Rodem House

I only needed somewhere cheap to sleep near an appointment, so I booked through Agoda expecting basic facilities to be enough. I was first told I’d be in Room 303, then got a message a few hours before check-in switching me to Room 404. At the building, there was no proper notice, just a paper saying “404” taped up. The shared hallway was cluttered with belongings and laundry, and the smell at the entrance was overpowering, like dozens of fish drying. I left my bags and went out, but when I came back after 11 p.m., the stench was still there and had filled the room too. There were dozens of tiny flies buzzing around the bathroom. I messaged the host several times and got nothing back. I barely slept and went out in the morning. At about 7:30 that evening I returned briefly to leave my luggage, and saw a body wrapped in plastic being carried through the building’s shared entrance, from the room just to the right of mine. I froze. Someone who seemed to be part of the removal crew told me to go back to my room, where I was left for around 30 minutes. I kept trying to reach the host, with no answer, then packed up and left. I never returned. I contacted Agoda while this was happening, but after 9 p.m. I was alone in a foreign country without a place to sleep. Neither Agoda nor the host offered practical help. I spent more than two hours using a map and asking hotels one by one if they had a room. The host eventually wrote, “I’ll refund you, OK?” There wasn’t even an apology. Agoda asked me to attach evidence and offered only a voucher worth about $12. After the host cancelled the booking, my review was forcibly removed. I still get flashbacks and have been sleeping only about three hours a night. Losing my accommodation so suddenly, with no help, left me feeling more frightened and alone than I can describe. This experience made me question both the property’s hygiene and safety checks and the limits of Agoda’s support. A low price shouldn’t expose travelers to this. I won’t use this place or Agoda again.

On my second stay, I found that my room had a fan and a window instead of air conditioning. The weather was pleasant then, so it worked out, though I do wonder how it would be in summer. The first time I came in, the third-floor reception area brought the Korean drama "Strangers Are Hell" to mind. My room itself was fine for one person to sleep and keep luggage. There was a fridge and hair dryer, but the TV didn’t work. The front desk staff were helpful. Restaurants, cafes, convenience stores, and currency exchanges are close by, as are a train station and bus stop. Single rooms at this price are hard to find now, so I appreciated it.

The freebies made a multi-night stay easier on my budget: I got ramen, water, and towels, and could use the washing machine. Since check-in is self-service, there weren’t instructions for using it, but staff were happy to explain when asked. One caution for women traveling alone, I wouldn’t wash underwear there. I didn’t lose my wallet or passport, so I’ll just think of it as a cheap stay. I booked months ahead and got a good rate. Nonhyeon Station is nearby, and the return limousine bus stop is right by the main road exit. You do have to walk down an alley, but access was still easy. The guesthouse is tucked behind the main road, across from an elementary school, so it felt safe in the daytime. At night there are lots of bars and hair salons that seem to serve night workers. Staff are usually around at night and can speak Japanese. Payment is online, with self check-in and check-out. It was my first guesthouse, and I was traveling alone. It wasn’t as roomy as a hotel and wasn’t particularly clean, but having a private room was fine for me. People with sensitive skin might have more trouble with some things that I found tolerable: the air conditioning can’t be adjusted by guests, the walls are thin, and the building is old. Staff also came into my room once, apparently because of a mix-up with the room arrangement.

The room was cramped enough that there was nowhere to open my suitcase, and the shower room and other areas hadn’t been cleaned very well. Still, I was on my own and only needed somewhere to kill time before my flight, so it didn’t bother me much. The low price helped, and being able to get water and food yourself was useful.