Seoul Travel Forum

My friends and 1 (3 of us) will be travelling to Seoul in Mid August. We have yet to fix our accomodations as I can't seem to make a decision without enough information. Thus, pls help if you can.
Should i stay in Banana backpackers' Hotel (which is near to Insadong, the cultural center) or should I stay in Namsan Guesthouse (which is near to shopping and food area)? Both of these places (cultural art center plus palaces and Myeongdong shopping area are both on my must-do-list)
if any of you have stayed before at these 2 places, pls advise which is
1) more convenient to move around from?
2) which easier to arrive at via the limousine shuttle from Incheon?
3) safer to stay out at night?
4) cleaner and better facilities?
5) easier to get to Jongno ga area for the show, JUMP?

Or perhaps you have abetter suggestion than these 2 guesthouses?
Thanks!

I can't vouch for the accommodations, but I can tell you about each of the areas.

1) Each are equally easy to move around from as they are both within easy walking distance of a subway station, however, Namsan Guesthouse is closer to a station than Banana Backpackers.

2) I am pretty sure one of the limousine buses stops right at the King Sejeong Hotel in Myeongdong which is abut a block from Namsan Guesthouse. I'm not sure how close the bus gets to Banana Backpackers.

3) They are both safe...all of Seoul is safe at night...except maybe parts of eastern Seoul way out past Walker Hill, but you really have no reason to be out that way as tourists.

4) Couldn't tell you which is cleaner, but in my experience, the guesthouses always had better facilities...usually free internet, breakfast, and laundry.

5) Banana is actually right next to Jong-no...walking distance...no subway or taxi required, as long as you are near a subway stop and don't stay out too late, it doesn't really matter where you stay. As far as other guesthouses, there are too many to list. I have picked up people at Kim's Guestouse over in Shinchon area and I thought it was pretty nice, but it is nowhere near where you want to spend most of your time.

www.kimsguesthouse.com

Here are some more alternatives:

http://www.beewonguesthouse.com/en/map/map.php

http://h6786600.cafe24.com/html_en/1.html?PHPSESSID=150981973c1f60e9cefefac0e37dd6af

http://www.hongdaeguesthouse.com/

This last one is the easiest to get to from the airport via limousine bus and is right in the middle of entertainment central, but not so close to Jong-no.

Hi,
Here are the things I did when I went to Seoul. Visit one of the palaces (I visited Gyeongbukgung) and then the open-air market, Namdaemun, for shopping of virtually everything under the sun. For high-end shopping, try Myeongdong.

http://www.ehow.com/how_5120318_enjoy-technology-seoul.html

You could hang out with some tourists in Itaewon, that's tourist area.

Here is the hotel I stayed at http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/7f095/10267a/

Enjoy!!

It's nice to eat dinner at Nolboo Restaurant for that authentic Korean dining experience.

http://www.ehow.com/how_5120318_enjoy-technology-seoul.html

I prefer Namsan Guesthouse.


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Thanks Oldude & Yellowbell.
Just some more questions for Yellowbell...when you say you prefer Namsan Guesthouse, I assume you have stayed at Namsan and Banana? Why do you prefer Namsan.
Thanks.