Things you need to know and consider:
◆ Private or shared bathroom
◆ You can add an extra bed or not (if you're travelling in an odd number)
◆ Different rate on weekends or peak season
◆ Discount for staying longer
◆ The place at a hill or have elevator (coz you don't want to drag your luggage uphill or lift it up the stairs)
◆ If you plan to cook, then kitchen is needed
◆ Curfew at what time (You don't want to get locked outside)
◆ Rules while staying at the guesthouse (Some don't allow food in the room)
◆ Luggage storage, you can keep your luggage there if you're early or after check-out; before you catch your flight
◆ Check with the guesthouse whether they have pets (i.e. dogs, cats) around as well. If you have allergic or phobia..
The fastest way to check the price is at Agoda.com. After finding the cheapest guesthouse with the room that you want, go to the guesthouse website to check if the rate is cheaper in Agoda. If not, you may want to make your reservation directly from the guesthouse website.
If you do not mind having less privacy, you could opt for the dormitory. A dormitory would usually have 6 beds and it only costs KRW16,000/night/person (~USD16). It's super cheap. You can choose whether you want a mixed one or a female/male separate one. I would NOT suggest this option to my fellow Muslim friends unless you are traveling with a big group of same gender friends or with your family, then you can consider having the whole dormitory room for yourselves. Or, you can check out INES INN and Malaysian homestay because they are own by Muslim. So, you don't have to worry about the kitchen, if you know what I mean..
I recommend you also check the review for the guesthouse that you are interested in. Whether the place is clean, spacious, comfortable, friendly, safe etc. If you have to pay KRW25,000/night/person (~USD25), that would be considered an average price and quite cheap. But it's always better if you can find a cheaper one but remember, there's always a catch. Probably the place is not as you would expect. So be careful when you choose a guesthouse. Read the guesthouse's website thoroughly.
I decided to make a list and take some time reviewing each and every one of the guesthouses. Different people have different criteria, so my list may not suit you. I'm looking for a guesthouse based on:
■ a room for 2 persons
■ the cheapest
■ preferably with private toilet
■ facilities such as WiFi, washing machine, dryer and ironing
■ near to a subway station
■ preferably in the middle of Seoul/near to attractions
Since I am travelling with just another friend, the budget for accommodation is slightly higher than travelling in a big group. Plus, we want a room of our own but we do not mind sharing a bathroom, as long as female and male don't use the same one (coz we're just not comfortable with that). We end up choosing Girls' Generation Hostel because it's cheap and only girls are welcomed. *thumbs up* Although it's at 3rd floor, elevator is there and it's near to a few subway stations too. Plus, they provide rice and kimchi for free! 24/7! The only thing I would like to complaint is they have a pet.. A small, white, fluffy dog~ Unfortunately for me, I am scared of dog.. I just froze in front of ANY dog.
The table below is what I had summarized so far. The price may change (last update on December 2014), so be sure to check their website. You can get a rough idea how cheap or expensive a guesthouse is, then you can go to their website to see for yourself the room or the rates for other rooms. This list does not include ALL guesthouses in Seoul, though.
* If you see in the 'Comments' column below, Hanok means the traditional Korean house where you have to sleep on the floor.
* WM = washing machine
* P = private, ensuite
* S = shared
* I didn't write down all the facilities. Just the one that's important to me.
I don't know if my list would make sense to you, so if you have any question, feel free to leave me a comment. Also, this is the link for you to see where the location of the guesthouses and major attractions.
NAME
|
ROOMS
|
BATH
|
RATES/ROOM (KRW)
|
Comments
|
Alpha Guest House
|
Twin
Double
Double
|
S
S
P
|
42,000
45,000 (Fri,Sat)
42,000
45,000(Fri,Sat)
55,000
65,000 (Fri,Sat)
| |
Anguk Guest House
|
Double
Twin
|
P
P
|
60,000
78,000 (Fri,Sat)
70,000
91,000 (Fri,Sat)
|
Modern Hanok
Sleep on bed
Near subway
|
Ann Guest House
|
Dorm
|
S
|
20,000/person
| |
Apple Backpackers
|
Double
|
P
|
55,000
|
300m to subway
*washing machine (WM) w/ dryer
Baggage storage
Common kitchen
|
Backpackers INSIDE
|
Budget
Standard
Double w kitc
|
S
S
P
|
44,000
50,000
55,000
|
Quite far from subway
WM w/ dryer
Iron
Self-service bar
Common kitchen
|
Banana Backpackers
|
Double
|
P
|
55,000
| |
Bangrang Hostel
|
Double
Double
Twin
|
P
S
S
|
55,000
45,000
50,000
|
Near subway
WM
Hair dryer
Iron
Baggage storage
Common kitchen
|
Beewon Guesthouse
|
Bunk
Double
Twin
Ondol
|
P
P
P
P
|
45,000
45,000
50,000
50,000
|
Near subway
Near palace area
WM
|
Bukchon Korean Traditional House 1
|
Twin
Double
|
S
P
|
70,000
80,000 (Fri,Sat)
90,000
100,000 (Fri,Sat)
|
WM
Hair dryer
|
Bukchon Korean Traditional House 2
|
Double A
Double B
|
P
P
|
90,000
100,000 (Fri,Sat)
90,000
100,000 (Fri,Sat)
|
WM
Hair dryer
|
Doo Hanok Bukchon 1
|
Semi double
Double
|
S
S
|
60,000
80,000
|
500m from subway
Aircon/heater
Hair dryer
|
Eugene’s House
|
Double/Twin
Big Twin
|
P
P
|
100,000
140,000
|
Hanok
|
Girls Generation Hostel
(Girls only)
|
Dorm for 2
Dorm for 2
Twin
|
P
S
P
|
45,000
36,000
50,000
|
Near subway
Very narrow room
Hair dryer
|
Golden Pond Guest House
|
Single
Double
Twin
|
P
P
P
|
60,000
60,000
60,000
|
WM w/ dryer
Microwave
|
Guest House 201
|
Double
|
S
|
65,000
|
Hanok
|
Guest House 202
|
Double
|
S
|
70,000
|
Hanok
|
Guest House Korea
|
2 beds
|
?
