Some trips are about resting, not racing. For our Geoje getaway we decided to take it easy, see only the famous spots, and book a comfortable Geoje guesthouse. The drive from Seoul takes about four and a half hours, and we broke it up with rest area stops, the most memorable being Insam Land.
Insam Land rest area
Insam Land sits in Geumsan, a region famous for ginseng, and the whole rest area leans into the theme.
True to its name, it sells local red ginseng and ginseng products alongside the usual snacks.
My husband, on a working vacation, squeezed in some laptop work before we hit the road again, excited for the trip ahead.
Marine Guestel in Geoje
We booked Marine Guestel through Airbnb. Despite the peak season, the price was reasonable, and the duplex layout, good soundproofing, and spotless rooms made a strong first impression.
The upper floor holds the bedroom with TV and a powerful air conditioner, while the lower floor has a washing machine, sink, hair dryer, fridge, and microwave.
The owner was wonderfully kind, keeping a parking spot ready for our arrival, which made the whole stay feel easy and comfortable.
The neighborhood
One surprise: Geoje is bigger than expected. Reaching Windy Hill or the pebble beaches takes over 40 minutes by car from here. The upside is the location near a department store, a big mart, and a cinema, where we ended up watching two movies during our stay.
A comfortable Geoje guesthouse with a kind host and a handy location made this a restful trip, even with a laptop that never quite closed.
Prices, hours and details in this post are from our visit in August 2016 and may have changed, so check the latest information before you go.