Namsan Forest in Myeongdong

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Tdlr: book at your own risk. This is easily the worst Airbnb I had been to. I had two reservations from 9-12 June, and 14-15 June. I’ll detail the experience I had with this host (booking made via Airbnb). The first reservation (9-12June) went pretty okay, the host took a while to reply my message on the 9th at 1:20pm asking on the check-in details, but I eventually received the information at 2:45pm via the Airbnb app. I checked in, went to my room (room 406) and realised that the a/c was not working. As this Airbnb has a no-contact check in/out concept, the host has a communal iPad in the communal area for guests to communicate with them on issues / needs / for help. Since he did not respond to my Airbnb / line message regarding the faulty air conditioning, I went to the communal area to inform them on the issue using the communal iPad and left after around 5 minutes cause who is going to sit at the reception area waiting for a response when he could have responded to my Airbnb msg OR line message, while I’m on holiday?? (& I did mention on the communal iPad that I’m reachable on Airbnb and line). When I came back a couple of hours later, I saw he provided me with a new room AND room password as a reply on the communal iPad. I’ll give credit where it’s due - the new room the host provided me with was a much better one - the room was slightly newer and the sound proofing, aircon were all in working condition. My dissatisfaction for this reservation is how I felt safety of the guests were disregarded. Sharing these information on a communal platform also means that anyone can enter my room (I think not that anyone did, thankfully). I’d go on to say that there’s no security guard, but only cctv at communal areas/corridors - hence anyone who is aware of such a system is able to enter most rooms. The messages on the iPad are only cleared occasionally. But aside from the safety issue, I decided to just stay the three nights given that (1) there was a resolution provided, (2) because I didn’t want to move to another place w all the luggage that I had, and (3) the booking was non-refundable at this point & I didn’t want to spend more money on accommodation. Check out wasn’t a pain, and the host kindly stored one of my luggages at 5,000 KRW/ day (3 days), until I was back on 14th. 2nd reservation (14-15 June 2024): Knowing the tendencies of the host to respond late, I messaged the host at around 1pm (14 June) via Airbnb to ask about the check in details. I arrived back in the Airbnb at 2.40pm, and there were already a couple of other guests also waiting for information on the self-check in. I sent a message on the communal iPad to ask about check-in details. As the check in time was supposedly 3pm, I waited until 3pm, to which there was no response on Airbnb app NOR the communal iPad, and left my luggage at the storage area to attend another appointment. I returned to the Airbnb around 8 as there was no updates via the Airbnb app, and as the me

Reading about other reviews how they got cancelled at the very last minute, i got worried. So 3 days before check-in time, i tried to contact them via whatsapp, KTalk and agoda messanger to confirm my booking and ask about luggage drop before checking in, but there was no answer. 2 days before check in time, they sent me template email informing how to go to the place and offering airport shuttle, but no answer about my questions. So the day before check in time, i call them. They said to communicate via whatsapp instead. At first they said that i can leave my luggage before check in, but when i confirmed again about my reservation, they said that the room was not available. My friends and his group also checking in that day (1 day before my arrival to Seoul) and they booked 11 rooms. Only 7 rooms were available without prior notice! They booked the rooms after me, so i am sure they gave my initial room to my friend's group. What a poor (*BAD*) management! If they had answered my questions days before, there were still much better rooms available nearby (I only booked their place so i could be together with my friends). But searching for a hotel room at the last minute is very hard, if there is any, the price has skyrocketed. I see the reviews had been hit-and-miss. So if you're looking for a confirmed and relax holiday, i suggest you find another place. Avoid at all cost. There were much better options nearby. I hope they go bankrupt with that kind of management.

A big NO NO NO. Avoid booking. Even though I dropped a message a day before the check-in date, they never mentioned cancelling my booking. But on the day of arrival, the morning when we thought we can store our things there at the start of our Seoul trip, I suddenly got a message from the owner she asked us to later pay for the storage of the luggage, however, my booking for 2 nights was being cancelled on the spot. It was the shock of a lifetime, as just before that I was speaking to her face to face, that we would be back for check-in at 3 pm and she said Okay okay. We had to find another place for 6 pax, and most of the hotels in Myeongdong were fully booked. We were forced to book a hotel further away from the subway station. What a night mare..

Book 5 nights in their biggest Deluxe family room for 6. My girl failed the pre- departure PCR test n we got to cancel the trip. Namsan Forest refused to extend free cancellation not even a couple of nights, insisted on keeping the full payment for 5 nights. In this Covid situation, this is definitely not the right way to do business