New Hotels in Seoul

"Because my trip was quite rushed this time, I started booking very late. The hotels I'd stayed in before had significantly increased their prices. I stumbled upon this place by chance and, although I was a bit apprehensive, overall I was very satisfied. First off, the location is right by the Dongdaemun subway station exit (not Dongdaemun History & Culture Park, don't get them confused). It's just a hundred meters from exits 6 and 7. The entrance is large with a prominent sign, making it relatively easy to find. The front desk is on the third floor, accessible by elevator. Although there's no Chinese speaker, and we don't speak Korean, basic English was enough to communicate. We checked in at 3 PM and left our luggage at the front desk before heading out to shop. Once in the room, the two large beds were indeed comfortable, but the overall space was quite small, especially the bathroom, which was a bit tricky to navigate. I'd say it was just adequate. 😓 There's a public laundry room with a washer and dryer. In the summer, being able to wash clothes daily meant I had clean clothes for my return trip, which was great. Just remember to check the operating hours. The restaurant is quite spacious, with instant noodles and a coffee machine, both available 24 hours. During breakfast hours, there are simple items like bread, butter, milk, jam, etc. I'm not sure why they weren't available on Saturday and Sunday, and I felt a bit awkward asking. There's also a public terrace on the fourth floor. It's very pleasant to be up there on a nice day, and there's a bar next to it with coffee, drinks, and tea. Overall, it was pretty good, and I would book it again if I have the chance."

"## Location Unbeatable location. It's within walking distance of Gwanghwamun, Gyeongbokgung Palace, and Deoksugung Palace. It's also close to City Hall, Myeongdong, Anguk, and Insadong, making it rich in commercial facilities. However, being in the Central Business District (CBD), the surroundings can be bustling with many office workers. ## View The view was also exceptional. However, I expect the quality of the view to vary significantly depending on the room line. In my case, it was a section of the Pagoda Tower that offered a great line of sight, with a panoramic view of the Euljiro building line – Hanhwa Building, Mirae Asset, Shinhan Bank – and the Cheonggyecheon Stream stretching out. While it might not appeal to those who find city views stifling, I personally found it very pleasing. ## Room I received an upgrade to a Jacuzzi Suite, and since the bed was separated from the rest of the space by a door, the bed didn't get damp like it sometimes does at Banyan Tree. The living room with the jacuzzi also didn't feel overly humid. The bedding and other furniture were impeccably clean. I was initially concerned because there was construction going on in the building during my visit, but I barely heard any noise. It seemed like a lot of attention was paid to soundproofing. The late check-out was also reasonably priced at 20,000 KRW, and overall, it was an excellent experience. ## Service Overall, the service was excellent, though I subtly felt that the staff weren't entirely accustomed to handling requests yet. However, this isn't to say there was a lack of professionalism. For some unknown reason, perhaps overbooking, I received a room upgrade without any inconvenience whatsoever. Any difficulties or questions I had during my stay were addressed promptly and smoothly. However, having to use a personal phone for room service or inquiries felt a bit awkward and was a slight downside. ## Overall Review A superb hotel that I would definitely revisit. It has solid fundamentals, reasonable pricing, and is just a minute's walk from Cheonggyecheon Stream, perfect for a stroll anytime. Its location is ideal for accessing major tourist spots anywhere in Seoul, including Myeongdong, City Hall, Gwanghwamun, Anguk, and Namsan. However, I wouldn't recommend it for those looking for a pure 'hotelcation' (a vacation spent entirely at the hotel). It's highly recommended if sightseeing is a major part of your trip."

"The hotel is a 1-minute walk from Dongdaemun Station Exit 6 and 7. Exit 6 has an elevator, and it's even closer to the hotel than Exit 7, less than 30 seconds on foot! The rooms are private with card keys. They're completely private with no gaps, so I wasn't bothered by noise from the next room. However, there were times when it was loud, like from a club, so if you're sensitive to noise, earplugs might be a good idea. Don't forget your card key when you go out. The electricity turns on when you insert the card key, so when you leave, you remove the card key and the air conditioning turns off. Even when it turned off, the temperature stayed around 23 degrees Celsius. As for amenities, towels are provided, and there's a shelf right in front of the shower room with plenty of bath towels, so you don't need to bring your own. Amenities include: slippers, Korean chargers (Type C, Lightning cable, and the older square-shaped type for older smartphones, three types in total), disposable toothbrushes and small toothpastes provided for the number of days you stay, and a card case. There are no cotton swabs, combs, or lotions. The shared refrigerator and freezer are located where the coffee is; there's a pen and sticky notes there, so you write your room number on them to store your items. The washing machine takes about 1.5 hours, and the dryer takes about an hour, I think. If you go at an earlier time, it was usually free in the evening. There were people using it after 10 PM, but one was always available, which was great! Laundry detergent and fabric softener were provided, and there were plenty of spares, which was reassuring. I recommend this place for solo travelers or couples."

