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Staying at Doulos Hotel

First off, we’re not getting paid by Doulos for this write up. Doulos Hotel really is a gem and I am so glad we were able to stay here during our trip.

Doulos Hotel.
Great location. Great service. Great budget hotel.

If you’re planning a trip to Seoul and not up for bunking at a guesthouse, Doulos Hotel should be a place to consider. Even though its rooms may be a little too cozy (miniscule) for some, Doulos’s helpful staff, clean rooms and excellent location will quickly diminish the fact that you’re sleeping in a 9x9ft cube.

Great location.
Doulos is located in Jongno-gu, the heart of Seoul. It is a brisk 5 minute walk to Insadong, Seoul’s bohemian district – cobble stoned streets lined with quaint tea houses, charming gift shops, and art galleries. Transportation is a cinch as the Jongnosam(3)-ga subway stop is close by on the main street. You can transfer to lines 1, 3 and 5, major lines that run through Seoul, at this station.

Patrons huddled around street food vendors in tents for a cheap and tasty meal.
Ddeokbokki never tasted so good, especially on a cool autumn night.


Street food and cheap eats are abundant just around the corner of the hotel. Walk 2 blocks westward and you’ll find reasonably priced restaurants and bars.

A few blocks west of Doulos and you’ll find streets lined with
clothing
shops, giftshops and mid-priced restaurants.

Great service.
The staff at the front desk were helpful, extremely polite and spoke perfect English. I wouldn’t call them receptionists because we saw the guy who checked us in manning the breakfast table, vacuuming the lobby, dusting the tables and helping Liz to her room after she locked herself out. Orchid was inclined to give him a box of Peperos on Pepero Day… but we ate it. 😉

Complimentary breakfast is served in their multi-function auditorium every morning from 7am – 9am. There is also a coin laundry machine and dryer, a small business center and all rooms have internet access.

Start the day with a simple yet filling breakfast while watching the news
every morning from 7am-9am in the hotel’s mini auditorium.

Great budget hotel.
When we booked our rooms, the rate for a standard double room was 70,000WON per night through the Innostel website. Doulos is certainly not the cheapest budget hotel in Seoul but considering its location and quality of rooms, it’s one of the best.

Clean and cozy room with a spacious bathroom.
I thought they could’ve done without a tub to make more space for the room,
but after an exhausting day of traipsing around the city,
a soak in the tub was a welcomed break for tired muscles.

Getting to Doulos
Finding this hotel is an absolute pain. I suggest taking the Airport Bus (#602) from Incheon Airport. We had to learn the hard way that taking the train is not so convenient with luggage. However, if you’re up for some adventure, taking the train is quite simple.

  • Take the Incheon Airport train to Gimpo Airport and change to commuter subway line 5.
  • Stop at Jongnosam(3)-ga and exit the station at Exit 15.

The hotel website has a good map which, for me, only made sense when I was examining it in my room trying to figure out where I went wrong. So, here is a pictorial guide that, I hope, will make your arrival in Seoul a less bewildering one if you choose to stay here.

Click to enlarge image for a better view.

More help on booking accommodation:

Check out other K-popped! Trio in Seoul entries:

19 thoughts on “Staying at Doulos Hotel

  • Hi,

    So sorry if this seems slightly inappropriate to ask you. But I've had problems e-mailing Doulos Hotel. It seems like they have blocked certain e-mail domains. I've tried using my gmail and my university e-mail address but to no avail. I would like to know what e-mail domain were you using to contact them. Thanks.

  • Cherryblush

    Thank you very much for sharing the hotel info. Have just booked Doulos. We’ll be in Seoul in four weeks time. Yaaay! Thanks again.

  • Anonymous

    K-popped,
    Thanks for the enticing write-ups of your Seoul trip. I’m hoping to pay a visit to the city over the next few months.

    Just wanted to find out as this will be my first visit there. Is it difficult for non-Korean speakers to find their way around on their own? I’m possibly going to be traveling alone and am wondering if it will be a challenge to find my way to the sights you’ve mentioned on my own.

    Cheers,
    Laur

  • txjin, wow, thankyou. i was actually looking for something cheaper like youthhostel. in dorm for 4 to 6 people coz i’m going with friends. thanks so much!!

    and also kpop sisters, thank u so much!

  • txjin

    That hotel looks really nice. I live about an hour outside of Seoul and sometimes I like to spend the night in the city esp. if I plan on drinking. One of the places I use is Guesthouse Korea http://www.guesthouseinkorea.com/
    While it’s not as nice as Doulos, it is a lot cheaper the staff are very nice and it’s also in Jongno. The rooms in this one are much smaller however they do have a little coffee shop/bar on the first floor. They also offer discounts for extended stay (I got 20% off when I stayed for a month). This place is good for those on a tight budget.

  • Wow.. the hotel looks really cozy.. might try it when I stay in Seoul next time..

  • Rooster

    @ Steven & me: Their deluxe double rooms might be able to accommodate 3 persons, I'm not sure. Definitely not the standard rooms because they are way too small.

    Try sending them an e-mail: [email protected]. They're very prompt and will get back to you.

    If you plan on booking a deluxe double room, book early! We tried booking those rooms for the 3 of us but they were all booked.

  • Steven

    Thanks for this info, esp, for one who is planning a 1st time trip there.

    Yes, do they allow 3 into the room?

  • i would like to know if they allow 3person in a double bed room..

  • Stephanie

    thanks for sharing this! i’m also planning a trip to seoul, and will be looking into this hotel. does this hotel have an official website? i’ve tried googling it, but i was not able to find their official website.

    thanks for posting about your trip to korea! 🙂

  • Orchid

    @anonymous Yes this is our first time in South Korea & Seoul!

    @valmylove We were in Seoul for around 8 days.

  • Anonymous

    I’ll be going to Seoul soon (in the next few months) so this info is great. It’s nice to read your first hand experience and your non biased review. I will definitely look into this hotel.

  • valmylove

    wow..thanks for sharing… i really want to go to Seoul.. as my plan is in 4-5 years… what else do you awesome gals recommend… with financial I mean? shall i start saving now… to be more comfortable? how long did you gals stay? (sorry didnt’ see it if u post it alrdy) can’t wait to see more pics!!!

  • YEH fan

    this is so helpful…one day i would love to visit Korea…hope you guys have more stories to tell!

  • Anonymous

    Thanks for sharing your trip with us! It sounds like you girls had a great time. Was this the 1st time for you? Loved reading all your posts and awesome pictures!! Better than the travel magazine! 🙂

  • Vic in Long Beach, CA

    OMG, what a spectacular adventure!!! Thank you ever so much for sharing this. PLEASE continue to put up more of your experiences. I will be there next summer!!!!

  • Orchidyaldix

    Hahaha again I repeat that I’m very glad u guys had fun there in Seoul, but this one is very helpful for the ones who are going to go to Seoul soon.
    Whenever I have the chance to go there I will totally follow ur recomendations hehehe
    Kamsahamnida unnis!!!

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