24 Guesthouse Garosu-gil

Had a sunny room with window that look out onto the street. Not a big double room but ok for 2 persons. We stayed there for a week and no housekeeping was done during that whole week. We took the waste basket out and leave the rubbish bag with the reception staff and just asked for clean plastic bag. Our sheets were not made nor changed at all. Luckily there was a small wall washing machine with soap powder supplied in the bathroom (this is the first time I have come across a hotel with washing machine in the bathroom!) so we just throw in our bedsheets or towels to wash and dry. Shower/toilet was small but was ok. 2 staff at the reception quitted on our 3rd day and we had a young lady and the boss minding the reception. There was a microwave on every floor whcih was very handy to warm up drinks etc. Bight and sunny kitchen was on the second floor where simple breakfast was provided with tea & good coffee from a coffee machine. We can do our own cooking too in the kitchen with a big fridge provided. One side of our bedroom was connected to the office so it was quiet but the other side was connected to another bedroom. The wall was thin and when people talk next door we could hear every word! At one stage we had to tell them to keep quiet as it was in the middle of the night and it did become quiet after. Overall it was pretty good place.

In the past year, I've travelled to Seoul twice and both times I've stayed at this location. If I'm not mistaken, this location is the newest of all the other 24 Guesthouses in Seoul. The facilities are clean enough considering it's a guesthouse but don't expect it to be sparkling clean...both time I've stayed, there were still hair balls stuck to the drains in the showers and I stayed in a room with its own bathroom. As for space, it really isn't all that much, just enough for you to put in a medium sized luggage on its side without it being opened. However, the staff at check-in are always very friendly and can speak multiple languages (Korean, English, Mandarin). One factor to consider is this location is close to a plastic surgery hospital so you will encounter people with wrapped up faces, it didn't bother my friend and I but I know how some people can be against that. It's right in the middle of Garosu-Gil which has a lot of cute little shops, restaurants and cafes. The subway is only around 5-7 minutes walk from the guesthouse. All in all, it's a good place to stay for a couple days if you don't want to spend money on hotels.

Me and family stayed a week at this lodging late Nov 2014. My wife and I visited Seoul in 2013 and loved the area we lasted stayed in, which is Sinsa-dong. So we took some effort to find comfortable lodging this time when we planned to visit Seoul again with our teenage kids. We came across this new lodging place which was opened about 8 months back. The location is very convenient as you can take the airport bus 6006 (10,000/adult, 8,000/children) from Incheon, and it's the first stop (only 40-45 mins). Sinsa-dong is a known for the shopping belt along the main road which the lodging is located. It is lined with beautiful trees on both sides with small boutique and speciality shops,cafes (you should spend some time in any one of time on an idyllic afternoon, do some people watching or just enjoy your coffee and waffles!) on both sides of the road. You can find some pretty good restaurants and shops around the neighbourhood if you venture around the small lanes and side streets. There is a subway station about 5-10 mins walk which will link you to other parts of Seoul. The lodging itself is clean and renovated in minimalist style, providing a comfortable experience as well. The rooms are equipped with single or bunk beds (mattress is a bit hard for my liking though), TV with cable subscription, wifi, small fridge, hair dryer, water boiler and attached bathroom/toilet (please check again if all rooms has attached bathroom). There are other common facilities such as washing machine (for small loads only), PCs and a common kitchen/pantry where you can cook simple meals such as instant noodles from Korean supermart. The staff can speak English and is helpful for any needs from a tourist such as directions, recommendations for local attractions, transportation etc and even help to order food which will be delivered to the lodging place, very convenient service after a long day out, Try ordering fried chicken and local Korean food! If you are looking for lodging at away from the main tourists locations and still able to experience Korea in one of the best places in Seoul, this is one of them. Highly recommended.