[Lifehacks] The ins and outs of motels and Korean accommodations

K-campus

Published: 11 Mar. 2022, 12:59 Updated: 03 Mar. 2023, 17:30

[Lifehacks] The ins and outs of motels and Korean accommodations

Motel Stage 79 in Gangnam District, southern Seoul, features a private, outdoor bath. [YEOGI EOTTAE]

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Motels in Korea

Motels are increasingly becoming more than just a cheap place to sleep. Seedier associations aside, motels today have become a popular option for people who don’t have much space at home and want somewhere to hang out and party with friends without breaking the bank.

Of course, that wasn’t always the case. Until about a decade ago, motels in Korea carried the same stigma they do in a lot of countries — a generally not very nice place that offered some level of privacy for couples who wanted to keep their relationship a secret.

What got rid of the stigma?

A lot has changed over the years, with apps like Yanolja and Yeogi Eottae opening up the motel market with their online booking systems. That shift also prompted motel owners to start designing nicer accommodations for people who actually want a cheaper way to vacation or somewhere to hang out with friends. The trend of hanging out in motels grew in popularity during the pandemic, when people in their 20s and 30s were desperate to find safe, isolated places in which they could hang out with their friends while still avoiding crowds. As a result, motels are also now often used for events like birthday parties, bridal showers and baby showers.

Some motels offer a large bathtub inside, as many guests look for places with features that they don't have at home. [YEOGI EOTTAE]

What does daesil mean?

Korea motels have a system called daesil, which means day use, and is used to book a room for only three to four hours rather than staying overnight, usually costing about half that of an overnight stay. Usually 50,000 won ($40) can cover a daesil stay at a motel, though prices vary depending on the room and facilities. Some prefer to use motels because the check-out process is simpler than at hotels. You can simply drop the room key in a basket inside the elevator or by the check-in counter, without having to wait.

What options are out there?

To draw in guests amid the countless number of lodging options available across the city, many motels will jazz up their facilities with items uncommon in average Korean homes, such as a large jacuzzi in the bathroom, a TV by the tub, a skylight ceiling to look out at the sky from bed, or dual computer monitors with which you can play games side by side.

Some motels feature unique room themes and furniture, such as round- or heart-shaped beds with bright, colorful bedding. Rooms have mirrors of various sizes, and some even cover a whole wall. Still other places offer pre-paid video streaming services, such as Netflix or Disney Plus.

One of the most commonly sought out features is a large bathtub. Some have a movable bathtub in a large bathroom, and some are set up by a window, options which are rarely available in individual homes. Some motels even set up a private balcony attached to the room with a jacuzzi.

Especially spacious rooms are suitable for people to throw birthday parties or bridal showers, and many people will decorate a blank wall with balloons and garlands to make their own picture zone.

Some motels rooms feature floor-to-ceiling mirrors. [SCREEN CAPTURE]

How can I book a motel?

Agoda offers a "Day Use" tab to offer rooms available to book for a couple of hours. [SCREEN SCAPTURE]

There are two leading Korean platforms for booking motels: Yanolja and Yeogi Eottae. These applications have separate tabs for motels, hotels, guesthouses and campsites. Under motels, they show both daesil and overnight options, along with any ongoing promotions. Both apps only offer services in Korean at the moment.

For those looking for an English option, global booking platforms like Agoda also feature Korean motels, though the range of options may not be as extensive and may require a bit more searching — without a specific motel tab, looking at the photos and prices will likely be the best way to distinguish the motels from the hotels.

To cater to the motel partier, Agoda has been running a “Day Use” tab since August 2020. Motels and hotels that fall under this tab offer similar daesil prices for usually around three to six hours, rather than the whole day.

Do brand name hotels also offer daesil services?

Hotels often use the term “Day Use” to offer their rooms for a shorter stay. Some business-class hotel chains run by companies that run luxury hotels have jumped on the bandwagon and now offer options for a shorter stay. Shilla Stay, a business hotel by the five-star The Shilla Seoul, and L7, a more casual hotel chain by the five-star Lotte Hotel Seoul, offer day use services. Although the prices to stay at these places are more steep than staying at more generic motels, some feel paying a bit extra is worth it to enjoy the better service.

Although not available at all times, some of the fancier five-star hotels like Conrad Seoul, L'Escape Hotel, and InterContinental Seoul Coex do sometimes offer day use. Their target consumer is usually those who work from home due to the pandemic, as it is possible to also use the hotel's facilities to arrange in-person meetings. The prices of a room for a short stay at a business or a luxury hotel range from 70,000 won to 150,000 won.

BY LEE SUN-MIN [summerlee@joongang.co.kr]