If I had to use only one word to describe Casa Hoje Noir House, an Airbnb Guest Favourite on South Korea’s Jeju Island, I’d say “entertainment-ready”. However you want to entertain yourself, the two-bedroom home likely has a estup for it — and a Pinterest-worthy one at that.
Keen to soak in a two-person, jetted tub after a day climbing Mount Hallasan or wandering tangerine fields? Or maybe you’d rather soak in a rooftop tub? Or curl up on the couch and watch Netflix on a projector, or sit in the garden by an open fire? The home allows for all of that.
After looking through dozens of Airbnb listings, my two friends and I settled on Casa Hoje for our four-night stay. Flying into Jeju late, we drove about 50 minutes south from the airport in our rental car and, after much cross-referencing between Naver and Google Maps, finally found the home tucked down an alley.
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We parked in the driveway we’d later learn was shared by guests staying at Blanc, the home next to Noir, where we were booked, and dragged our bags down a pebbled laneway. Opening the concrete door double the size of my apartment’s, we were greeted by soft jazz playing on the speakers and rows of rubber slippers in the doorway.
Staying in Jeju? Check-in to Casa Hoje
This three bedroom, one bathroom hanok offers a quiet and traditional Seoul experience, just a five-minute walk from Gyeongbokgung Station.
The sunken living room and kitchen was at the centre of the single-level house, with windows and a door leading out to a courtyard and garden. In the morning, walking out to it from the sun-drenched kitchen, we noticed bougainvillaea, vines and a hammock, alongside a barbecue corner and firepit where we could practice ‘bulmeoung’, the Korean art of relaxing while staring at a fire.
A steep spiral staircase on the side of the home led to a white-pebbled rooftop with a rectangular jacuzzi and a dining table and chairs. From up there, we could see Mount Songaksan in the distance and peek down into the garden below and at neighbouring homes.
As for sleeping arrangements, both bedrooms featured queen-sized mattresses, and one included an en-suite toilet and sink. If you’re travelling with more than four people or if you’re a trio with everyone wanting their own bed, you can request a futon and duvet set for an extra charge.
It’s worth noting, though, that the bedroom across from the living area holds the home’s only shower, which doubles as the two-person tub. If you were staying here with a full house of six people, you’d almost certainly face a line for the bathroom.
The location proved to be a great base. We visited the Camellia Hill Botanical Garden, Egattoc Library and Tea House and the Bonte Museum, all of which were within a 20-minute drive. That’s relatively close, given it can easily take 90 minutes or more to cross the island, thanks to constantly changing speed limits and a low limit on many roads.
Back at the house after exploring, we made sure to take full advantage of the amenities. We soaked in both the rooftop and indoor tubs, watched a movie on the projector and even attempted to light a fire – though we gave up after 20 minutes.
Aside from the entertainment options, the home also had other frills. The kitchen came equipped with a cold-water dispenser, Nespresso coffee machine and Samsung induction stove. The home also had aircon and heating, a 43-inch TV if you didn’t want to use the projector and a washing machine. Plus, all those rubber slippers.
“Hi Sangeeta. Are you having a relaxing stay? I was wondering if you’d like a change of towels or if there’s anything else you need. You’re so quiet,” the host wrote me during the stay. That concern for our comfort really exemplified the home – it was designed to ensure we had everything we needed to completely relax. And by the time we closed that massive concrete door one last time, it had done exactly that.
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