Originally Posted by
mynameisdmoon
Booking for far in the future to lock in prices and update if need be, but I'm looking to book 1 or 2 nights (1 night stay on separate weeks, or just 2 nights straight) at some nice luxury properties in Seoul in late October mid week (Tues-Wed), preferably at Marriott properties to make use of my Titanium status (and for EQN for Tit next year). I have no other status outside of Hilton Diamond, and I don't want to pay to book directly for higher category room/suite, my hotel strat is to book the base room and hope for the best for upgrades.
So far looking at Josun Palace and JW Marriott Seoul (I know, not really LF worthy per Aventine) (Ironically with the rates I'm able to secure, Josun Palace is a lot cheaper at 374k KRW vs 463k KRW). I guess I can try and use my AMEX Plat FHR credit for FS next year and end up paying around 440k KRW for the base deluxe room. PH is another option via FHR for ~264k KRW after FHR credit.
I will most likely have SNA left over so will probably use those for Marriott properties.
Also slightly off topic, but for other properties, JW Dongdaemun (266k KRW) vs Ryse (211k KRW) for non luxury property? Only thing Ryse comes up weak at is breakfast and lack of lounge.
When it comes to Josun Palace vs. JW Seoul, I think Josun Palace's breakfast far outshines the JW Marriott Titanium lounge breakfast. But I prefer the fit and finish at JW Marriott Seoul over JP's, even accounting for their age difference. JP's fit and finish looks good to me until I put my glasses on, haha.
If you're traveling in a party of 2, and you're only staying in their basic bedroom, I'd say JW Dongdaemun is out. Their bathroom layout isn't good for privacy. The Director Suite at RYSE is a bit small for me for a party of 2, much less to say their base room. But I suppose both are OK stays if traveling alone (with the nod to RYSE for its location, if indeed you are going solo).
Given that you're considering JW Dongdaemun and RYSE, I'd like to add the Marriott Executive Apartments in Yeouido, as a dark horse candidate. Its base rooms are suites, and the Han River is right there for a nice October walk. I haven't been in a while, though, and there's likely some wear-and-tear by now.
And also, if you really care about a nice breakfast experience, and since you're looking at FHR properties, I really think the Signiel is my top choice in all of Seoul for breakfast. No, it doesn't have the most food. But I find it to be the most elegant yet uplifting breakfast buffet in town -- the opposite of places like (say) the Westin or the IC Coex where all the zoo animals (including me, I suppose) are lining up at the troughs. Oh yeah, and Stay is high enough in the air that the breakfast experience isn't about "windowless basement dungeon hard-product elegance" [ at least one of you kind readers will know what this references ;-) ]. Yeah, Signiel's lounge basically sucks, but it's still OK if all you need is champagne and some pretzels. :-D