Are “love hotels” in Korea suitable for multiple-day stays while sightseeing?
Aug 09
Question by Benjamin: Are “love hotels” in Korea suitable for multiple-day stays while sightseeing?
I’m going to be doing some tourism in Korea, but it looks like major hotels in Seoul are quite expensive by Asian standards. I’ve heard that love hotels are are good value for money if you’re travelling on somewhat of a budget.
I’m wondering if they are much the same as hotels – can you easily stay for a few nights (i.e., leaving your luggage in the room during the day)?
What are they like to stay in? Are they as seedy as it sounds?
Best answer:
Answer by DaveInSeoul
They used to be quite seedy several years ago, but the Korean citizens forced them to clean up their act. So most of them are quite clean, and cheap, so they would be a suitable way to visit Korea ‘on the cheap’.
And yes, ‘love hotels’ are still mostly for ‘rendevous’. You see, with the economy still relatively unstable, it is very socially acceptable for many younger people to live with mom and dad until they are 28 -29 (I know that sounds weird to Westerners, but it’s OK here). But it is not OK for you to bring your boyfriend or girlfriend home for the evening, so the ‘love motel’ is the only reasonable alternative. However, the rooms are usually quite nice with a large single bed, internet computer in the room, and usually a large shower area with a nice jacuzzi – there is NO mistaking what these places are used for.
I have couple final words of advice – ask to see the room (bang boe say yoe?? – can I see the room?) BEFORE you pay for it. As I said most of them are really clean, but it never hurts to check it out first. Second, look around the hotel. Most of them are not in seedy areas, but a few of them are too close to a lot of night clubs – you want to rent one a couple of blocks down the road from the night clubs, or you won’t get much sleep. And finally, be prepared to use a lot of sign language, as most Koreans out of Seoul still do not speak very good English.
Hope this helps.
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I stayed in one in Inchon, and it was as nice as the tourist hotel at about 1/3 the price. The one I used did not have a key to the door. It only locked from the inside and I did not have a key. I am not sure if you can lock your luggage inside. Since the office personnel do not speak English it could be a problem. I did not know it was a love motel until I parked in the garage and the desk man ran out and placed a board behind my license plate.
Yes, they are suitable for multiple-day stays and of course you can leave your luggage there. I’ve stayed in a few while traveling around Korea, and it’s just like staying in a very low-grade hotel. The price is right, especially if you’re splitting the cost with someone. They generally cost about 30 000 – 45 000 KRW for a room with a double-bed per night.
Are they seedy? Use your common sense and choose one in an area that doesn’t look sketchy. I wouldn’t want to scan the room with a blacklight but to be fair, I wouldn’t want to do that in any hotel room.
My friend stayed at the Good Time in Sinchon.
It is between Sinchon and Ehwa area, so the neighborhood is nice, plus you are near to Exit #3 or #4 of Sinchon station, Line 2. (circle line) Because it is a University area, there is a lot of cheap shopping in Ewha, and the popular club scene in Honggik is only 1 stop away by subway.
If you can afford a little better, next door is the Hotel Mirabeau.
(which is not a love hotel, but a regular, albeit little more expensive, hotel)
Yes, they are. Enjoy the porn on the 42inch LCD TV.
I lived in Korea for three years, and I would never stay in a “love hotel”. For one, my Korean friends often warned me about them. I just heard about the thin walls and such (there was a Korean movie that covered the issue). Love hotels are viewed by Koreans as primarily for trysts.
Why stay in a love hotel when there are alternatives? There are hostels all around Seoul and in other cities that suffice. As well, you can stay in other types of places (there are saunas – or jimjilbangs, that let you sleep on the floor). If you go to hostel.com, you’ll find quite a few good ones (though, I checked out a few and was disappointed with the quality.).
So, my vote is to just stay away from love hotels.
My husband and I stayed in one Seoul (we are from Japan and use love hotels quite often here just for fun!) The Korean love hotel we stayed at was awful…pure yuck! 80s decor, smelled just awful and we could hear the Karaoke in the next room and the loud screaming sex upstairs…couldn`t get a wink of sleep. We checked into the Savoy Hotel the next say and were much happier (though it cost about three times more!)