Homestays in South Korea

Hi there,

After more than ten solo trips to India, I’ve decided to explore a new country: South Korea.

In October, I’ll be flying Lyon-Delhi, then in November Delhi-Seoul. I’ll be staying in this new (for me) country for over a month.

My main motivation when traveling is discovering a country through the people (locals) I meet. In India, I made friends through Couchsurfing that way.

I’m currently getting in touch with host families (via Servas), but if you have any ideas for authentic and budget-friendly accommodations, I’d love to hear them.

I’ll plan my route based on my hosts, and I’m also thinking of spending a few days in Seoul and Jeju.

Thanks in advance for your tips!

JulieB

Hi Julie,

In addition to couchsurfing, you can also try the templestay option. I’ve seen it often but never tried it myself.

Templestay | Finding your 'True self'

Just a heads-up for Jeju: renting a car is ideal (an international driver’s permit is mandatory) because getting around by bus is time-consuming, not very practical, and can be confusing. If you have the time, though, it’s doable.

Generally, accommodations are affordable (Seoul is always pricier), but it all depends on your daily budget. I’ve often found places for 40/50 € that were perfectly fine—not hostel dorms with shared bathrooms, but still comfortable.

Thanks for your reply! For me, 40–50 € is already expensive... probably a distortion after years of traveling in India. I’ll have to rethink my budget for the month then!

The standard of living and costs there are nothing like India, for example. For accommodation, you can find options for around 15/20 € in a dorm.

Hi there,

You’re right—you’ll need to adjust your budget because South Korea is experiencing inflation. The cost of living is about the same as in France. The only thing that’s cheaper is food, where you can still get really filling meals for around 10 €, sometimes even less. But it’s nothing like India... In Jeju, prices are a bit higher due to the cost of transporting goods.

For example, a night at a templestay costs between 35 and 50 €.