Published date: September 25, 2024
The Joy of Soaking in a Bathtub Abroad
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Room Type Stayed
Some info has been automatically translated by AI.
Experience of the stay
Maybe because I was traveling alone, I was in a room deep in the back on the second floor. But rather, it was convenient to go down the stairs quickly! Although I couldn't see the view, it was very quiet, and the room’s lighting was nice, making it comfortable.
This was my first experience with a separate shower in front and a bathtub. The square-shaped bathtub might be narrow for men. It was big enough that I, at 160 cm, could stretch my legs comfortably.
The TV is of a type that can watch Netflix or Disney+ if you have an account, which is common in Korea. Personally, I liked the scent of the deodorizing spray and shampoo. I had heard that free toothbrushes and care sets have recently disappeared in Korea, but there were plenty here. Maybe they just don't provide them freely anymore? I'm not sure...
When I asked the front desk, they said takeout was also possible (I tried, but the app didn’t work well, so I gave up). However, if you receive it at the front desk, I think it wouldn't be an issue (just in case, please check with the front desk when you stay!).
Everyone at the front desk was kind, and there were also staff members who spoke Japanese. My departure was early in the morning, but when I asked the front desk, they called a Kakao taxi for me. (I thought they would use a phone because it was a hotel, but the staff called from his smartphone, which made me chuckle. Maybe it was because it was the night shift staff.)
There is a Vietnamese restaurant on the second floor, and I received a discount coupon, but I didn’t use it.
It’s just a short walk from Exit 12 of Guseong Station. You can also walk from Busan Station, though it’s not impossible. The road is straight, and there are many restaurants along the street in front of the hotel, so I think it would be fun to enter the shops while walking! Right in front of Busan Station is Chinatown, and that lively vibe continues.
In any case, I recommend it for those who want to sleep quietly and soak in the bathtub leisurely! The toilet and shower are in separate rooms, so it seems like it's convenient to take a long soak even if you stay with two people.
Experiences during the trip
Since I have traveled the usual routes so far... I have also written about it on Solaria, but after the Guseong Station, it becomes a slope. Geographically, it makes sense that if you walk from Busan Station on the seaside to the mountain side, there are many delicious looking restaurants. You can eat seafood kalguksu and there are also cultural facilities of traditional Japanese houses (the filming location of IU’s music video). It feels like coming to Japan, and it's comforting. If you go further up, there are colorful stairs and you can experience wearing old uniforms for around 300 yen.
This was my fourth time in Busan, so I just did some shopping in Nampo-dong, but there are plenty of shops like Butter Shop, ABC Mart, Innisfree, and Olive Young, and they frequently change, so I recommend it. The Olive Young at Busan Station no longer allows duty-free shopping at the store. The type where you do it later with a machine is really cumbersome. Although new machines have appeared at the station, in the end, you have to get a stamp for customs at the airport. (I accidentally forgot to get the stamp and documents at number 24, so I gave up this time. The counter after the examination opens at 8:30 AM, so those taking early or late flights should put the completed documents in a small box.)
This becomes easy once you get used to it, but as someone who has come several times, it is easy to forget... so it would be better if the store could handle the duty-free for you! Olive Young in Nampo-dong did it for me. It's strange because when I went in June this year, the Busan Station store also handled duty-free. It seems better to be cautious as the rules change frequently.
By the way, Nampo is also very close to Lotte Department Store. If you are going to Yeouido, I think it's best to go to Nampo-dong by subway and transfer to a bus, so I recommend stopping by on your way back and forth (it's also a place where many Koreans get on and off).
Seomyeon is also a shopping area, but rather it gives the impression of being a young people's town, a night town, clubs, and beauty medical care. You can walk to Daeura, where there are cafes, but in the early morning, there are hardly any people, and the shops open late.
Nampo is close to the sea and the international market, so it seems good for buying street clothes and food walking. However, there are few cafes open in the morning... There are a lot of tourists, but it's enjoyable to walk around. It always rains when I go, so especially in heavy rain, I relax at Lotte Department Store, at a cafe, or at a bookstore like Aladdin/Kyo-bo Bookstore in Seomyeon.
And, although it's tough to go back and forth, it’s quite nice to go to a cafe with a view of the sea on rainy days.
Actually, this time my main destination was Gyeongju from Busan, and Busan was a bonus. I think it took about an hour and a half for 9,500 won one way. I've pretty much walked around Busan, so next time I want to hike in Yeouido when it's sunny. If I go around Busan next time, I am thinking of going to the islands around Tongyeong!