Hotels
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Business people and others who like to toss around a lot of money for luxury and first class
service will be glad to know that they can choose from several Western-style hotels,
including several internationally known chains. Comfort and service levels are locally rated
as (from best to worst) deluxe, 1st class, 2nd class, and 3rd class, with prices following
accordingly. (All hotels add a 10% service charge to the price of accommodation, meals, and
drinks.) English and Japanese speaking staff can be found at most deluxe and 1st class
hotels and some others. Make your real-time, on-line
hotel reservations.
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Hostels
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Korean youth hostels differ from those in Western countries. Catering more towards groups
of businessmen, accommodations (and prices) are higher than one would expect from a "youth
hostel." Most hostels have restaurants and meeting halls on the premises. Travelers can
choose between a bunk bed in a shared room (6-8 beds) or a more expensive private room.
See the list of Youth Hostels in Korea.
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Yogwans
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Budget travelers may enjoy the homey hospitality of a traditional Korean-style inn or
yogwan. A yogwan provides a Korean-style mattress, quilt, and pillow (although
most also have rooms with beds). Rooms generally include private bathrooms with hot water
and color TVs. Fans are included during the summer months, and some may provide air
conditioning. Extra persons can stay in Korean-style rooms for a small fee. Some bargaining
may be possible during the week or off-season. Always inspect the room before deciding and
ask for something better if it does not meet your taste. (Be aware that some yogwans
near entertainment and university areas cater to young, unmarried couples seeking privacy
for illicit meetings. They charge by the hour and can be very noisy.)
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Yoinsuks
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Yoinsuks are a step below yogwans, usually having shared bathrooms and
Korean-style bedding in the rooms. While many do not have hot water, they are often located
near public bath houses. (Similar to yogwans, some yoinsuks
near entertainment and university areas cater to young, unmarried couples seeking privacy
for illicit meetings. They charge by the hour and can be very noisy.)
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Minbaks
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Often located near national parks or other tourist areas, minbaks are part of a
family's house, although sometimes detatched from the main building. Similar to
Yoinsuks, minbaks offer limited amenities and guests usually share bathroom
facilities. As they mainly cater to small groups of students or backpackers, limited kitchen
facilities are usually available. Prices are similar to yoinsuks, and sometimes a
dozen students will cram into one room to save money.
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Campgrounds and Shelters
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Some resort areas, especially near national parks, have limited areas for camping. Campers
bring their own tents and equipment and gain access to fire and shower facilities for
around W4,000 to W15,000 per tent. A small general store
offers items at highly inflated prices for those who forgot something.
Although camping is generally not allowed inside national parks, some remote areas on
hiking trails provide shelters where hikers can spend the night on a first-come,
first-served basis. Bring your own sleeping bags, as they are usually not available for rent.
Some shelters also have attached campgrounds.
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Temples
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Devout Buddhists or those wanting to get a taste of what living like a monk is like can
arrange to stay at some Buddhist temples. Guests are expected to sleep early and wake up
early with the monks (and sometimes nuns). Males and females are segregated into separate
areas. Vegetarian and rice dishes are provided for meals. Although not required, you should
leave a small donation before leaving.
Find out more about Temple Stay. |
