Autumn 2024. Ten years after my first trip to Seoul in 2014, I am returning to the Republic of Korea, better known as South Korea. Not solo this time, but with Oriol, who has never been to Korea. On the itinerary: flying with Qatar Airways to Incheon via Doha, the capital Seoul, the historic city of Gyeongju, Busan, Jeju Island and a second stint in Seoul, where we are joined by Sehyeon. We’re spending two weeks in South Korea. The ROK is such a popular destination now. Will we experience overtourism?  

On Jeju Island we stayed at Astar Hotel in Jeju City. 

Astar Hotel promotes itself as a host of conferences, banquets and weddings. While we were there, we witnessed two or three wedding parties. The hotel also hosted one or more sports teams, including wheelchair-bound athletes. 

Check-in was straightforward. To get to our room, we took the lift. As everywhere in Korea, these are not coordinated. You must call them all separately.

The room

The room is pretty standard and western. So no shoes-off policy or the system of a wet bathroom. 

One large double bed, a desk, a kettle for tea., a television set. There’s a sofa, a low table and a chair. There are plenty of power outlets. The air conditioning system is straightforward.

The bathroom

The bathroom is as conventional as the bedroom. A walk-in shower, a smart toilet, a sink.

I forgot to take photos of the toiletries, but they are in fixed dispensers. 

The gym and the sauna

As in Busan, the gym and the sauna were extra charge. As a hotel guest, you get a reduction. 10,000 won instead of 20,000 won.

The gym and sauna are popular. I think they were men only. The operating hours are okay: 6 AM to 9 PM. The gym is pretty decent, with many machines and free weights. Cardio machines have a tv screen. And people and listen tv, quite loudly, without earphones. 

The jjimjilbang or sauna feature both seated and stand-up showers, baths with several temperatures and two types of actual sauna. There’s also a barber. 

The sauna attendant was very directive. Shoes like this, this locker, put towels there… I get there is a language barrier but some of the Koreans really like to be directive. 

Anyway, I enjoyed using the facilities. 

Breakfast!

While breakfast was not included, we did have breakfast at the hotel the first morning. Because there was a discount.

The buffet offers Asian and western options, but mostly Asian. The offering isn’t that great to be honest. It certainly did not make a case to Oriol to promote hotel breakfasts. 

Its own convenience store

A peculiar feature of Astar Hotel is it has its own convenience store. This hotel-run CU its a basic, regular CU as all the others are. Very practical. 

So?

Our stay at Astar Hotel was pleasant. I enjoyed the gym and sauna. 

South Korea 2024

1. QUESTION | Should you be scared of travelling to South Korea?.
2. REVIEW | Qatar Airways – economy – Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner – Brussels to Doha.
3. QATAR | Hamad International Airport (DOH) in Doha.
4. REVIEW | Qatar Airways – economy – Airbus A350 – Doha to Seoul / Incheon.
5. SOUTH KOREA | Landing at Incheon, retrieving the Wowpass and taking the AREX to Seoul Station.
6. REVIEW | Fraser Place Namdaemun Seoul near City Hall.
7. SEOUL | Deoksugung Palace by day.
8. SEOUL | Admiral Yi Sun-sin – King Sejong the Great – Gyeongbokgung Palace – National Folk Museum SEOUL | Admiral Yi Sun-sin – King Sejong the Great – Gyeongbokgung Palace – National Folk Museum.
9. SEOUL | Bukchon Hanok Village – Insadong Culture Street – Jogyesa Temple – Gwangjang Market – Cheonggyecheon Stream.
10. SEOUL 2024 | Dongdaemun Design Plaza.
11. SHOPPING IN SEOUL | Myeongdong – Lotte Young Plaza – Avenuel – Lotte Department Store.
12. SEOUL | Namsan Mountain Park and N Seoul Tower.
13. SOUTH KOREA | Seoul Station.
14. REVIEW | Korail KTX Seoul – Gyeongju – Busan.
15. GYEONGJU | Daereungwong – Cheonmachong – Cheomseongdae Observatory – Banwolseong Fortress – Anapji Pond – Woljeonggyo Bridge – Gyo-dong.
16. REVIEW | Hotel Palace in Gyeongju.
17. GYEONGJU | Bulguksa Temple and Seokguram Grotto.
18. GYEONGJU | Woljeonggyo Bridge – Gyeongju National Museum – Eupseong Fortress – Shopping.
19. REVIEW | Korail KTX Gyeongju to Busan 1st class.
20. BUSAN | Gamcheon Culture Village.
21. BUSAN | Jagalchi Fish Market.
22. REVIEW | Commodore Hotel Busan.
23. KOREA | Haedong Yonggung Temple in Busan.
24. BUSAN | Haedong Blue Line Park, Sky Capsules, Beach Train and Haeundae Green Railway.
25. BUSAN | Shinsegae Centum City Department Store, Gwangalli Beach, Busan Tower.
26. QUEER KOREA | Beomil-ro, Busan’s gay street.
27. SOUTH KOREA | Jin Air from Busan to Jeju.
28. SOUTH KOREA | Jeju City during Tamna Culture Festival.