When one thinks of South Korea, Seoul and Busan are the two cities that come to mind. But an hour and a half outside of the capital is Cheonan, a surprisingly dense city that still keeps the charm of a small town. The travelers stopped by during their multi-day trip and chose to stay at Shilla Stay. The Shilla Hotel in the larger cities are known for their grandeur and higher costs, but the Shilla Stay Hotels are more budget friendly while maintaining the high quality service of the higher end versions.
In this post:
Check-In
The hotel staff were extremely friendly and could speak both Korean and English, which made it a comfortable process. They even gave us a complimentary upgrade to a top floor room, which was nice. We were also presented with a “free wine coupon” and access to their lounge – note that the lounge was more of a small restaurant, but the free wine was still a great touch.
Also in the lobby were designer bears that are able to be purchased. They come in grey, red, and mixed colors. We had to buy one to give our St. Regis bear some company.
The Room
We had a Deluxe Double room on the top floor. Our view looked over the city…from up there, Cheonan shimmered in quiet defiance—neon signs flickering like whispered secrets in the night, the chaos of the city softened into something strangely calming.
This room leaned more towards a business hotel, partly because Cheonan isn’t really a tourist destination. But it was much more spacious and modern than many other business hotels I have stayed in. The room had complimentary water and a nice mini fridge, with a small sofa against the window. It was a small, clean room—nothing fancy, just a quiet corner of the world where we could finally exhale after a week of chasing sights and the relentless hum of travel.
The Lounge
As mentioned before, there is a lounge/restaurant that is open late. With our free wine coupon in hand, we made our way to this bustling area – it was 불금, or “Fire Friday” in Korea, so friends from town also gathered to celebrate birthdays and the end of the work week. We did not try the food, but from what we could tell, everyone seemed to like it. The wine went down easy—none of that sharp, punishing elegance the French love to bottle and dare you to enjoy.
There was a storm outside during some of the nights we were here, so we did not try to walk to any nearby bars, but this was a perfect place to have a drink and enjoy some time away from being a tourist.
Hospitality
The room was great, but the hospitality was amazing. From the moment we checked in until we checked out, the staff treated us as if we had stayed there many times before. On our arrival, we were also given a bottle of rose with some snacks. Despite only being a “Shilla Stay”, the attention to detail and top notch service still felt like we were at their higher end versions in other cities. We also stayed at a Shilla Stay in Seoul a few days before and were given the same great service from their staff.
Conclusion
If you find yourself in Cheonan, check into Shilla Stay. The staff are warm, efficient, and quietly attentive—the kind of people who make you feel like you’re in good hands without making a show of it. Pick up one of those quirky little souvenir bears and take a moment to breathe. Especially if you’re here on business—there’s something to be said for a clean room, soft sheets, and a pause from the day.
Rating:
A Room with a (re)view 