How much can I expect to pay to sleep in a non-fancy jjimjilbang (Korean onsen/sento) in a non-touristy area?
You've probably heard of onsens and sentos in Japan, which are public bath houses. Korea has something similar and here they're called "jjimjilbangs".
One major difference is that you usually don't sleep in an onsen or sento in Japan unless it's part of a hotel or resort. But in Korea almost all jjimjilbangs have a sleeping room where you can sleep on the floor (which are always heated in winter).
Now there are very big jjimjilbangs which are practically resorts and have many more facilities than just the baths. Those can be expensive and I'm not asking about those.
But small plain jjimjilbangs are ubiquitous. Every city or town no matter how small has some. These are the ones I'm asking about.
Last time I was in Korea I stayed at one, but that was seven to nine years ago. I forget the price and Korea is a fair bit more expensive now anyway.
I've searched online but can't find recent info in English about the prices to use jjimjilbangs that are not touristy or fancy. The price used to be the same whether you were just bathing or spending the night. I'm not sure if this is standard or if sleeping now costs more.
So, in 2019, what is a typical price to use a low-end jjimjilbang in a random Korean town? Is the price to sleep the same as the price to use?
(I know prices will vary a lot. I'm specifically asking about the cheap ones. I intend to use them as flop houses while long-distance walking and/or hitchhiking in areas that don't get many foreign tourists. I want to know how competitive the prices are compared to cheap backpacker hostels here, which can be as low as 7,000 KRW. I'm well aware that jjimjilbangs are not at all like hostels.)
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How much does jjimjilbang cost?
During the week, many hardworking South Korean men, whose families live out of the city for cost savings, stay in jjimjilbangs overnight after working or drinking with co-workers late into the night. The cost is around 8,000\u201312,000 won to enter, and one can sleep overnight and enjoy the bathhouse and sauna.Can you sleep overnight in a Korean spa?
Overall, the answer is a resounding yes, you can use a 24-hour Korean spa as your hotel for the night. You can eat and spa as much as you want, and you can get a pretty decent sleep on the heated floor on your mat and pillow. (There are blankets too, and I recommend going double mat for best sleeping results.)Can you sleep in a Jimjilbang?
It's a great place to spend the night Jimjilbangs are open 24/7 and so it's the perfect place to rest your head if you're traveling Korea on a budget (or after a big night out on the town). The sleeping areas within the jimjilbang are huge open spaces that aren't gender-segregated.What should I bring to jjimjilbang?
What to bring to a jjimjilbangJapanese Onsen ASMR | Fireplace Ambience for Sleep, Relaxation | Hot Spring Water Sounds
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