Bibimbap Guesthouse — Hotel in Seoul

I really loved the neighborhood of this traditional hanok guesthouse, and the price was very reasonable. But that is all I can say to recommend it. I wish I had spent a little bit more to stay at a nicer hanok guesthouse. It's important to note that you can not drive up to this place; it is on a pedestrian-only street. So your taxi will have to leave you in the street and then you will have to walk a bit to get to the guesthouse. When I arrived, I texted the manager that I was there, and they sent a guy to guide me to the place and help me with my large suitcase, because the streets are like cobblestone (not smooth). The door to the inn is very pretty, but I was disappointed when I stepped inside. The inner courtyard was not picturesque, but instead was messy and unkempt. Then when I saw my room, I was disappointed again. It was so tiny! And the bathroom was minuscule - like an airplane bathroom. The room also did not seem really clean. There were cobwebs everywhere, and a can of bug spray sitting in the corner! The bathroom is just a 'wet room' so with a hand-held shower wand, you wash yourself and the water gets everywhere. No toiletries were provided. There was no window, just a door. You leave your shoes outside your door, which was fine when I was there in the spring, but what happens in the winter?! The walls of my room were very thin, so I could hear all the other guests talking. There is ondol (floor heating) though, so the floor was comfortable. I had a twin-sized mattress on the floor and one pillow. It was quite a "roughing it" experience, and for that, the price was too high. I think you are paying for the neighborhood, which is really, really cool, with lots of picturesque boutiques, restaurants and tea houses to choose from....

This was our least favourite of the 8 places we stayed at during our trip to Korea - and almost the most expensive one at the same time. The host was kind enough, but not very helpful with local eating suggestions. Also on arrival the first thing he did was add us on Facebook - fine, useful if we need to get hold of him - and then "like" Bibimbap Guesthouse on our profile. I'm not sure this is exactly the first priority to do when your guests arrive in late evening tired after travel. We were really excited for the breakfast of bibimbap, but ended up really disappointed. Firstly, our DMZ trip the next day after arrival got moved to an earlier time, and we asked if it would be possible to have breakfast a little earlier than normal time (8am - 10am). It was not - this is probably the first time I've found the host so unresponsive to travellers' needs... we were especially disappointed at this when we found out that all that was done for breakfast was starting the rice cooker and setting out containers with veggies/kimchi. Not very involved, not sure how it was impossible to do it half an hour early... The bibimbap itself was fine, but not sure it's usually served with canned tuna... The room facilities were not super comfortable (tiny wetroom) but we were expecting that. We also knew about complete lack of soundproofing - be wary of that. The really bad bit was that AC in our room was disgusting - it was covered in black mould, produced unpleasant smell and did not respond to us trying to adjust its strength (we tried all the buttons on the remote). All in all I would not come back to this place. If you're looking to experience a hanok stay, I recommend you...

One of the best things about this place is that it is located so close to the subway station. It took much less than 5-min walk from Jongno-3-ga station, although I was a total stranger to this neighborhood. The house is in well-preserved in its original, traditional style. I am a Korean myself, but it was the first time for me to actually stay in Hanok (traditional Korean house) - and it was such a special, memorable night. Before I checked in, I was a little bit worried about facilities- like bathroom, because it is one of the weak points of traditional houses. However, when I was shown around the room, I was so relieved to find modern and comfortable bathroom inside each room. You don't have to worry about sharing bathroom with strangers, or dealing with outdated facilities. Last but not least, Leo, the host of this house, was so helpful and friendly. If you have any questions about sightseeing, air-conditioning or other issues, don't hesitate to contact him. I am pretty sure he will respond with the same hospitality he showed me.

한옥 스테이는 처음 경험해보았는데, 쉽게 할 수 없는 좋은 경험이었습니다. 한옥이면 불편하지 않을까 생각했는데, 방마다 개별 화장실이 있어서 편하게 지낼 수 있었습니다. 종로3가 지하철역에서 가까운 점도 좋았고, 근처에 예쁜 카페와 맛집도 많아서 즐거운 시간이었습니다. 사장님과 직원분도 이것저것 많이...