Gaga Hotel Dongdaemun

We're college students, and back home in China, we usually stay at places like Ji Hotel or Hanting. This time in Seoul, we stayed at GAGA Hotel Dongdaemun, and it was actually pretty decent, totally fine for a student budget. Some other reviews mentioned a formaldehyde smell, but we didn't notice anything. It's fully self-service – you grab everything yourself, and there's no daily housekeeping, but we didn't mind that at all. There's an elevator, the room was quiet, and the soundproofing was good too. The transportation is super convenient, really close to bus stops and subway stations, which is a huge plus. We had hot water, and the bathroom and room floors were quite clean. There's WiFi, a TV, and plenty of outlets. However, the bedding was a huge downside! The mattress was uncomfortable, the pillows weren't good, and the duvet was really dirty, full of hair – it was quite off-putting. We didn't have a disposable duvet cover, so we just made do (though thankfully, we didn't have any allergic reactions). This is really hard to accept! Definitely bring your own disposable bedding! If I had brought disposable bedding, I'd be okay with it.

The bedding was clean and tidy, and there were plenty of restaurants nearby. Transportation was super convenient. The service was excellent, with prompt responses and resolutions. Overall, it exceeded my expectations and I highly recommend it!

The room was clean and tidy, but the construction noise nearby was a bit loud, and the alley where the hotel is located felt a little scary at night since it was dimly lit with few people around. The *ondol* (underfloor heating) was too hot, but I guess that's better than being cold. The air freshener scent was initially so strong it gave me a headache and made my nose hurt, but I got used to it after a few days.

The room was incredibly clean, and the bedding was pristine white with no strange odors. All the basic amenities were provided, and the space felt bright and tidy overall. For this price point, I definitely feel like I got good value for money. Very satisfied.