Olive Hostel

The location was the main plus: near a metro station, Myeongdong's shopping area, and the central train station. I still had a great time in Seoul, but the stay itself was disappointing. The room was tiny compared with how spacious it looked in the pictures. There was nowhere separate to shower, so you had to shower over the toilet, and the moisture was hard to clear afterward. The rooftop terrace wasn't maintained as the photos suggested. Towels were tiny and I only got two. The beds weren't comfortable, and there was no clothing rack or place for a suitcase. I could hear everything from the hallway and neighboring rooms. Staff were rarely around, I saw them only twice in a week, and I went to other people with questions instead of reception.

We enjoyed our stay, and this hostel is good value if you're traveling on a tight budget. The staff were helpful, and being in Myeongdong near all the street stalls was a big plus. There were mosquitoes in our room. That's a general nuisance in Korea, not just here, so bring repellent. We bought a roll-on called “Mosquito Milk S” at a local pharmacy, as shown in the photo. It worked very well and smelled quite nice.

For the money, it was okay. We were out most of the time and came back mainly to shower and sleep. The owner was good. The hill is pretty tough, though we got lucky with a room on the first floor. I'd bring your own towels because theirs are super small. The good parts were friendly English-speaking staff, an easy check-in and check-out, a good spot close to subway, buses and shops, and a reasonable price. But our room's AC didn't work, and rain leaked onto the mattress and floor. It got stuffy, but opening the window brought in a roomful of mosquitoes. The washer and dryer cost 3,000 each and took literally six hours for one load. We found a laundromat nearby, where the next load took 45 minutes to wash and dry. The sink was clogged and we managed to fix it, but it still leaked and needs plumbing work. You can hear your neighbor snoring.

Kevin, the host, was super friendly and helpful, and the place was less than a five-minute walk from MyeongDong station. We stayed a week and really enjoyed it. The terrace and rooftop have a nice view of the N Tower, and the lobby kitchen is well equipped. They also offer a simple breakfast to start the day. The rooms are on the small side but very clean, and ours had a little refrigerator. We'd happily come back.