Jjimjilbang, Korean Sauna

For those wo had read my journey to the Seoul, must have known that my highlight in Seoul is Jjimjilbang. Did I mention before? :p

For those who search for cheap hotel, with good facility you can try this. Really guys, this is better than a 5 star hotel!! You can get a hot bath, massages, watch tv, eat, sleep, and spa!

There are some jjimjilbang that I browsed in internet before I go. It mentioned some in Hongdae area, but it hard for foreigner like me to find!! All letters are in Hangul. These two jjimjilbang is my recommendation for foreigners to enjoy because they have English translation in their name, and not so hard to find. Here you go:

1. SILOAM

You can go to their website here. Have English and Japanese page, thanks God! 

But u must read carefully how to go there!! I ask everyone, nobody knows, until I ask someone in Lotte Outlets. It takes me 10 minutes to go there and there asking everyone -____-

How to get there by subway:  Seoul Station (exit 1) After exit at Exit 1, U will easily find : LOTTE OUTLET. It located besides the Seoul Station and it so BIG. U won't miss. DOnt' worry.

Here is the tricky part. Go to the back side of Lotte Outlet!
Yeah, this is the view when I go backside, noone there and so empty hall, but walk through untill u find road behind Lotte Outlet.

From that road, u go down the stairs, then accross the road, there u will find! 

This is the signboard:

Well yeah, I feel happy to see the dog in front of the sauna, it seems welcome me :p

For those who wonder: YES, Jimjjilbang have WIFI :D even in sleeping room. If not so bored la :p

First to DO:

1. Go to reception, PAY. Rate: 13.000won at night, 10.000 won at day. In receptionist and every floor you can find easily the direction of every floor use English. Don't worry.

2. They will bring you uniform, towel, and locker key. Go to MALE/ FEMALE room, by gender.

3. Search your locker number, then put your belonging there, put off your clothes. ALL of them!! Don't worry, everyone naked separated by gender.

4. Go to shower room, Don't forget bring ur own shampoo and soap. Shower there, then wear ur uniform.

5. Nah after wear ur uniform you can be free go everywhere! There are 5 floor of amazingness. Also provide elevator. Around 15 rooms with different floor and temperature vary from -20 degree to 65 degree celcius. I tried charcoal room, salt room, jade room, yellow earth room, and  more except ice room. Besides that, Siloam also have fitness center, massage room, yoga, beauty salon and even shoe repair. 

6. You can buy food too. MUST TRY: Patbingsu and smoked egg. All Korean eat them after jimjjilbang.

7. If you want to sleep, they also provide sleeping room separated by gender. I quickly scanned the jjimjilbang for some nice place to sleep and found quite a few nooks and rooms that would have been well-suited, but figured. First of all, cell phones must not be used (or at least activate silent mode) in the sleeping rooms and there's also a "Snorer's room," to minimize disruption to other sleepers! The men's and women's sleeping rooms have 400 and over 300 beds respectively. You'll never have some ajumma's arm flop over you in this place! Each bed is separated by at least a low railing and some have a small wall between them. There are lower and upper bunks each made up with a really thick sleeping pad, pillow, and pile of blankets. Some upper bunks even have curtains for full privacy. Plus the rooms are slightly air-conditioned, humidified, purified, and all the other -ieds you could dream of. It's bliss. I had the best jjimjilbang sleep of my life here.

PS: U can bring your big luggage and put near the receptionist inside, they provide number for your luggage too. And your luggage will find their friends there :p 

2. DRAGON HILL SPA

This is my second option. More popular than Siloam for foreigners, but I want to feel more "LOCAL" experience with local atmosphere, so I choose Siloam.

Rate is similar like Siloam:

*Daytime (05:00-20:00) - Adults 10,000 won / Children 6,000 won

*Nighttime (20:00-05:00) - Adults 12,000 won / Children 6,000 won

*Weekends & holidays - Adults 12,000 won / Children 6,000 won

Note: Even you come at 18.00 if you bring your luggage, they will charge you "night" rate. They know u will sleep inside. LOL

You can find website here. And the explanation by visit korea here. This Jimjjilbang is recommended by New York Times too. So u will find many western there.

Direction:

Yongsan Station (Exit 1)

Go towards My Wedding Hall Buffet (마이웨딩홀부페). This building is big, u won't missed it.

The sauna is located next to the buffet.

The plus side from Dragon Hill is that they have some cute statue and architectural thing that good for taking pictures :D

Next time If I go Seoul again, I will surely go Dragon Hill Spa!

Well, if u planned to go to Seoul, a really must-visit place when you come to Korea is definitely Jjimjilbang(찜질방)! Enjoy relaxation in the sauna in Jjimjilbang and relieve stress! U will have the best sleep ever after sauna!