Staywith Hongdae

I booked this place because of the good reviews and value for money, but when I arrived, they initially gave me the wrong room due to an error. That first room was incredibly dirty. The new room they gave me after that was cleaner than the first, but there was mold (or maybe just dust bunnies) under the bed, and mold was visible in several spots in the bathroom too. I also thought they provided slippers and bottled water, but they didn't. The window also looked bad, as if it was filled in with silicone, and cold air was leaking in, making it chilly, same for the bedding. It seems it's not a place to go with high expectations.

The hotel occupies a couple of floors in a multi-story building, located right in the heart of the fashionable Red Road pedestrian street. Since it's at the end of the street, you don't get the wild partying that happens further down, so there's no street noise. It's about a kilometer from a couple of metro stations, and shops, cafes, clubs – everything you could want – are nearby. I had a bit of trouble finding the hotel at first, relying on local navigation. There's no hotel name at the entrance, just a sign for a 'Hair shop.' The entrance is off Red Road, which is listed on navigation apps. I stayed there for 5 days on the 5th floor. The communal kitchen is one floor up and is fully equipped: every kitchen appliance and utensil you could need. As a bonus, the hotel prepares rice daily for guests and also offers eggs and kimchi, with the rice kept warm. This was incredibly pleasant and convenient; you absolutely won't go hungry here. I've never encountered such a service anywhere else. I was quite satisfied. I stayed in two hotels in Korea, the second being in Busan, and I was genuinely impressed by how much the hotel owners cater to the real needs of their guests. My single room was small but perfect: warm, with underfloor electric heating that you can adjust yourself. The room also had smoke detectors, a fire extinguisher, and even a flashlight. I've never seen such attention to guest safety anywhere else in the world.

A really great single room! The size was just right for one person, and I could comfortably open my 28-inch suitcase. The accommodation has an elevator and is easy to find, with a restaurant downstairs and plenty of food options nearby. The heater worked really well; I was very impressed! I'll definitely come back to stay here again next time.