Divingmat: A Tranquil Jeju Island Getaway in Namwon
Divingmat: Jeju Namwon Accommodation
A Quiet and Relaxing Jeju Local Stay
Enjoying a Picnic Breakfast in a Rattan Basket and Snorkeling at Taeutgae Beach
A Memorable and Emotional Trip
Hello, I'm Mimi, your travel messenger.
When planning a trip to Jeju Island, the next step after booking your flight is deciding on accommodation.
Usually, I would consider hotels within the Marriott or Accor groups to maintain my tier status, but recently I've been more interested in local accommodations.
To maintain Platinum status with Marriott and Accor, you need to stay 50 and 60 nights a year, respectively. I still have a few more nights to go.
For this 5-night, 6-day trip, I initially booked a Mercure Ambassador or Shinhwa World Marriott, but then I started searching for accommodations on Stayfolio.
Stayfolio is my go-to platform for finding unique and stylish places to stay during domestic travels.
It was there that I discovered Divingmat, a hidden gem.
Like the sentiment in a recent video where someone said they wouldn't want to share their favorite hidden restaurant for fear of it becoming too popular, I worry that Divingmat will become too well-known and difficult to book next time I want to visit.
With only 3 rooms available...
Divingmat, located in Namwon on the opposite side of Jeju Airport, offers just three rooms.
Rooms 1, 2, and 3 all accommodate a maximum of two people, but I was only interested in Room 1.
The duplex structure of Room 2 might have been an option for a 1-2 night stay, but I wasn't up for climbing stairs for five days.
Plus, Rooms 2 and 3 are adjacent to each other, so I decided to put all my eggs in the Room 1 basket.
Fortunately, I was able to book Room 1 for all five nights of my trip.
The Perfect Location for Peace and Quiet
It's hard to say that Divingmat is located in the best area for sightseeing.
It's quite far from the increasingly popular eastern part of Jeju, and considerably far from the always-trendy Aewol and Hyeopjae areas.
The good news is that it's not too far from Seogwipo city center, but it's not exactly close either, so the location might be a drawback for some.
However, for this trip, where I wanted to completely relax, it was the perfect location.
Namwon itself is very quiet, making it ideal for spending peaceful days from morning to night.
One downside is that if you're traveling by electric car, there's no charging station at the accommodation. I had to charge mine at the nearby Wimi 3-ri Village Hall.
During my trip, I spent most of my time swimming in the Jeju sea. The best part was that Taeutgae Beach, my favorite spot, was less than a 5-minute drive away.
Simple but Comfortable Rooms
As I mentioned before, I stayed in Room 1.
The building is only two stories tall and doesn't have an elevator, so carrying a large or heavy suitcase up the stairs can be a bit challenging.
Rooms 2 and 3 are located next to each other on the second floor, while Room 1 is more independent.
You can hear sounds from inside the rooms in the hallway, so if you're sensitive to noise, Room 1 might be a better choice.
The room isn't very spacious.
It's a little difficult to move around once you open a suitcase.
There's also a step between the sleeping area and the rest of the room, so you need to be a bit careful.
The room had a desk that was large enough to comfortably work on my laptop.
Eating isn't allowed inside the rooms, which might be inconvenient for some, but it helps keep the place well-maintained.
As a result, I often used the common area on the first floor.
I went down to the common area frequently, not only for breakfast but also to work on my laptop or enjoy takeout dinners.
The fact that Divingmat is available on Stayfolio gives me confidence in its quality.
I consider it a platform for carefully selected accommodations.
There's always something special about the places listed on Stayfolio, and Divingmat was no exception.
A Little Picnic Every Morning
I really enjoyed the breakfasts during my five-night stay.
If I had stayed at a Marriott or Accor hotel, I would have had a lavish buffet, but I didn't regret not having that at all.
Every morning at 8 AM, a rattan basket with my room number on it would be waiting for me at the bar table, filled with my breakfast.
Just grabbing that basket made every morning feel like a picnic.
The taste was great, but the ambiance was even better! ✨
I also loved the outdoor spaces.
I admired the trumpet creeper flowers at the entrance every time I passed by.
Make sure to see the trumpet creepers in the morning light!
I traveled all over the country this year to see trumpet creepers, but the feeling I got here at Divingmat was unique.
I loved spending time sitting at the tables nestled between the tangerine trees and cedars.
I can't forget those moments spent feeling the cool breeze, and it makes me want to go back.
In addition to breakfast, they also provide free snacks.
There are chocolates, biscuits, coffee, and even Jin Ramen available in the communal kitchen.
Even though it was a hot summer, the water at Taeutgae was surprisingly cold.
After swimming in the sea, when I started to feel chilly, a bowl of Jin Ramen was the perfect remedy.
Divingmat: A Jeju Accommodation I Want to Visit Again
I've stayed in various types of accommodations in Jeju, from chain hotels and resorts to private pensions.
But there are only a few that I actually want to revisit.
Whether it's to see the cherry blossoms in Wimi-ri in the spring, snorkel at Taeutgae in the summer, or admire the snow-covered camellias in the winter, I want to return to Divingmat.
Maybe I'm just using the cherry blossoms, snorkeling, and camellias as excuses, but I want to experience another day that feels truly like Jeju at this special place.
- Divingmat: 3 Rooms
- The Perfect Quiet Location
- Simple Comfort
- A little picnic that comes every morning
- Divingmat: Jeju Accommodation I Want to Visit Again
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