5 Reasons to Stay at Hamkkehae Guesthouse
by Farahiah Aminuddin
If you have ever stayed in a guesthouse during a holiday trip, you know how unique it is compared to hotels and motels. While most guesthouses try to create a home-like environment for visitors, my previous experiences unfortunately left me feeling underwhelmed. However, an opportunity to visit Hamkkehae Guesthouse left me and my co-worker with a lasting impression. The impact was so strong that I decided to share with readers and future Gwangju visitors five reasons why you should stay at Hamkkehae Guesthouse.
#1 Perfect Location
Travelers and visitors appreciate a comfortable stay, but may not welcome the time-consuming trouble of finding food and attractions near their accommodation. Hamkkehae Guesthouse is located on Yongbong-ro, across from the Chonnam National University front gate, so reaching many places couldn’t be easier. The guesthouse is only a 10-minute taxi or bus ride from U-Square Bus Terminal, and all kinds of public transportation are within 20 steps from the door. The Gwangju Biennale is located five minutes west of the guesthouse, the downtown area is 20 minutes away by bus or 10 by taxi and the back gate area of Chonnam National University is only a five-minute walk from the guesthouse. In the neighborhood where the house is located, restaurants, cafes and fast food places are all within walking distance, including many of Korea’s famous “chimaek” (chicken + “maekju” [beer]) places.
#2 Reasonable rates
Money is everyone’s concern. It’s important that the amount spent is appropriate for the service and quality that we get. And at Hamkkehae Guesthouse, I guarantee that it is. Room rates per person/night are low and reasonable. Where else could you spend such little money for the same comfort as living in your own home? Plus, it is far cheaper than any hotel or motel.
#3 Hospitality
Research has shown that one major reason visitors and tourists keep coming back to the place they visited is because of the hospitality that particular place provided for them. A warm welcome and the friendliness of the guesthouse owner Ji Hyeong and her son Yul will surely make you want to come again as soon as you have a chance. The moment we arrived, 6-year-old Yul, who waited outside, greeted us with the most adorable smile and politeness and was not shy or awkward at all despite me being a foreigner and my tall coworker towering almost three times Yul’s height. Ji Hyeong prepared a small snack for us despite us not staying there and coming around dinner time. She said everybody who comes to the house is a guest. After a small chit chat with Ji Hyeong and Yul, they showed us around the house. From the moment we arrived in front of the house, we were made to feel like we were relatives who lived far away and were long expected to visit. I am sure if you visit or stay at Hamkkehae Guesthouse, you will be treated the same.
#4 Cozy Accommodations
When you have super heavy luggage and have traveled far, the last thing you want to do is climb stairs, even just one flight. Hamkkehae Guesthoust is on the ground floor. So don’t fret, you won’t be exhausting yourself. Besides that, this guesthouse has only two guest rooms: one triple room and one single room, so there will most likely be no more than four people at a time. Fewer people means less mess and less competition for facilities and utility use. Trust me, if you have stayed in a guesthouse before, you will know what it is like to wait to use the bathroom, stove, washing machine, and etc. The small number of people also means less noise and more privacy. Moreover, you will have absolute privacy because the house owner will not be in the house with you all the time, unless you need assistance or you wish to spend time with her. Thus, you will have the house to yourselves.
#5 Unique Services
You may not believe it, but you can hold a party in the guesthouse. While Hamkkehae has rates per day you stay, due to its petit size, you can also rent the whole house if you want to gather with friends and family, have meals together or celebrate something. Other than that, if you want to have a traditional Korean meal and learn more about Korean culture, just let the house owner know and she will prepare it all for you. Not only that, if you would like a personal tour of Gwangju, feel free to seek the assistance of the house owner, and she will guide you and make your stay enjoyable.