Star Guest House in Seoul

We booked the double room for two people for two weeks. For the size of the room, this place should be advertised as a goshiwon (box room). I knew the place was going to be small but when we got our room, there was literally no space to stretch out in our room and no closet to store our belongings. I had to store our luggage under the bed just so we can walk from the bed to the door without having to climb over our stuff. We only had two hooks and two hangers to hang our belongings.

After a few days into our stay, there was no hot water. There was no one at the front desk and the guy was no where to be found. After he finally showed up at the front desk, I told him there was no hot water. Then he offered us a new room with two twin bed. When I walked in to that room, it was way bigger and had a closet for storage! (I estimate the the full size room was about 8 meter square and the twin room was about 12 meter square) Unfortunately that room didn't have hot water too so we stayed in our original room. We didn't get hot water until the next day. The next day, I requested to get that room that he had showed us. At first, he seem a bit hesitant to let us have that room. I told him that we were going to stay here for another week and half and wanted that room because it was bigger and had a closet. Then he agreed to let us change room.

The guy and the woman that worked there never once greeted us or even asked us how we are doing. Most of the time, there weren't anyone at the front desk at the stated time that the front desk is supposed to be open. If they are there, they are either staring at the computer screen, on the headphones or eating. I tried so many times to get an eye contact and even tried to greet them but never got any response from them. The guy only responded to me when I have a question like how to use the laundry, changing the room and not having hot water. He didn't even say hi or bye when we check-in and check-out.

You have to bring the towels, sheets and blanket to them and they will supply you with clean sheets, blankets and towels if you need them. You are responsible for taking out your own trash. Beds were okay but squeaked a lot if you toss and turn. The sink and bathroom shelf in the 2nd room that we stayed at was slanted and the shelf looked like it was going to fall off if we put weight on it. There were water bottles in the fridge, shaving cream in the bathroom and two large spools of thread that were probably left from the last guest. Window sill was dusty. Walls had water stains. Kitchen had a rice cooker but never any cooked rice. There's filtered water dispenser available in the kitchen for drinking. Roof top terrace was a space used by guest to smoke.

Mosquito was a problem for me at this hotel. They were constantly biting me so I ended up putting bug repellent on me each time I go back into the room and made sure I had extra repellent on me before I went to bed.

The good thing about this place is the location and price.

Star Guest House is a horrible place. Rooms were super small, maybe 2m x 3.5m. Bed was uncomfortable and super hard, more than usual for Korea, and the bed is small. I am 175cm and I barely fit. Bed is also narrow, so turning at night is a problem and you may fall off. Furthermore, bed doesn't have bedsheets, so never gets cleaned, as I found woman's hair in my bed. Toilet was, for some reason, raised, so my legs hurt at the knees just sitting on it, as my feet were off the ground. Shower is small, as you may imagine. Table is too small and comes with a stool, which is uncomfortable. Air inside the room smells old and moist. Air conditioner, when on, turns room ice cold in a few minutes, as room is just so small. Tea and coffee aren't allowed inside the room, only in common area. At night, some guests were smoking in their bathroom and the ventilation system carried the smoke to my room. So, uncomfortable to sleep, to sit, to drink, to use washroom... The only good things were a convenient location and friendly staff. A hotel is supposed to provide rest at end of hard day of exploration! This one only motivates you to leave it, as soon as you can!