Sweet Studio @ Seoul Station (click link)
First time on Airbnb? Get $40 credit!
Date of visit: September 2016
Perfect for : 3 -4 pax
Seoul was a very impromptu trip for my girls and I, having decided and planned only a couple of weeks in advance. Air tickets were pricey at $800+ (Korean Airlines) due to last minute booking, and we could not spare too much time for accommodation research, in case everywhere would be booked out!
That being said, it was my FIRST time in Seoul and I’ve been watching Running Man and various K-dramas enough to be a little giddy over it, sarang-hae!
Hotels.com provided quite a few options, however as we had 3 pax, the comfortable places were quite pricey, at least $190/night. 5 nights would be a huge dent for us, less moolah for shopping yo!
With this thought, we turned to Airbnb in search for that perfect Korean, K-drama-worthy place. Although we found quite a few places, we eventually decided on this one because of the pictures (superficial, I know), location, and most importantly, reviews!
(Photos from Airbnb, sorry they are a little blurry!)
Of course, anything can look good on website pictures, so let me share more about the place (and some of my own pictures too!)
LOCATION
One of the main points we picked this place for – convenience. It is located super close to Seoul Station – which is pretty much close to anywhere. We travelled to Myeong Dong, Gangnam, Dongdaemun, Hongdae, Bukchon Hanok Village relatively quickly!
There is also an underpass straight to the train station, so when you are travelling back to the airport, you don’t have to lug your things across the road, or when you are returning back at night and don’t feel too safe on the streets!
There is also a cafe right at the bottom of the building, and a convenience store for all your necessities. Oh ya, Gong Cha too, for you Bubble-Tea addicts.
Did I mention that it was walking distance to Lotte Mart? Brownies/Ramyeon/Foooooddd!
The only con was that there seemed to be quite a few sketchy people who were probably homeless, lurking around on the streets nearby. However, they are non-invasive and mostly kept to themselves, and did not even approach us. Overall, I felt really safe there, even though we came back late most of the time.
FOOD
There’s definitely plenty of food nearby (other than the cafe and the convenience store).
(Accessories from Statelight.co)
Across the building, there are a number of eateries that open late – all serving delicious Korean fare.
Food is tasty and suppppper affordable – this Buddae-tchigae for 2 and another Soy Bean Stew plus Soju costing less that SGD $10 per person!
Along that street, there’s also foodstands with Ahjummas selling street snacks like sweet potatoes and sausages, as well as a fried chicken joint – for those of you who love jjimae (chicken + beer).
ROOMS
Our room was spacious and tastefully decorated, with 2 double beds that were comfy! Honestly, I had no problem falling asleep every night. 😀
Just as the listing described, this room was fully equipped with
- Fridge stocked with drinks (you put 500 Won into the piggy bank for each one)
- Microwave
- Washer (the host provides washing powder too!)
- Stove + cooking equipment
- Sink
- Kettle
- Hair Dryer
- Cups + Cutlery
- Wifi Egg (for you to bring around)
In addition, the bathroom was clean and nice, with towels provided too!
I would have loved to check out the gym, but I was wayyyy too tired everyday, besides, I think I burned enough calories walking around those shops lol.
Lastly, this view.
HOSTS
Hosts can usually make or break your experience, and we were fortunate to have good hosts. They made sure we had directions from the airport, and checked in almost everyday!
Whenever we had questions (from how do we get to the airport to where did you get that pretty rug?) they were prompt to reply with very detailed answers. That’s good enough for me.
PRICE
Inclusive of the cleaning & service fee, and a $40 discount I got from airbnb referral, the total cost was SGD $721 for 5 nights, which came down to $144 per night! Totally worth it, in my opinion.
CONCLUSION
Heading to Seoul? If you are not a fan of guesthouses and want something more comfortable and plushy (but don’t want to splurge on a pricey hotel #storyofmylife), this is a place you should look at!
I really love the homey, apartment vibe that makes me feel like I’m actually in Seoul, and living like them, instead of a foreigner stuck in a hotel.
Hope you liked this piece, stay tuned to more posts on Seoul (what to eat, where to go!)
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