moldy and wasn’t clean. The bed was so uncomfortable I had back pain after the first night. The shower over the sink was strange and impractical, and the place could use renovation. They also make you leave your shoes outside before entering the common room area, so you can’t wear them in the room.

The location was the main reason I’d consider staying here again. It’s right across from Seoul station, exit 10 for the train from Incheon airport, with bus stops across the street too. You can walk to Namdaemun Market, Myendong, or even the War Memorial Museum, and Seoul Tower is visible from outside the hotel. I stayed five nights. The room looked just like the photos people had posted. It was tiny, barely big enough for one, but worked for me traveling solo. The shower is awkwardly between the sink and toilet. My room had an odor, so I bought air freshner at Daiso across the street and left the windows open every day. With the windows shut, I couldn’t hear any noise, which was a plus as a light sleeper. For the price, I enjoyed the stay and mostly used the room to sleep or nap during the day. You do have to leave your shoes outside the elevator before going to your room, and each room has a locker. I had my own inside-sleepers, so changing shoes wasn’t a problem. There’s another pair of shower-sleepers in the toilet too, which is pretty standard in a lot of Asian countries. Service could be better. I got bottled water and fresh towels, and the garbage was emptied every day, but nobody made the bed during my five nights. Fresh sheets at least once would have made a big difference. You get what you pay for. If you’re traveling solo, want your own space, and are on a budget, it’s a good option. Happy travelling 💕

Don’t judge the building from the outside. Inside, it’s clean and adequate, and the rooms are spotless, though really small. It worked perfectly for a short stay. The water pressure was good and warmed up quickly. Soundproofing isn’t great, but I wasn’t seriously disturbed. Seoul station is a five-minute walk, and there’s a mall with nice restaurants across the street. All in all, good value for money.