Shire Inn

We'd been staying here for four years, probably six to eight visits, and the place is reasonably clean with a private bathroom. But our latest arrival in Seoul was met with a blunt choice: accept check-in from 6 to 8 pm, unless booked through Airbnb, or leave and find somewhere else. We don't know why the hours changed. Checkout is at 1 pm. There are a few other downsides: no elevator, so bags have to go up two or three flights, and no proper room heater, just a small portable one. There's Wi-Fi, a heated mat for winter, AC for summer, and a big TV. Every room we've tried has also smelled stale and smoky. This time we went elsewhere, less than a five-minute walk away, to the star hostile. It had a clean room, friendly staff, and no smoke smell. I'd stay there instead.