MySeoul

I wanted to welcome early October and the start of autumn at a slower, more relaxed pace, so for this trip to Korea, I decided to spend three nights in Gyeongju. I’ve visited Gyeongju several times before—both for business (conferences) and for solo travel—but I had always stayed at hotels near the Bomun Lake Resort area.

This visit was my first in about four years, and since Hwangridan-gil has recently become a popular spot among younger travelers, I wanted to stay somewhere nearby while still being close to major attractions like Daereungwon. At the same time, I was looking for a place that was clean, comfortable, and reasonably priced—and 141 Mini Hotel ended up being the perfect fit.

Interestingly, 141 Mini Hotel didn’t show up in Agoda’s recommendations. I found it by searching for Gyeongju accommodations and reading through several blog posts. The hotel is located right in the city center, less than a 10-minute taxi ride from the intercity bus terminal (or about a 30-minute walk). Daereungwon is only about a 10-minute walk away, which made it very convenient for sightseeing. Hwangridan-gil was around a 15–20 minute walk, but with the crisp autumn weather, it felt like a pleasant stroll—especially walking alongside Daereungwon.

My husband and I stayed for three nights, and even including taxes and service charges, the total came to about KRW 273,000. That’s under KRW 100,000 per night, which felt like a great deal (breakfast not included). Check-in was at 4:00 p.m. and check-out at 11:00 a.m. While the check-in time was a bit later than usual, the front desk offers luggage storage, so it wasn’t a problem at all.

The hotel exterior was clean and modern, and the property is divided into a main building and an annex. Our room was in the annex, but since the two buildings are right next to each other, it was very easy to get around.

We checked in at the main building, where the lobby was spacious and well-maintained. There was a luggage storage area next to the check-in counter, which we used on our last day after checking out so we could explore a bit more. Next to it was a small reading nook—not many people seemed to use it, but since it was somewhat tucked away, it looked like a nice spot to sit and write for a while. On the opposite side of the lobby, there were two vending machines selling drinks and light snacks. One night, we grabbed some cup noodles when we got hungry, and I also ended up getting my morning coffee there on our third day.

After picking up our key cards, we headed to the annex, which is located just to the right of the main building and easy to find. The annex is more focused on guest rooms than guest services, so the lobby isn’t very large. That said, access requires a key card, which made it feel secure. The annex lobby was compact but clean and nicely designed—perfect for waiting a few minutes after calling a taxi. There was a water dispenser in one corner and a high table where you could do some light work.

There was information posted about breakfast service, but we didn’t end up trying it. From what we were told, guests can sign up at the front desk by 10:00 p.m. the night before, and breakfast costs KRW 3,000.

Inside the room, the layout was simple and practical. After entering, you pass the bathroom, and then the space opens up to the bed, sofa, and desk area. The floor was wooden rather than carpeted, which I personally loved—especially since I have allergies. It felt cleaner, less dusty, and comfortable to walk around barefoot.

For the price, the bathroom was surprisingly spacious and spotless, and all the essentials were thoughtfully provided. There were plenty of towels, and I was genuinely impressed that they provided toothpaste and a toothbrush—something many hotels don’t offer anymore. The only small downside was that the body wash seemed sized for just one night, so it needed to be replaced daily. That said, housekeeping automatically replaced it each day without us having to ask, which I really appreciated. Two 500ml bottles of water were also replenished daily.

The bedding was extremely clean and cozy. I loved that crisp, freshly dried hotel-linen scent. Near the window, there was a three-seater sofa, with a desk next to it that was great for some light laptop work. The view itself wasn’t anything special—the building across was quite close—so we kept the curtains closed most of the time. Overall, everything exceeded expectations for the price. Most of all, I appreciated how clean and well-maintained the bathroom and bedding were.

The top floor (6th floor) of the annex is a rooftop area, and part of it is dedicated to a laundry room. There’s a top-loading washing machine, a dryer, a small washer for lighter loads, and even an iron. On our last day, we gathered all our laundry and took care of everything at once. The facilities are free to use between 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m., which was incredibly convenient.

If I ever come back to Gyeongju, 141 Mini Hotel is definitely a place I’d love to stay again. I’d confidently recommend it to friends and family—it really left a great impression. Thanks to this hotel, we were able to enjoy a comfortable and relaxing trip in Gyeongju.
Personally, I highly recommend it.