YaKorea Hostel Dongdaemun

There’s no elevator, so getting up to the fourth floor meant climbing three flights, which got tiring. Still, for the price I’d put up with it. My bed was very comfortable and I slept well. The room was fairly clean with no spots or bugs. There may have been a little mold on the door handle, but it didn’t bother me; the sink, shower handle, floor, and toilet were clean. To turn on the shower, pull the piece connected to the sink spout, then press the small button when you’re finished. Hot water was already on. The location is great, a one-minute walk from two subway lines and a CU convenience store, plus a 10-minute walk from a third line. The hostel felt lively and the staff seemed friendly. Check-in is self-service after 3:00 pm, I believe. Use the tablet and paper with your name, then call the number on the table phone to get your room password. Breakfast is free, with toast, ramen, and one egg per person, and the kitchen has a microwave and utensils. I stayed in room 404 on the side of the building. Signs make it easy to find rooms. If you arrive early, you can leave your luggage in the lobby, which has CCTV. After check-in, you can change into slippers before heading to your room.

The dorm was downstairs in the basement, smelled bad, and was really unclean. There was one bathroom for a lot of people, and I didn’t feel welcome. Getting from the dorm to the kitchen meant going outside, which was unpleasant in winter.

The whole hostel had an unpleasant smell, and my room wasn’t clean. I found lots of hair on the bed. The private room was so small I couldn’t even open my luggage in it; I had to put it on the bed. I was in room 207.

There are some handy things here: it’s close to the subway, a convenience store, pharmacy, and coffee shops. Laundry costs 5000 won, and you can borrow a steam iron and towels each day. There’s internet, too. But the place was very crowded and dirty. There was mold in the bathrooms, loads of dust at the entrance, in the bathrooms and rooms, and lots of stains on my bed sheets. They really need someone to deep clean it. It’s a pity they have so many rooms but don’t look after the place properly. I won’t return.