|
19,000/person
21,000/person (Sat, Sun)
| |
Double
|
?
|
47,000
50,000 (Sat, Sun)
| ||
Twin
|
?
|
47,000
50,000 (Sat, Sun)
| ||
HEY Backpackers 1
|
Twin/Double
|
S
|
50,000
55,000 (Fri, Sat)
| |
HEY Backpackers 2
|
Double
Double w kitchen
|
S
P
|
50,000
55,000 (Fri, Sat)
65,000
70,000 (Fri, Sat)
| |
Hi Guest House
|
Twin special
Twin
|
S
S
|
60,000
55,000
| |
Hongdae Guest House
|
Double
|
P
|
100,000
| |
Hongsi Guest House
|
2 beds (F/M)
|
S
|
70,000
| |
Hostel Korea 11th
|
Twin
|
P
|
90,000
| |
INES INN
|
2 beds
|
P
|
25,000/person
|
M’sian owner
Itaewon
|
J-Guest House
|
Double/Twin
Triple (2)
|
P
P
|
60,000
70,000
| |
JIN Guest House
|
Twin
|
S
|
54,000
| |
Khaosan-Seoul
|
Twin/Double
|
P
|
60,000
| |
Kimchee Guesthouse
-Gyeongbukgong
|
Double
Twin
|
P
P
|
55,000
60,000
|
Luggage storage
Laundry charged
|
Kimchee Guesthouse
-Gangnam
|
Twin
|
P
|
60,000
|
Breakfast inc
|
Kimchee Guesthouse
-Sinchon
|
Twin
|
S
|
50,000
| |
Kimchee Guesthouse
-Hongdae
|
Double
Twin
|
S
S
|
50,000
50,000
| |
Kimchee Guesthouse
-Dongdaemun
|
Double
Twin
|
P
P
|
55,000
55,000
|
Luggage storage
Laundry charged
Rooftop cafe
|
Kimchee Guesthouse
-Dongdaemun 2
|
Double
Twin
|
P
P
|
60,000
60,000
| |
Kimchee Guesthouse
-Seoul St
|
Double
Twin
|
P
P
|
55,000
55,000
|
Luggage storage
Laundry charged
|
Lee & No Guest House
|
Twin
Double
|
S
S
|
55,000
55,000
|
Microwave
Breakfast inc
|
M’sian Homestay
|
2 beds
|
?
|
50,000
|
Malaysian owner
Gangnam
|
Mama Guest House
|
Single
Twin
|
?
?
|
30,500
35,000
|
Narrow room
|
Seoul Myeongdong Guest House
|
Double
Twin
|
S
S
|
55,000
55,000
| |
Myeongdong Guesthouse
|
Double
Twin
Ondol
|
P
P
P
|
50,000
60,000
55,000
|
Hair dryer
|
Namsan Guesthouse 1
|
Double
Twin
Dorm
|
P
P
P
|
55,000
55,000
65,000
|
WiFi Egg
Free b/fast
WM
|
Namsan Guesthouse 2
|
Twin A
Twin B
|
P
P
|
60,000
65,000
|
Nice outdoor
|
Namsan Guesthouse 3
|
Twin
|
P
|
65,000
|
Rooftop area
|
Namsan Guesthouse 4
|
Double
Twin
VIP 3
Dorm
|
P
P
P
S
|
70,000
70,000
60,000
30,000/person
| |
Namsan Guesthouse 5
|
Double
Twin
|
P
P
|
65,000
65,000
|
Interesting dorm
|
Namu Guest House
|
Double B
Twin C
Double D
|
S
S
S
|
70,000
65,000
70,000
| |
Seoul I Guesthouse
|
Twin
|
S
|
50,000
| |
Seoul MyeongDong House
|
Twin/Double
|
S
|
55,000
| |
Studio 41st
|
Double/Twin
|
P
|
90,000 @ 100,000
| |
Tea Guest House 2
|
Double
|
P
|
80,000
|
w/ kitchen
|
Traveler’s A Hostel
|
Double/Twin
|
P
|
50,000
|
Hair dryer
Laundry charged
Fridge in room
Need to take stairs w/ luggage
|
Windroad
|
Double
|
S
|
19,000
|
Review: dirty
w/ bar
|
Yun Guest House
|
Double/Twin
|
?
|
50,000
|
Hair dryer
|
