Ratings
Aaron put together an itinerary for us that worked well on paper and in the real world. He consulted us as we made our plans and changed things when we asked for that - very little, since the first draft looked so good.
Seoul 9 Brick: loved it; well-equipped room in an interesting part of the city, with excellent shops and restaurants nearby. Unfortunately, the roof terrace bar was closed when we were staying. *****
Sokcho Sea Cruise Hotel: business hotel, lacking character; AC switched off throughout the hotel but they brought us a fan when we asked; impressive breakfast buffet; most of Sokcho felt a bit run-down, so I don't think we were missing out on another, better, hotel; and Sokcho is an excellent base for the Seoraksan National Park, which was amazing. ***
Gyeongju Si Eun Jae Hanok Hotel: traditional and just right for the "museum without walls"; owner was friendly, very keen to chat, and helpful throughout our stay. *****
Busan Good Ol' Days Hotel: very spacious and comfortable; some retro gimmicks work well e.g. record player; some don't - the filter coffee just didn't do anything for us; but the coffee place downstairs is excellent and the breakfast basket was good; good location with multiple shops and restaurants nearby. *****
Jeju Island SNOB Boutique Stay: OK but fairly basic and felt off-season; spacious room; breakfast didn't look great so we ate out.
***
Seoul Ryse Autograph: lovely hotel, right next to 9 Brick; they were happy to let us store luggage with them while we travelled the country and on our last day; same great location as 9 Brick; superb breakfast. *****