Our stay in Itaewon had come to an end, and with a checkout time of 11, we gathered our belongings, completed the hotel checkout, and geared up for the next chapter of our adventure in Gangnam—famous for Psy’s song “Gangnam Style.”
Gangnam, located south of the Han River, is a vibrant district known for its upscale lifestyle, trendy shops, and bustling nightlife. With a mix of modernity and tradition, Gangnam offers a diverse range of experiences, from luxury boutiques and high-end restaurants to vibrant street markets and entertainment venues. It’s a dynamic area that perfectly captures the energetic spirit of Seoul. Unlike Itaewon, where the architecture had a Korean feel and the area was hilly, Gangnam had tall buildings and a bustling city vibe.
Aiden by Best Western Cheongdam
Even though we picked the budget-friendly Aiden by Best Western Cheongdam over the luxurious Mondrian, I was pleasantly surprised by its quality. The interior had a modern style, though smaller, with a compact lobby. Our stay at the Aiden by Best Western Cheongdam marked the end of our time in Seoul and our South Korea journey, concluding with a planned two-night stay. While some may argue that Cheongdam is a distinct area fro Gangnami, it is, in fact, an integral part of the broader Gangnam district. I’ll delve deeper into this in an upcoming post.”
Room: I especially enjoyed the view from the hotel, overlooking a bustling street filled with cars, providing a direct look at the traffic flow. The room featured another large and comfortable bed. I must admit, we were fortunate with our hotel choices in Korea, particularly considering my focus on finding accommodations with comfortable beds. This preference stems from previous experiences in Asia, where beds were not only firm as wood but also uncomfortably short and narrow for someone of my stature. Once again, being on the taller side, I appreciated the spacious and cozy beds in Korean hotels, with the exception of that one boutique hotel in Jeju City. The bathroom in this hotel was also quite satisfactory, contributing to our overall contentment with the choice.
As mentioned earlier, I selected this hotel not only for its amenities but also for its location, a topic I’ll delve into in a later post. After checking in, my Korean friend Liz, whom I hadn’t seen since our studies in the USA 11 years ago, was waiting downstairs in the lobby to greet us and guide us through Seoul. Stay tuned for more details in the next post!
Anyah Mroz 