pacman

Has any FTs stayed at the Seoul Hilton recently? How are rooms, facilities and overall service? How far from Itaewon shopping area and Yongson Army Post? Thanks in advance....PACMAN

FlierLie

I stayed at the Seoul Hilton two years ago. It was only a one night stay, so I did not use many of the hotel facilities. I do recall they have a fitness room and a driving range. I did use their free shuttle bus to Itaewon (<1 mile). I think this hotel is nicer and more modern than the Grand Hyatt Seoul and Sheraton Walker Inn. The only problem I had was getting on the KAL bus in the morning, not enough seats at 8 AM. I had to return my ticket to the front desk and take a cab.

DutchBoy

Funny - I had exactly the opposite experience. I stayed at the Hilton for three nights, about a year ago and really did not enjoy it. The service wasn't very good and I did not like the location.

I since stay at the Grand Hyatt. Although this was one of Seoul's first international hotels, the rooms are not very large, but they were all renovated over the past few years and the service (especially in the regency club) and the restaurants are excellent. Also enjoyed the location - a short stroll from the Itaewon shopping and entertainment district, and great views over the river and the city. The fitness center and spa at the Grand Hyatt are great as well. Also: large outdoor pool and an indoor pool.

Karen2

No experience with the Hilton but stayed at the Hyatt also. Good location with free shuttles to shopping. It was being renovated when we were there and they had a chemical spill in an elevator shaft. I was one of the first to smell it and we left for the afternoon to get away from it. I thought the Hyatt was surprisingly down scale for being a "GRAND Hyatt." We had trouble with the desk over upgrades, points, etc.

We went to Sheraton for dinner. Terrible, expensive location. Buffet was awful. I would never stay there. Cost a fortune to get to and from its suburban location.

Indurain

I've stayed at the Hilton, Raddison, and Inter-Continental in Seoul. I'd rank them as follows:

1. Inter-Continental: excellent facilities and service, very nice rooms. I'm still amazed how everybody seems to address me by name, even in the restaurant!

2. Raddison: Almost as good, although if you're not careful they'll put you in one of the smaller rooms.

3. Hilton: Slightly lower in scale compared to the other two, but I experienced great service.

Everything is a taxi away, and most rides cost less than 10k won ($10 US). Also, for a ride to the airport, arrange to have the hotel "rental car" take you. Its a chaufered ride that costs around 40k won, about the same as a taxi ride, but much better.

dranz

Seoul Hilton,

I spent one (1) week there in Feb 2000. It
was a fine stay. I like my room temp cool
(62-65f). It did take'm one day to get that
aspect under control.

Front desk staff insisted that my HH/Diamond
status had expired because of the expiration
date on the card. I was prepared with hard
copy and they somewhat grudingly agreed, but
advised that my "corporate" rate did not
qualify for HH points nore miles. I decided
to sort this out when I returned to the USA.
It was already posted to my account by the
time I returned.

The HHonors Lounge was good.

I do wish that they offered in-room
ethernet/internet connections. The 'webTV'
service just doesn't do the job for the
this business traveller.

-doug

doc

Personally, I thought the Hilton was fine (though many years agao) and the Grand Hyatt (Namsam Hill) was a little better actually.

I liked the Starwood property here, Sheraton Walker Hill and Towers with its sprawling grounds, casino etc! I stayed in the Towers
about two years ago and thought the food, service, etc in the Towers was quite good. Even a room service pizza late one night was pretty darn good!

Yet, I do remember waiting at the airpot for the Sheraton car scheduled to take me there- It had NOT come!

I called several times and spoke to several people in the Towers, Front desk, etc- Not what you want after a long flight! Finally they just just arranged for me to take another airport limo and reimbursed me!

Pretty nice property though, I thought!

Counsellor

Seoul Hilton is located slightly up Namsan Mountain (think very small mountain, or large hill) just on the edge of Seoul's central city, overlooking one of the eight original gates to Seoul City, Namdaemun (Southgate) which has its own shopping area. While I haven't stayed there, friends who have say it's "nice".

It doesn't have the great view that the Hyatt has, but the Hyatt is further from central Seoul.

I concur with Indurain - take a taxi. Yongsan post is not that far, but the Hilton is closest to the back gate, so you wouldn't want to walk it. If you're planning to go into post and don't have a DoD ID card, you'll want to go in at Gate 5. Ask the concierge to write it down in Korean for you to give to the cab driver, or say "Yongsan me pahl goon" (Yongsan US Eighth Army) and he (or she) will probably take you to Gate 5 automatically.

I think you'll enjoy the city.

pacman

Thanks to all who provided comments. I am looking forward to my visit if only for a couple days. R, PACMAN

SeoulMan

The Hilton to Itaewon is a 15 to 45-minute ride. Where you stay in Seoul should depend on where your business is in Seoul, since the traffic can be horrendous at any hour.

The are now two "downtowns," the old one North of the river and the new one South of the river (many companies have relocated to the South, and most newly established offices are there). The Hilton, Hyatt, Raddison, (and Itaewon / Yongsan) are in the North.

The two Intercontinentals, Renaissance, Ritz-Carlton are all great, and in the South. Forget the Sheraton. It's "way out in right field" and isn't worth the trip (unless you've got business out there).

Nobody's mentioned the best hotel on the North side of town, Starwood's Westin Chosun (near City Hall, and they've got "Heavenly Beds").

dranz

> The Hilton to Itaewon is a 15-45 > minute ride.

I made this trip 3 times and it never took
longer than approx 20 mins. regardless;
traffic in Seoul is indeed a mess.

Hilton provides complimentary shuttle bus
servcie to/from Itaewon. Caution; it is
advertised to run every hour, on the hour.
They didn't mention that it is not sched'd
to run at 1PM. Taxis are cheap enough that
it is not a problem.

-doug

Dr,Lion

I will be staying at the Seoul Hilton in South Korea from 26 - 29 December. I searched the logs, but I coudn't find any comments about the hotel. Can anyone tell me about the hotel & treatment to Gold ? Can I get Exe-upgrade easily?? Advance Thanks.

dranz

It's a fine property. My only gripe is
rather minor. The lowest setting on the
thermostat was still a tad toasty for my
tastes. easily solved by opening the
window.

-doug

unagi1

I have had this temperature control problem at a number of hotels in Japan as well. Felt weird having to have the window open even in cold weather. It seemed worst in Autumn. I think they have a national law that heaters come on Sept 15 regardless of outside air temperatures, and air con comes on April 15 regardless

thezipper

Was as the Seoul Hilton in September, very nice property, took a bit to get to though from the subway station. Had one night paid (exec floor), one night award and was upgraded on the award. Nice lounge and plenty of food and snacks. I Rate it much better than the Hilton I stayed at in Japan.