I went to Gyeongju over Chuseok and booked Chestertons Gyeongju mainly because I wanted to swim. We stayed one night in a Standard Double room and tried both the rooftop and indoor pools.
I liked the room more than I expected. The pools were a mixed experience, though: I had fun swimming indoors, but the outdoor water put me off.
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What I Paid During Chuseok
The sign outside says three-star tourist hotel, but I came away much happier with the room than that label led me to expect. It was clean, comfortable, and roomy enough that I didn’t miss a pricier hotel.
I paid around ₩190,000 for one night during the Chuseok holiday. When I was looking, weekday rates were closer to the low ₩100,000s. Rates change by date, so I wouldn’t treat either number as a standard price. Even at the holiday rate, I felt good about what we got: a comfortable room and pool access included.
Parking and Self Check-In
We drove, so the parking setup mattered. There’s a parking tower as well as open-air spaces. The outdoor parking had plenty of free spots each time we parked, which made arriving with a car easy.
Check-in is handled at a kiosk on the first floor. The kiosk started processing guests at about 2:40pm when I was there, ahead of the hotel’s usual 3pm check-in time. If you’re arriving on a holiday afternoon, I’d get there a little before then; people were already waiting to check in.
A Small Surprise When We Opened the Room
I put the key card in, the lights came on, and the curtains opened by themselves. I actually stopped to watch. It’s a small thing, but it was a fun way to walk into the room.
The hotel opened in 2025, and the room still felt new and well kept when we stayed.
Our Standard Double Room
Our Standard Double felt spacious from the doorway. The bed didn’t crowd the room, the balcony let in daylight, and everything looked clean and orderly. I was happy with it right away.
The furnishings were simple, but I didn’t need anything more elaborate for this trip. After swimming, I just wanted somewhere comfortable to sleep.
There was still clear floor space beside the bed, so the room felt comfortable for two. We could move around without bumping into furniture.
The bed felt king-size to me. The mattress was soft without being too squishy, and I slept well. No complaints there.
The tablet beside the bed controls the room, and I could also say ‘Genie’ to adjust the lights, curtains, or air conditioning. Being able to switch off the lights without getting back out of bed was the feature I ended up using most.
There was a small round table with two chairs. We didn’t eat in the room, so the table mostly held our bags. It was nice to have somewhere to put them besides the bed.
There was also a Nespresso machine with capsules and a kettle. I was pleasantly surprised to see those in a Standard Double room.
The little balcony was more useful than I expected. After swimming, I left my swimsuit out there to dry and it dried quickly. That saved me from packing a damp suit the next morning.
The view from this room was over nearby buildings and the hills beyond, not Gyeongju’s historic sights. I was fine with that; I’d booked the room for the pool, not the balcony view.
Bathroom and Shower
The bathroom was roomy and looked clean. The sink sat outside the enclosed toilet and shower areas, so we could use the spaces separately without getting in each other’s way.
That layout was especially welcome after the pool. It gave us more room to get ready without crowding one small bathroom.
The shower had strong water pressure when I used it. I liked the separate spaces and the wide sink counter too. I didn’t have to balance everything on the edge of a tiny sink.
Rooftop and Indoor Pools
Swimming was the main reason I chose this hotel. Pool access was included with our stay, which made the holiday room rate easier to justify. A sign by the pool also advertised free entry with lunch at Sky Restaurant. That was a promotion, so I’d check with the hotel to see if it’s still running.
The hotel has both indoor and outdoor pools. I tried the rooftop first, then ended up spending most of my time inside.
By late September, the afternoon air had turned chilly, and it rained during our pool time. The pool information board showed 28°C for the indoor pool and 30°C for the rooftop pool when I visited. The warmer outdoor water felt lovely against the cool air.
The rooftop pool was wider than I expected, and it wasn’t crowded when we went. Even with the rain, I was enjoying the warm water and the open view until I noticed quite a bit of debris on the pool floor. I got out and moved indoors.
I don’t know whether the rain had brought it in, but there was enough debris that I didn’t want to stay in the water. That was disappointing, especially since the rooftop pool was one of the reasons I’d booked.
There were plenty of lounge chairs around the outdoor pool, and they were free to use when I visited. The deck was wet from the rain, though, so we didn’t stay outside long.
There was a smaller, warmer pool outside too. I got in briefly, but the water didn’t look clean to me, so I came straight back out. I was disappointed because the temperature itself was inviting.
The indoor pool worked out much better. It was spacious enough to swim comfortably, and I didn’t see the same debris in the water. We spent the rest of our pool time there.
The indoor deck had lots of lounge chairs too. Those were also free to use during our visit, so it was easy to take a break without leaving the pool area.
I saw children’s life jackets and swim rings available by the indoor pool, and there were quite a few families around. If you’re coming with kids, that setup looked practical. I’d still check what’s available on your dates rather than assume every size or float will be there.
The room and indoor pool made the stay worthwhile for me. I slept well and spent plenty of time swimming. I was much less happy with the rooftop and small warm-water pools because of what I saw in the water.
I’d recommend it if you want to combine a Gyeongju trip with pool time, especially if you find a lower weekday rate. We had a car, which helped: the hotel isn’t an easy walk from the historic streets around Hwangnidan-gil.
Where to Book
I’d check the total price and cancellation terms for your dates before booking, especially around Korean holidays.
Check Chestertons Gyeongju rates on Booking.com
Where to Find It
The hotel is at 11 Gwangjung-gil, Gyeongju, Gyeongsangbuk-do (경주시 광중길 11). We drove and used the open-air parking. If you plan to explore Hwangnidan-gil on foot, check the map before booking; the hotel is in a different part of the city.
Open Chestertons Gyeongju in Google Maps →
The Booking.com link above is an affiliate link. Hotel rates, pool access, check-in procedures, and seasonal pool hours can change. The prices and pool conditions here are from my stay over Chuseok.
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