Yolo Guesthouse - Hostel

This was my third time staying at Yolo Guesthouse with my friend, and it feels like home each time. Myeongdong is lively both day and night, and being close to the subway makes getting around easy. The guesthouse emails you a guidebook before your visit, with useful details about the place and shared spaces. The rules are simple, mostly common sense, and meant to help everyone enjoy their stay. Thanks to the whole team for making us comfortable, especially Mr. Shin, the manager, who always looks out for guests. We're already looking forward to coming back. See you again in September!

The house rules were one reason I chose YOLO Guesthouse. They're firm, but they help keep the place safe and well looked after. The host leaves a rulebook, which was useful since the front desk isn't staffed around the clock. He was also kind enough to let us use the dining area after checkout. Our room was clean, the linens were new, and the bathroom had no mold or bad smell. The shower and heater worked well. We did have mosquitoes during autumn, oddly more than when I visited in summer, but repellent took care of it. It felt like home. Myeongdong walking street, a bus stop, the train station, convenience stores, and Daiso were all a short walk away, and walking there at night felt safe. There is a short uphill stretch that could be tough for someone elderly who has trouble walking, though it's manageable. One tip: skip the “shortcut” Naver Maps sometimes suggests to the other bus stop near the tower. It's a hard climb hahaha. Nothing bad to say about our stay. I'd happily come back to Korea and stay here again :)

Sin and his parents made us feel so welcome. The owner is lovely, and I wouldn't hesitate to ask him for advice or even a tour around Seoul. He was attentive, generous, and always available with helpful suggestions, which made our trip feel special. Thank you so much, Sin 🫶🏻 The guesthouse is a warm place to stay with family, friends, or as a couple. It's less than a three-minute walk from Myeongdong subway station, which is a real plus. We felt at home there.

The room itself was spacious, very clean, and comfortable, with hot water, a microwave, laundry, and other basic facilities. The location was great, and the long manual was clear and useful once I read it. The host's manner made me uncomfortable from check-in, when he was curt and nearly rude while explaining the guest rules. I said a friend in Korea might pick me up or wait in the lobby, but he said visitors couldn't enter the building and had to wait outside, even in the Korean winter. I asked for permission and felt dismissed. The policy says unapproved guests can't enter the building and need the host's permission to come in. When my friend visited, I needed to go to my room and asked if she could wait in the lobby. The host agreed, but very reluctantly. I wasn't there afterward, and my friend told me he asked about my nationality and ethnicity. The way he questioned her felt unprofessional and crossed a line. As a solo female traveler, I'm sharing what happened to me. The guesthouse is clearly well run and maintained, but I stayed somewhere else with a friend in Seoul and had a much better experience. Reading the host's replies to other reviews had discouraged and scared me from posting, but I felt this should be shared.