Seoul Cube Ewha - Hostel

There's room to sleep underneath if you book early. The upper bunk might be awkward, since you have to climb a ladder to reach it. I found the place clean and spacious enough to stay on my own, and it's very close to Exit 5 of Ewha Womans University Station. The owner is kind, and the price was low. Breakfast includes ham and cheese toast, juice or coffee, cereal, and bananas, and there's a fridge for your own food. Shampoo, conditioner, body wash, cleansing foam, toothpaste, and a towel are supplied, so just bring a toothbrush. The house rules are strict, which meant I could sleep quietly. I'd stay again.

There were only three of us in the capsule dorm, counting me, so it felt tidy and easy to use. It seemed too compact to fit many more people. They provide two towels, hangers, toothpaste, shampoo, body wash, and the other basics. I only needed my own toothbrush and a charger. Very clean.

Getting in at night was a problem: the entry code changes sometime between 11:40 PM and 7:00 AM, so you can't get inside then. The stairs are very narrow and hard to climb, and the place is up a hill and difficult to find. On the first floor, the 10-person room shares just two bathrooms, one of them incredibly tiny. In the morning the toilet paper was gone, luckily I'd brought some. When I got up to use the restroom close to midnight, a staff member hurried over to ask what I needed.

The owner watches you from the moment you come out of the shower until you've reached your space and closed the curtain. A late shower brings a knock and a warning that you've got three minutes left, and after midnight you're not allowed to leave your space. With cameras everywhere, even going to the toilet in the middle of the night is basically forbidden. The rules are strict and there's a curfew. The bathroom and toilet share one space, and it smells and feels dirty. The owner's attitude and personality are awful. There are better hostels at the same price, so I definitely wouldn't recommend this place.