Philstay Myeongdong Boutique Female

The firm bed was a plus, and the place was clean. It’s also well located, with lots of shops nearby and Gyeongbokgung Palace about a 30-minute walk away. Still, this is a long way from being a boutique hostel. The rooms have no windows, and the bathrooms are far apart, on different floors. There are three male managers who move around the rooms. For a WOMEN-ONLY hostel, I found that strange. I think women should manage it, or only women should be allowed into the dorms. I was also shocked to see men working at the 'bakery' or whatever the neighboring business is called come in and use the same guest bathrooms.

It’s a great spot in Myeongdong, just a few meters from the bus stop and subway exit. CVS, Myeongdong street, Jaemiro, OY, and the 12 floor Daiso are close too. The staff were friendly, and I liked that the place was all women. The bunk bed was larger than the usual budget hostel kind, and the bedding was clean. The dining area is small, so get breakfast early.

The location is truly great, and the front desk staff were warm and ready to help, like a friend, when I had trouble with the coin dryer. I also appreciated the Mongolian cleaning ladies, who were so friendly and nice. The rooms felt very tight. For all the guests, the shared bathroom seemed to have only two toilets and four showers. There were two more toilets on the 2.5 floor, but it was so cold up there that hardly anyone used them. It’s a safe women-only hostel for solo female travelers if you’re okay sharing two regular indoor toilets and showering in a cramped space like at a gym.

I never actually stayed here, but arranging things beforehand was a horrible experience. I booked a non-refundable stay through a platform that wouldn’t let me contact the property before booking. I needed a lower bunk, but they couldn’t provide one. I lost the money for a place I couldn’t use, then had to find somewhere else and pay again.