Filed under Accommodations, Glam Around the World, Korea Watch the video here:https://youtu.be/nNdt0BDSdOs Is Siloam Sauna the best jjimjilbang in Seoul? So, I’ve promised some of you the inside tip on the best jjimjilbang in Seoul… After the disappointment of Seoul’s much hyped Dragon Hill Spa, I was reluctant to return for another night of overnight non-thrill on a hard wood floor. However, I still wanted to try another jjimjilbang and enjoy the Korean bathing culture. Read my Guide to Korean jjimjilbangs 찜질방 | From the outside, Siloam Sauna may not look like much. It’s not a new building but a little old. In fact, you may think you’re walking into a shady neighborhood jjimjilbang dive or a love motel. But step inside Siloam and explore its five floors of therapeutic health, bathhouse washing and 24 hour bed bunk sleeping rooms and you’ll feel like you’ve hit the hidden jackpot of luxurious j-bang finds! Korea and the English language: a mysterious and confusing combination.
Sometimes, Koreans like to wear English words they don’t understand. Other times, they like to surprise you by busting your chops on complex English terms, that would elicit a Google search for meaning. I stood outside the jjimjilbang with dropped jaw, staring at the sign: What makes Siloam Sauna the best jjimjilbang in Seoul 1. Saunas and Fomentation Siloam‘s saunas apply more than just heat, but claim to offer therapeutic properties, as well. In basic, it unfolds an amusement park of sauna rooms laden with a plethora of healing attributes from salt to mineral rocks, ice and oxygen. I passed out for nearly an hour in an air-conditioned room, called the Charcoal Cold Room (not pictured), surrounded by wall to ceiling coverings of charcoal. Charcoal is said to have many purifying and oxygenating properties. I emerged feeling rested, replenished and much clearer and balanced than I was, going in! 2. When a bath house is a spa Let’s get down to the deep scrub!
Anything which says it will revive young skin, induce health benefits or rejuvenate me, between my lather, definitely earns a ‘thumbs up’. Shower stalls and sit-down scrubbing stations are standard decor in any Korean bathhouse joint, as are heated pools and jacuzzis to soak in, accompanied by an ice water pool to shock your skin awake after its shriveled. With Siloam‘s bathhouse, you get three heated medicinal baths to choose from: • a wormwood bath to help aid menstrual pains, • a charcoal bath for improved circulation, extracting impurities, and help support the metabolism and anti-aging • a jade bath to induce peace and tranquility. (note: There are potentially more listed on the site, but these three are the only ones I saw.) The bath houses also house : • a mist sauna • a waterfall shower Do these mineral bathing pools really work? Korean spas swear by them. But personally, depending on the mineral, sometimes you feel a difference in them;
3. The best jjimjilbang sleepover in Korea Most jjimjilbangs offer only floor space, a blanket and a wooden block pillow for your overnight sleep. What makes Siloam unique is that it offers sleep rooms with individual beds. Although j-bangers are welcome to spread out on any floor (read here) or even crash in the saunas, Siloam‘s fifth floor holds the official sleeping rooms. With over 300 individual bunks per room, the rooms sport air purifiers, humidifiers, thermometers, to make for an awesome night’s sleep! How awesome was it? Perhaps, all the healing properties in the building and the climate/ air-controlled room has something to do with the sleep you experience at Siloam. What I experienced was exceptional for what it was in a dorm-like accommodation. I had a very deep and restful sleep, more than I’ve ever experienced in a hotel. Rooms for Sleepers vs. Snorers Here’s the funny but kinda cool part… The rooms are separated according to three types of sleepers: Women, Men and Snorers.
Yes, there’s a “Snorer’s Room”, for when your sleep rattles and shakes others! The best feature of Siloam Sauna? After telling you all of what Siloam offers in overnight accommodation and bathhouse/sauna pampering you’ll probably want to visit. But what will change your walk into a run? 13,000 Won (or about $12.60 USD) Now most j-bangs overnight stays are priced in this range and even Dragon Hill comes in a bit leaner at 12,000 Won. What sets Siloam apart from the rest is really the comfy ‘bunk bed’ accommodations vs the standard wooden floor. Throw some “fomentation” in there and hey, it’s the best and most rocking j-bang in town! Siloam Fire Pot Sauna (Seoul, South Korea) Fee: After 5am: Bath (Adult) : 8,000 won; Bath+ Sauna (Adult) : 10,000 won: After 8pm: Bath (Adult) : 9,000 won; Bath+ Sauna (Adult) : 13,000 won Line 1, Line 4, Seoul Station, Exit 1, 5 minutes walk Line 2, Line 5, Chungjeongro Station, Exit 5, 5 minutes walk
Where to Stay near Silloam/Seoul Station: check here. Do you have a favorite bathhouse or jjimjilbang in Seoul? Note: White Sheets Reviews are Grrrl Traveler recommendations of guesthouses, hostels and hotels I’ve stayed at. Selections are based on their cleanliness (‘white sheets‘), service, hospitality and budget. Check out more of my jjimjilbang faves and unique accommodations in Korea. Watch my Top 5 Tip Videos about Traveling in Korea Top 5 Tips for Navigating Korean Culture Read: Top 5 Travel Tips for Navigating Korean Culture Top 5 souvenirs to bring back from KoreaAs we've learned, many elements come into play when it comes to shopping for the right mattress. And as previously mentioned, while the construction of a mattress is highly important, your personal sleeping style, or position, is also a determining factor in what makes a good mattress for you personally. We take a closer look here at the mattresses that cater to your specific sleeping style.
*NOTE: While "Sleep Number" adjustable beds and high-end memory foam mattresses can deftly fit any sleep style with focused support, we've found that these are not the most budget-friendly choices. So we're keeping our recommendations to conventional mattresses in this buying guide.The most common sleeping style, side sleepers require a mattress that doesn't put stress on their shoulders and hips and instead relieves pressure from those body parts. This usually means a mattress that is slightly softer is a good option because it allows the sleeper's body to sink just a little into the mattress. A slightly softer mattress is also good because it accommodates the body's natural curve and keeps the spine aligned. Our mattress pick: Simmons Beautyrest Classic pocketed coil mattress.For people who sleep in this style, support for the lower back is crucial. Therefore, it's best to avoid very stiff spring mattresses since they have a tendency to push against the spine and not provide the correct curvy support.
At the same time, a mattress that is too soft will not give enough support to the body and the back. A medium-firm mattress is a good choice. Our mattress pick: Laura Ashley Aurora Collection innerspring mattress.This sleeping style requires a firmer and stiffer mattress that keeps the body afloat instead of sunken. Many stomach sleepers may suffer from lower back pain, which has prompted them to this sleeping style where spine alignment is at its most minimal. Our mattress pick: Serta/Perfect Sleeper innerspring mattress. Combination of all Styles. Typically most people fall into this sleeping style category where it's a combination of all of the above, which means that there's a lot of movement in bed. For this style, it's important to pick a mattress that is personally suitable to you for your comforts -- one that's not too stiff for your side sleeping and not too soft when you turn on your stomach. But in general, it's been said that combination sleepers have found mattresses with innerspring pocket coils or those made from latex foam to be highly comfortable.