Ocean's Guesthouse - foreigners only

It was my first time travelling overseas, and I was really nervous when I came to stay for three weeks. The staff made me feel welcome, were always friendly and fun to hang out with, and made sure everyone was having a good time. They helped whenever I had questions and suggested things to do in Seoul. There were lots of nighttime hangouts in the common room, playing games and meeting people. I met some amazing guests and even explored Seoul with them outside the hostel. I had the best time of my life here and will definitely come back.

The location was good, on a quieter street close to lots of restaurants and not far from the main metro lines. The hostel had a social feel, but I was disappointed by several things. The nights were very cold. I'm not sure why there was no heating, or why the windows were kept open when it was 5°C outside at night. The room's locker system was modern but impractical and noisy every time you opened a door. It was also complicated enough that guests needed three or four tries to get it open, making even more noise. There was a WhatsApp group, but it seems the manager forgot my request to join, so I don't know how it worked. The bathrooms were very small and hard to move around in, even getting in and out.

The beds could really use curtains, but the owner was so helpful and easy to talk to. He often organizes get-togethers in the common area and has great tips for Seoul and other parts of South Korea. I’d happily recommend staying here!

I’ve never stayed anywhere this filthy in my 25 years of traveling. Jaipur and Cairo hostels don’t even come close. There was mold in the bathrooms and a smell of sweat and urine everywhere. The shoe rack by the entrance added its own unforgettable stink from all the dirty shoes. The kitchen was unusable, with every surface coated in grease that looked decades old. Avoid it.