Tongyeong (Naples of Korea)
Tongyeong has long been called the “Naples of Korea,” a nickname that first appeared in writer Park Kyung-ri’s novel Daughters of Kim’s Pharmacy.
Although it’s not a big city, Tongyeong is full of history, coastal scenery, and delicious local foods. This is probably why so many people choose it as a travel destination.
Because Tongyeong is so popular—especially during the summer holidays—finding a room can be difficult. Vacancies are limited, prices go up, and many available rooms don’t offer good value. This isn’t unique to Tongyeong; it happens in most tourist cities during peak season.
To avoid the rush, I started searching for accommodation in late May for an August trip. Even then, it wasn’t easy. I checked many hotels, guesthouses, pensions, and resorts through booking sites and travel blogs. But most places were already full for late July to early August.
Since we would arrive in Tongyeong in the evening, we didn’t need a luxurious view or special facilities. A clean place with a good shower and a quiet room was enough. Ideally, we wanted a hotel or resort rather than a pension, with a convenience store nearby and at least a partial ocean view.
After a lot of searching, we chose Tongyeong Bay Condo Hotel.
Booking Information
- Price at the time: ₩144,000 for 3 people (booked through Agoda)
- Room type: Ondol (Korean heated floor) room
- View: Half ocean view, half neighboring building
When checking Agoda again in mid-July, I noticed that the same type of room sometimes dropped to ₩40,000–50,000 on special deals. Prices vary a lot depending on the date, but those dates didn’t match our schedule.
First Impressions
The parking lot near the entrance was quite small, but fortunately, I was able to park close to the door. Later, I learned there are two parking areas—the back entrance seemed smaller, while the front entrance had more space.
After a long day of sightseeing and barely eating dinner, we felt relieved to arrive at the hotel. The staff at the front desk were neatly dressed and helped us check in smoothly.
In the lobby, there was an Emart24 convenience store, which was very useful. We bought some simple food before heading to our room on the 5th floor.
Room Details – Korean Ondol Room
The room felt a bit nostalgic, like a 1990s school trip atmosphere.
Instead of a key card, you open the door with an actual metal key. The door also does not lock automatically—you must lock it manually.
Inside the room:
- No bed (traditional ondol floor)
- No kitchenette or table
- No cooking allowed
- Small fridge and electric kettle only
- Velvet-style curtains
- Partial ocean view
With no table available, meals had to be eaten on the floor, which made it feel more like a studio apartment than a hotel. But again, our priority was sleep, not luxury.
Bathroom & Shower
Amenities provided:
- Large refill bottles of shampoo, conditioner, and body wash
- Foam cleanser (no bar soap)
Not provided:
- Toothbrush
- Toothpaste
- Razor
If you forget these, you can buy them at the Emart24 downstairs.
The water pressure was excellent—the strongest advantage of the room.
However, the faucet in the sink touched the mirror, so lifting it carelessly might break the glass. The interior design felt outdated, and there was no bidet.
Overall Pros & Cons
Pros
- Convenient location
- Convenience store in the lobby
- Strong water pressure
- Good air conditioning
- Partially quiet room
Cons
- Old interior
- No cooking or dining area
- No automatic door lock
- Limited amenities
Considering that rooms can drop to ₩40,000–50,000 during off-season, the price makes sense. During our peak-season trip, this was still one of the better options available.
Dinner: A Classic Choice – Korean Fried Chicken
The restaurant we originally planned to visit had already closed at 7:30 p.m., so we bought some convenience-store food and ordered chicken through a delivery app.
- Restaurant: Cheogajip Yangnyeom Chicken (Bongpyeong Branch)
- Address: 364-1 Donam-dong, Tongyeong-si, Gyeongsangnam-do
- Phone: 055-644-9290
We ordered half seasoned / half fried chicken, a classic Korean choice.
Cheogajip was one of the famous chicken chains in Korea during the 1990s, along with Pelicana and Mexican Chicken.
The taste today isn’t exactly the same as the old days, but the nostalgic feeling matched well with the room’s retro atmosphere.
The set even came with a 500ml cola, which felt generous.
Next Morning: A View of Tongyeong’s Coast
When we opened the curtains the next morning, we could see both the sea and nearby accommodations.
Looking toward the ocean, we saw Gongju Island and a ship maintenance area where boats slide in and out of the water using a ramp.
It was interesting to see such a structure instead of a typical beach view.
The weather had been rainy the previous day, and strong wind was forecast, so we considered adjusting our travel plan. But for the moment, the cloudy morning sky gave a calm coastal mood.
Final Thoughts
Tongyeong Bay Condo Hotel is not a modern luxury hotel, but during peak season it offers:
- A convenient location
- Reasonable accessibility
- Partial ocean views
- Basic comfort for resting overnight
For travelers who mainly need a clean place to sleep and plan to spend most of their day exploring Tongyeong, this hotel can be a practical and budget-friendly choice.
- Address : 257-93, Donam-ro, Tongyeong-si, Gyeongsangnam-do, Republic of Korea
- Phone : 055-649-4880 (+82-55-649-4880)
- Agoda Reservation – [ Link ]
