John W. wrote:

But... most locals wouldn't stay in some of the places I've stayed, so
I'm not sure if a shabby, run-down hostel in the backstreets of Seoul,
for example, count as experiencing local culture. I'd say if a
person's going to 'experience' a culture they'll do it regardless of
where they're staying.

If you stay in a 5-star hotel or resort, eat at their restaurant, take
organized tours, and shop around tourist traps the experience is more
about sightseeing than a cultural one.

Besides, you can't really do that without
spending a good bit of time in a place; I know lots of people that
consider themselves 'learned' about a culture after only a week in
country.

That's true. For people with a fixed budget, staying in a less
expensive hotel means being able to stay a lot longer and have more time
to learn the culture. 1 week is just barely enough to get over the
culture shock and jet lag.