Shaolin monk training → Seoul → Beijing/Chongqing/Chengdu — help me find the ONE hostel in Seoul that actually has a social scene (private room, not a dorm)
Doing a month in China: starting with martial arts training near the Shaolin Temple, then flying to Seoul for 4 nights before heading back to wrap up with Beijing, Chongqing, and Chengdu.
Seoul is where I'm stuck. I was honestly expecting the same level of hostel diversity you get in Japan (quirky guesthouses, futuristic capsule hotels etc.) but I'm struggling to find that. Maybe I'm searching wrong, maybe it's just less of a thing there.
What I'm after: a private room in a hostel or guesthouse that still has a buzzing common area or bar where you actually meet people. Not a hotel or a silent guesthouse.
Two questions for anyone who's been:
- Any specific hostel recommendations for Seoul that fit this vibe? Maybe one that you personally experienced and loved it?
- Which neighbourhood should a first-timer base themselves? and does the neighbourhood even matter for the social hostel scene?
Appreciate any intel. This trip is already pretty wild on paper so I want the Seoul leg to actually deliver socially 😄