SEOUL -- area code (82-2)

ITAEWON

• Hamilton Hotel
  119-25 Itaewon-Dong, Yongsan-Gu, Utopia Map, 794-0171, 794-0172. Take airport bus #5A which stops right across the street from the hotel. Can't beat this location: right at the Itaewon subway station, in the center of the gay scene and the foreigner-friendly Itaewon strip. But the hotel has small rooms with fruity decor (every surface has a different floral pattern and the bathroom sports a 1950s pink shower curtain). Expensive for what you get (rooms start at about US$100/night). Still, they do have in-room Net access (US$12./day when it should be free) and the most convenient location to the gay scene.

  Comments from Utopians:

  "I stayed at IS@K Guest House for 5 nights. The men's 6-bed dormitory room was cheap and very clean. Staff were very friendly and kind. Good for a budget trip in Seoul." -- peterguy, May 30, 2011

  "I stayed at IS@K Guest House, 749-3003, with my friends for 3 nights. Dormitory room was cheap and clean. They also have some small private single rooms. The staff are very friendly and kind to advise about everything in Korea. If you have a plan to budget trip to Seoul this place is useful and also convenient to enjoy gay scene. Gay bars, pubs and saunas are very close. But be discreet - this hostel is not only for gays. E-mail: isatkguesthouse@hotmail.com" -- kidocky, Dec 4, 2010