Stanford Inn Busan: A Stay Review
Translated from my original Japanese post (2019). 日本語の原文を読む →
Hello! It's Yoko, a traveler who dreams of eating her way around the world.
Today I want to tell you about Stanford Inn Busan, the hotel I stayed at on my recent trip to Busan, because it was really good.
I've traveled to more than 44 cities in 21 countries, but I'd never been to Korea (it's so close that I always figured I could go anytime),
so this was my first time in Busan, I knew nothing, and I did quite a bit of research.
So for anyone planning a first trip to Busan like I was, I've put together what I found about convenient areas for sightseeing and recommended hotels.
A recommended hotel in Busan: Stanford Inn Busan
This was my first time in Busan, and this hotel was so comfortable that
I thought, "Next time, this is going to be my regular place!"
The balance of location, service, facilities and price was just that good.
Address: 부산광역시 중구 구덕로 53 (남포동 5가)
※English 53
TEL : 051-795-7700
A location that's great for sightseeing
Above all, the hotel is in an incredibly convenient spot for sightseeing!
It's about a three-minute walk to BIFF Square, famous for its fish cake (odeng) and sweet seeds hotteok (ssiat hotteok) stalls, and to Jagalchi Market!
The area is full of restaurants, clothing shops and cosmetics stores, so it's very handy for shopping.
Getting from the airport to the hotel is easy too.
On the limousine bus, get off at "Nampo-dong," turn around, cross the traffic light, and you're at the hotel (lol).
Hotel service
The staff are polite across the board.
They answered the questions I sent before arriving, and some staff spoke English or Japanese.
I had braced myself for situations where only Korean would work, so that was a relief.
They gave me a 10% off coupon for the cafe on the first floor, and they kept our luggage after checkout.
Hotel facilities
The whole building is clean and well maintained.
Even the elevator is pink gold, which feels kind of luxurious.
It even has a disinfection system...
We stayed in a family room for three, about 20 tatami mats in size, and it was super comfortable.
The amenities have all the basics: a toothbrush set, shower cap, razor, cotton pads and cotton swabs, plus an in-room robe, slippers and a safe, which is plenty.
The shower room has a bathtub too, and the toilet is a bidet-style Washlet.
Cheaper hotels sometimes don't have a Washlet, so this is a pretty important point.
On the day we arrived, they also gave us Korean sweets as a gift!
On top of that, one bottle of mineral water per person was provided every day.
I drink a lot of water, so I was happy about that.
Room rates
The rate for two nights starting on a Saturday was about ¥7,800 per person! Cheap!
I booked on Agoda, which was the cheapest.
Stanford Inn Busan is rated above 9.0 on both Booking.com and Agoda, so it really is great value.
Recommended places in Busan
Personally, staying in Nampo-dong, where Stanford Inn Busan is, is convenient and truly recommended.
Including Nampo-dong, there are three main areas that work well as a base for sightseeing.
Nampo-dong
Think Shibuya or Harajuku in Tokyo.
Of the three areas, it has the most shops, so you can enjoy shopping and eating in a short time.
Busan Station is just north of Nampo-dong. The KTX bullet train runs from Busan Station, so it's convenient for getting to Seoul or Gyeongju.
Also, the Busan Port International Passenger Terminal next to Busan Station has ferries to and from Osaka and Fukuoka.
Recommended spots: Gwangbok-ro Street, BIFF Market, Jagalchi Market, Busan Tower
Seomyeon
Like Daikanyama in Tokyo? Maybe not quite? (lol)
It's in the center of Busan, and Seomyeon Station is served by subway lines 1 and 2. Access to other areas is good: go east for Haeundae and west for Nampo-dong.
There are lots of stylish cafes and various popular restaurants.
The shops are scattered, though, so it's a neighborhood where you want to set aside time to explore.
Recommended spots: Dwaeji gukbap alley, cafe hopping, Bujeon Market
Haeundae
Like Yokohama in Japan?
Haeundae is a resort area. It has a white, beautiful sandy beach about 2 km long. Luxury hotels like the Westin and high-end condominiums line the shore, giving it a slightly Hawaii-like feel.
There are many high-rise buildings, so you can enjoy the night view after dark.
There aren't many independent shops and it's a bit less convenient, but it's recommended for repeat visitors to Busan and for anyone who wants to relax at a resort in summer.
I also took it easy at Shinsegae Spa Land!
Recommended spots: Shinsegae Spa Land, The Bay 101
Getting from Gimhae Airport to Nampo-dong, where the hotel is
Bus (for the cautious traveler)
You can catch the bus right outside the airport.
The bus to Nampo-dong is 6,000 won, and the bus to Haeundae is 7,000 won.
Buses leave about every 30 minutes.
The bus accepts only a transit card like the T-money card (similar to Suica) or cash, so if your card is low on balance or you don't have one, you'll suddenly need cash.
Be sure to exchange some money beforehand.
The bus didn't seem to be cleaned much, but it has three-across seating and plenty of room.
All in all it took about an hour to get to Nampo-dong.
That's a bit long, I'd say.
Taxi (cheaper than the bus for two or more)
A taxi is the fastest way. It took about 30 minutes to reach the airport, so I recommend a taxi if you want to check in quickly or you're in a hurry.
On my return I took a taxi from the street right in front of Stanford Inn Busan to Gimhae Airport, and it cost 15,300 won.
That's about ¥1,530. Taxis in Busan are cheap too!
Train (cheapest)
It takes about 44 minutes to Nampo-dong, and this is the cheapest route. It's 2,100 won in cash or 2,000 won with a T-money card.
Even if you're staying in another area, the KONEST website lets you look up fares and times for the train, which is handy!
The flight is short, but if you're moving with a suitcase, it may be a bit of a hassle.
Summary
So here's the rough summary.
Hotel: Stanford Inn Busan or any hotel in Nampo-dong is absolutely convenient!
Hotel ↔ airport: the train if you want cheap, a taxi if you want fast
How to enjoy each area: shopping in Nampo-dong, cafe hopping in Seomyeon, the night view in Haeundae
Save time wisely and have fun!
