Korea vacation - best place to stay at a reasonable price

September 6, 2007 2:54 PM

Korea vacation - best place to stay at a reasonable price? I am looking for any options for a 4 or 5 star hotel on the North half of Seoul, (ie, Hilton, Lotte, etc) but want to find a way to get the rooms for approx $150 a night as opposed to $250. If anyone is aware of any programs, etc for a budget conscious traveler to Seoul.
posted by chump to travel & transportation (4 comments total)

Calling stavrosthewonderchicken
posted by johnny7 at 4:17 PM on September 6, 2007

I don't have any strategies for weaseling deals out of the high end hotels, BUT I was in Seoul last week and stayed for a few nights at the Hotel Ibis Myeong-Dong (it's directly across the street from Hotel Lotte).
A 2-person queen came to $111 a night, which was full price with the ability to cancel last minute. If you're willing to commit you can go even cheaper. I'm not sure how you roll, but I thought the Ibis was nice where it counts; great showers, quality linens on good beds, courteous staff, in-room lan hookup. Only issue to consider is that the rooms are pretty small, and it's more of a business hotel, so they don't have a fabulous restaurant that can deliver a shrimp cocktail to you in the pool (no pool either, though they do have a sauna).
So, yeah, it's not 4 or 5 star, but you could certainly do worse.
posted by kickback at 4:57 PM on September 6, 2007

Yeah, there are several Ibis hotels, and they're quite reasonably nice (small, business-oriented, new, modern), and about 100 bucks US. Small means really small, though, by western standards. I don't mind it, myself, at all.

Other options around the same price range include these 'co-op' places, which do nightly was well as longer term, and have the added benefit of kitchens.

I have used both and recommend either as best value for money in Seoul.

There are other similar options these days, but I'm unaware of details. The tracks I make to on my rare-ish business trips to Seoul are pretty much worn-in at this point.

adamgreenfield makes relatively frequent trips to Seoul from NY, I know, so he might have some useful options as well.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 6:23 PM on September 6, 2007

When we go to Seoul (we live in the south of Korea) we *always* stay in Myeongdong at the Savoy Hotel. I really like this place because Myeongdong is a nice bustling area with a lot of variety and night life, and it's also centrally located in the city and the hotel is a five-minute walk from the Myeongdong subway station.

The rooms are small but modern, very clean and super comfortable. The staff knows us by name since we've stayed there several times, and the rooms usually cost about $120 a night for my husband and I. The only thing you might not like is the noise from the street, where the vendors play loud music until about midnight or so.

I've found that most hotel rooms in Korea are pretty small by Western standards, and to get anything bigger than the picture in the link above, you have to pay twice to three times as much.

When we stay in Busan we always stay at a super-cute family-owned love motel that is actually quote nice and clean and not the least bit dodgy. For that we pay about $40 a night, but a love motel in Seoul might not be up your alley.

Lastly, I've had friends give the Seoul Guest House rave reviews. It's near the artsy and centrally-located Insadong area, and runs anywhere from $35 a night (with a communal bathroom) to $100 a night (private suit). It's also family-owned and the accommodations are Korean-style (you sleep on the floor) but I've heard the owners are an artsy sort and it might be an interesting experience. I mean, just look at the pictures! And that's in the middle of one of the most bustling cities in the world!

When are you coming? Perhaps we can arrange a meet-up?
posted by Brittanie at 11:32 PM on September 6, 2007