4-Star Hotels in Seoul

Traveling during the May Day holiday, prices were inflated, and after comparing a few options, I felt Nine Tree offered the best value for money. I stayed for 4 nights and saved almost 2000 KRW compared to staying in Mapo, which I then used for taxis – a good deal. The hotel is quite close to Gyeongbokgung Palace and Bukchon Hanok Village. For other destinations, we took taxis. A taxi to Myeongdong was only about 10-odd thousand won, so taxis in Korea weren't as expensive as I imagined. The surrounding area is very quiet, giving off a vibe of a developed place that's also peaceful. Jogyesa Temple is right across the street, and Insadong is nearby. There were many foreigners staying here. The service, facilities, and cleanliness were all good. My only minor complaint was that the duvet cover felt a bit stiff and crinkled loudly. Also, the windows couldn't be opened, making the room feel a bit dry.

Second time at Mercure and still one of the best value hotels around Hongdae. Everything was cozy and convenient. However, we noticed a smell whenever we enter the room. We have read that sewage smell is also a recurring problem here so we hope the hotel can rectify this.

The location is great, less than a 10-minute walk from the dermatology clinic I booked, right in the heart of Hongdae. It's super convenient for shopping. From the airport, I took the slow railroad line (the one that stops at every station) and it took about 50 minutes to get to Hongdae Station, costing around 22 RMB. The hotel is right outside Hongdae Station, and the building has a huge AK PLAZA mall. I walked around a bit, and it seemed to be mostly young students, so I'm not sure about its target audience, but it didn't really appeal to me. A 3-minute walk from the hotel, there's an Emis, packed with office workers. Within a 20-minute walk, you can find GM, LUSH, and a whole street full of shops. The room isn't huge but it's very clean, and the bedding is comfortable. I especially loved that the pillows come in different firmness levels – that's a big plus. The breakfast selection is quite rich, with both Korean and Western options. However, when I went, two out of three coffee machines showed 'container needs cleaning' and no staff members were dealing with it, leaving the remaining one to work overtime with several guests waiting. The tables weren't very clean; staff just removed the previous guests' food without properly wiping them down. The breakfast area staff also lacked smiles and their attitude was just so-so, but since breakfast was free, I won't complain too much – maybe they hadn't woken up yet. The front desk is large and located on the 7th floor (press 'L' in the elevator). The staff's English was surprisingly good, making communication seamless. They were enthusiastic and proactively introduced the hotel's features. If it weren't for the concert period, and the price was right, it would be worth staying. If it's too overpriced, you might want to look for more budget-friendly options nearby.

All good and everything is meet my expectations for the room cleaniness and services. The location is at the cetre of the market street and very convenient for street walking and shopping.Breakfast nice and variety of choices. Not much facilities like swimming pool or gym room for this hotel, but it is ok as i don't use it usually. The only bad is taxi cannot reach direct to this hotel and you have to carry your heavy luggage to the main road for the taxi.

This is a wonderful hotel that my husband and I absolutely loved! It’s in a great location, just a 10-minute walk from Myeongdong Shopping Street and close to Seoul Station. There are plenty of cafes and restaurants nearby, and on the ground floor of the hotel building, there’s a large Starbucks and a small convenience store. A minor downside for me is that there are really a lot of offices in the area, and from around 6 p.m. until late at night, almost all the cafes will be full, and you won’t find a free table. The hotel staff are friendly; they always greet you, smile, and are helpful. I had breakfast at the hotel, and it was good—mostly Asian-style, but there was familiar food for Europeans, too. The rooms aren’t small. We had enough space to unpack two large suitcases. The toilet and bathroom are separate. My favorite part is the view from the window! It’s stunning!

First off, the hotel service is great, especially the breakfast. There's a good variety, and the waiter is really enthusiastic and quite charming. The hygiene is just okay; I found a hair on the bed, and the bedding felt a bit old and worn. The duvet was also a little thin. The bathroom has a bathtub, which isn't very convenient; I think it would be better to remove it, though that might be too costly. The hotel's location is excellent, right near Dongdaemun, with plenty of shopping malls and restaurants nearby. The price isn't too high either, so overall, it's great value for money.

Clean and pleasant space, convenient transportation, quiet surroundings. There were also delicious restaurants nearby. I'm very satisfied and will definitely stay here again.

Facilities: Overall, pretty good. Even though the hotel is old, the facilities are well-maintained. The main drawbacks are that there are no power outlets by the bedside table, so you have to charge your devices at the desk. Also, one washing machine was out of order, leading to queues during peak laundry hours in the evening. Cleanliness: Very clean. Environment: Great location, close to Dongdaemun History & Culture Park subway station Exit 6 (just a few hundred meters walk, very convenient). You can see Namsan Tower from the window. The CJ ENM building is directly opposite the hotel. It's very convenient for visiting Dongdaemun, Myeongdong, Gyeongbokgung, etc. However, Exit 6 of the subway has many stairs, which can be really tiring if you're carrying a large suitcase. Service: Overall good. The front desk staff all speak Chinese, so communication is smooth. Any issues are resolved promptly. (All photos were taken with a 1x lens, no wide-angle. The room is genuinely very small, but it's clean, conveniently located, and a good choice when the price is right.)

I had a pleasant stay at this hotel during my trip to Seoul. The hotel was nice and clean, and the check-in process was fast and smooth, which made arrival stress-free. Although the room was a bit small, it was still comfortable enough for 3 people. One of the highlights is the location, there are plenty of food stalls around the hotel, offering authentic local bites without the overwhelming crowds you’d find in Myeongdong. Personally, I found this area much more enjoyable and relaxing. The metro station is just a 3-minute walk away, making it very convenient to explore the city. Travel Tip: From the airport, take the train to Seoul Station (either normal or express), then transfer to the blue line to Chungmuro Station. If you’re carrying luggage, Exit 5 is the best choice since it has an escalator — just walk toward Starbucks. Otherwise, Exit 7 is a quicker option. Overall, I would recommend this hotel for travelers looking for a clean, convenient, and well-located stay in Seoul.

This hotel was perfectly located for exploring Seoul. On my first evening, even though I arrived a few hours later than planned, I was still able to enjoy an evening walk at Changgyeonggung Palace, followed by dinner at Gwangjang Market, a stroll along Cheonggyecheon Stream, and a walk back to the hotel via the charming street of cafés and bars beside the walls of Jongmyo Shrine. Public transportation was very convenient, with several bus stops within a block or two of the hotel, and there were multiple convenience stores and restaurants nearby as well. Despite being so centrally located, the area did not feel crowded, noisy, or especially touristy. It is also close to SNUH, which may be a plus for some travelers. My favorite part of the stay was the view of Changgyeonggung Palace from my room. The room was comfortable and perfectly adequate, though not especially fancy. My main complaints were that the bedside plug was awkwardly hidden behind the mattress, and that the toilet did not have a bidet, which was particularly inconvenient given that toilet paper cannot be flushed.