HiMate DONGDAEMUN

I stayed here for a trip with close friends. The location is faultless, but if you have suitcases, it’s better to use the elevator at Exit 4 rather than Exit 10 as recommended by the hotel, and walk a little bit. If you're taking the airport bus, the bus stop is right in front of the building. There is a clear sign at the entrance, and you take the elevator in the back up to the 10th floor. Once on the 10th floor, the check-in process, which I was worried about, was relatively easy. The room is very (very!) small, but clean and cozy. I was delighted to find a Dyson hair dryer and the lovely scent of Hetras in the room. The bathroom is tricky to use at first, but once you get used to it, it's surprisingly fine. Having a coffee maker, laundry facilities, and a water dispenser in the common area, plus a full-sized convenience store on the first floor, makes it super convenient. This is a great hostel for experienced travelers who prioritize location.

Two Japanese guests stayed here, and the owner (or manager?) was incredibly kind and cheerful, making for a wonderful time. The location is great, and the water pressure was perfectly fine. The balcony also offered a nice view. I highly recommend using it if you stay here!

Terrible check-in experience (I stayed in a room with a balcony). 1. There are no instructions for the smart door lock at the entrance. If it's your first time using one, you'll have no idea how it works. Plus, the sensor is a bit glitchy. 2. Multiple facilities in the room were broken: the balcony light was broken, the body wash dispenser pump was broken, and the towel hook was snapped off. 3. There is no telephone in the room, so housekeeping staff will just unlock and walk right in. On the first day: Early in the morning, a cleaning lady unlocked and opened my door directly without knocking at all, saying she wanted to come in and check if the balcony light was really broken. I was still lying in bed, and she was standing right next to my bed. Not long after that, some guy—I have no idea who—pounded frantically on my door and then just opened it without waiting. Before I could even react, he saw someone was inside and immediately left. Afterward, I heard him going down the hall knocking on other people's doors; he must have been a staff member since he was able to unlock the door directly with a code. If you're a solo female traveler, I really wouldn't recommend this place. I was scared to death... (I had emailed them to come fix the balcony light, but I specifically asked them to notify me in advance of what time they would come so I could prepare.) On the second day: More frantic door knocking. I opened it to find the cleaning lady and a repairman saying they were here to fix the balcony light, and they just walked in. I wasn't prepared at all... Anyway, I really think they should have room phones. 4. The property spans the 10th and 11th floors. If you need cutleries, a microwave, laundry facilities, etc., and you're assigned to the 11th floor, you have to run downstairs. Of course, this depends on personal preference—some people might not need these things. 5. The main entrance is often left wide open. (There's a smart lock, but as long as the door is left ajar, no code is needed.) I'm not sure if guests are leaving it open, but it would be super easy for a stranger to walk in and out. To some extent, it feels quite dangerous. 6. Communication is a huge hassle. Without a local Korean phone number, you can only communicate via email, which is extremely slow and inconvenient. 7. The walkways are tiny. There isn't a single spot to open your luggage except on the bed. 8. The only things I liked: The balcony and the staircase are great for taking photos, and the view is wonderful. 9. One thing that is genuinely convenient: There is a CU convenience store right downstairs.

The location is fantastic, and above all, it's impeccably clean! There's a bus stop right in front of the hotel for Incheon Airport, making it super easy to get there no matter how heavy your luggage is. Taxis can also pull up right in front, which is convenient. Exit 10 of Dongdaemun History & Culture Park Station is just a few seconds away. You can get to Myeongdong and Namdaemun directly on Line 4 without any transfers, so you won't get lost. Night shopping in Dongdaemun is within walking distance, allowing you to shop until late without worrying about the time. There's a CU convenience store on the first floor of the same building. The yellow tents at night even extended to near the hotel. Being next to the tall APM Place building means you'd have a hard time getting lost even if you tried. If you shop in Dongdaemun at night, just walk towards the APM Place building, and you'll find your way back without issue. Security is also excellent. Having a balcony was a nice touch. The hairdryer is a Dyson. The bathroom floor also drains well after a shower. You can store your luggage with a password-protected lock both before check-in and after check-out. I met the manager several times during my stay, and they were always friendly, kind, and helpful. I stayed in September and have already booked again for October. For anyone who hasn't stayed here yet, I highly recommend giving it a try!

This hotel is conveniently located near the station, right across from DDP, and it was quiet inside even at night. I felt at ease knowing that about 90% of the guests were Japanese. The room has a toilet and shower, which is a bit small but perfectly fine for one person. The lobby offers a kitchen, microwave, washing machine, and free instant coffee. During the day, there's a cleaning lady who uses a translation device to chat with guests.

I expected nobody to be around since it's self check-in, but a very kind older lady greeted me and nicely explained how to store my luggage. The location is excellent, perfect for shopping around Dongdaemun! The room isn't large, but it was clean and perfectly fine for a solo traveler. The toilet and shower are combined, so if you're okay with that, it's a good choice. Apparently, 90% of the guests here are Japanese.

We were a group of four, and as expected, the room was quite cramped. It was impossible to fully open four suitcases, so we basically lived out of our beds. It felt like a school trip, which was fun. The shower pressure was low and the hot/cold water wasn't very stable, but that was within an acceptable range. The airport bus stop is right in front, and APM Place and DDP are also right there, making for a fantastic location. I'd like to try a different room next time.

I stayed here alone while attending a concert. Just a heads up, if you follow NAVER MAP, it might lead you to the building next door. The hotel is on the 10th floor of the building with a CU convenience store, and you can take the elevator next to the CU to get there. The location was great, and I loved the view of DDP from my room. Having a CU on the first floor was super convenient for grabbing anything I needed! The room was clean, but the shower was a bit small and right next to the toilet, which was a bit awkward. It was a shame that there were only about 5 tissues left when I checked in, but I'd still consider staying here again.