"My daughter had a layover in Seoul, so I booked her this downtown hotel for a two-day stay before her next flight. There's an affordable and comfortable express bus that goes directly to Incheon Airport, just make sure to have Korean Won cash ready for the fare. In Seoul, I'd recommend using public transport; it's safer and more reliable, and tourists generally won't get ripped off. My daughter, however, learned this the hard way right after landing when she used Uber. It was like dealing with a 'black cab' driver from twenty years ago in China, charging her nearly four times the standard fare and almost emptying all the Korean Won she'd exchanged at the airport. It was an awful experience and really tarnishes Seoul and Korea's international image. My daughter said she never wants to visit Korea again. The hotel itself was decent; she didn't encounter any unpleasant issues during her stay. There are convenient stores and small restaurants nearby that are great for exploring, and the spicy Tteokbokki she ordered for delivery was delicious. As for the complaints from other tourists on Xiaohongshu, she just took them with a pinch of salt."

"Pros: The hotel is directly connected to an underground shopping area from which you can reach Myeongdong's main street via exit 15. The hotel also has YouTube access. Cons: 1. Housekeeping should really use 'do not disturb' or 'please make up room' signs. It was quite awkward when they knocked and, getting no answer, just let themselves in. I'm not sure if this is a cultural difference. 2. The soundproofing is terrible. If you're a light sleeper and your room faces the street, it will be very noisy. 3. Room cleanliness needs improvement; there were hairs on the bed and an unknown red stain on the pillow."

"The hotel's location is decent, right near Dongdaemun. The Airport Limousine bus 6001 takes about an hour and a half to get directly to the vicinity. The front desk staff were very enthusiastic, and the lobby looked alright. The only thing I have to say is that the room was tiny! And they gave me a room on an upper floor, without a full-length window, and there was a huge pillar, which was very frustrating. What was even more frustrating was the bathroom; it didn't have a wet/dry separation, so water from the shower splashed directly onto the sink area. The bathroom was already small, and taking a shower practically flooded the place. Plus, the floor drain was located under the sink, which is just… indescribable. If I hadn't booked it on a whim, I absolutely wouldn't stay here again. Breakfast was okay, but it was very crowded. Overall, avoid this place!"

"The room isn't huge. Right by the entrance, there's a mirror that opens up to a small storage cabinet. The bed is a bunk, and underneath there's space for luggage and hanging clothes, which is quite practical. It also has a table and a chair, covering all the basic necessities – perfectly fine for one person. Everything else is great, but the biggest drawback is the glass bathroom, which isn't sealed. The smell was honestly quite unpleasant. Otherwise, this room would have been perfect! There's no front desk; it's self-check-in. However, I happened to run into one of the hotel staff members when I arrived – a really nice and handsome Korean guy! He was incredibly polite and welcoming! He left a strong impression on me!"

"Very clean and stylish! Perfect for a place to just sleep! It's a short walk from the station. Two bottles of water were in the refrigerator! Right inside the entrance, there's a facility with unlimited water, coffee, and even ramen. They even had spicy ramen! ^^ The water was very cold and delicious! 🤤 I arrived late at night, but I was grateful for the self-check-in machine! A charging cord was conveniently placed right next to the bed. However, the cord is short, so you can't really relax and use your phone while lying around, lol. A hairdryer is also provided. It took me a little while to find the outlet, lol. There's a double outlet above the sink! Check-out is also done by machine, so it's very smooth! You can also walk to Hongdae Market! ^^"

"Sparkling clean room, not as narrow as I thought, pretty wide enough for a solo like me. Fridge, microwave, washing machine with dryer, basic utensils, full body mirror are all available. Very good location, just 2mins walk from sinchon station exit no.7, about 5mins walk to Sinchon main area. CU and OliveYoung right down stair, cafes, Korea style street food stalls, Daiso, SPAO nearby"

"I had high expectations, but the hygiene conditions were very disappointing. When I tried to fill the outdoor bathtub, I could see various dust and oil floating away. So, I rinsed the tub by spraying water here and there with the showerhead, and then filled it just for a foot bath. I couldn't bring myself to fully immerse my body. There were stains on the duvet and blanket on the bed. It was too late and I was too tired to ask for replacements, so I just laid out two large bath towels and slept. One of the two sets of clothes in the closet smelled like it had been improperly dried or washed, so I had to take it out and put it outside. I could clearly see dust flying around on the shelf where the bath salts and speaker were placed, as it hadn't been wiped clean. I think it would be a good idea to cover the cups on the table with lids or something to prevent dust from getting in. It was nice that they placed plenty of water bottles near the entrance for easy access. The location was also convenient as it was close to the bus stop. Since the room is designed to provide a spa experience, it would be good to pay a little more attention to the details."