Conrad Seoul {KOR}
Sep 28, 2013, 10:38 am
#78
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Houston
Programs: UA GS 2.6MM & Lifetime UC, Qantas Platinum, Hilton Lifetime Diamond, Bonvoy Platinum, HawaiianMiles
Posts: 8,696
Just checked in and was upgraded to executive floor with lounge access as a HH Gold...on a points stay no less 
Initial impressions are this property blows the Conrad Singapore and Conrad Hong Kong away, better room, impeccable staff and the lounge is simply spectacular, on par with a Ritz-Carlton. I'd immediately put this in the top 2 or 3 Hiltons I've ever stayed at, can't wait to explore the hotel more over the next few days.
Initial impressions are this property blows the Conrad Singapore and Conrad Hong Kong away, better room, impeccable staff and the lounge is simply spectacular, on par with a Ritz-Carlton. I'd immediately put this in the top 2 or 3 Hiltons I've ever stayed at, can't wait to explore the hotel more over the next few days.
Oct 7, 2013, 5:34 am
#80
Join Date: Jul 2012
Programs: BAEC (Gold), Hilton (Diamond), Hyatt (Globalist)
Posts: 447
I stayed here in late 2012, not too long after it had opened. Booked a basic room and was upgraded to executive, with EL access. As noted above, the lounge was fantastic. Breakfast and evening buffets and drinks were excellent and the views out over Seoul are brilliant. Room had teething issues with the electronics - curtains opened, lights switched on in the middle of the night about 3 times. Tv also just wouldn't work after a while. However, room was comfortable and spacious, nice bath and I enjoyed the Nespresso machine.
Spa really made the stay for me as you can use the steam rooms, jacuzzi, etc for free as Gold. There was confusion over whether I could for a while, but this was a great perk and I pretty much had it to myself for a couple of hours. Helped me get over the jetlag and the Hite!
Spa really made the stay for me as you can use the steam rooms, jacuzzi, etc for free as Gold. There was confusion over whether I could for a while, but this was a great perk and I pretty much had it to myself for a couple of hours. Helped me get over the jetlag and the Hite!
Oct 9, 2013, 11:33 am
#81
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Parts Unknown
Posts: 10,053
Wife just had a near nervous breakdown with the shabby treatment by the front desk . It took them 40 minutes to check us in at 10pm and told there's no availability for HH gold upgrade on a Wednesday evening?!
Couple that with a bathroom that wasn't even fully ready and the shower stank of coffee smoke. Had to change rooms twice and that was an ordeal. I chose the Conrad as it was closer to our ball but never again. Rather just pay taxi fare and stay at another of Devil's 5 star hotels.
Couple that with a bathroom that wasn't even fully ready and the shower stank of coffee smoke. Had to change rooms twice and that was an ordeal. I chose the Conrad as it was closer to our ball but never again. Rather just pay taxi fare and stay at another of Devil's 5 star hotels.
Oct 17, 2013, 11:44 am
#82
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: NYC
Posts: 274
Can someone please comment on the layout of the bathroom in one of regular guest rooms? Is there a shade or blinds to cover the window between the bathroom and bed? From the pictures it looks like it is completely "open" with little privacy.
Oct 17, 2013, 12:00 pm
#83
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: SFO
Programs: UA MMGold, HH Diamond, Marriott Plat
Posts: 1,263
Yes there is a blind for privacy. I recall it is the kind so called "magic window" where the blind is in between two glass panes which will open/close by push a button.
Oct 17, 2013, 12:18 pm
#84
Join Date: Feb 2003
Programs: AA EXP 9.9MM, HHonors Lifetime Diamond
Posts: 319
The glass is actually an LCD screen, so with the press of a button by the sink, it instantly goes opaque. Cool feature, but probably not worth the expense.
Nov 15, 2013, 2:40 pm
#86
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Boulder
Programs: AA Plat, CX Silver
Posts: 2,361
I checked in here last night. This place is incredible. As a gold, the duty manager personally welcomed me when I arrived at 11pm last night. I was upgraded to an executive room, absolutely stunning. The room is beautiful, ten times nicer than the room I had the previous night at the Park Hyatt Tokyo.
Welcome amemity consisted of a bowl of nuts and a box of chocolates, very nice. The TV setup is cool but I haven't dug into it yet. Bathroom is very well appointed.
I was told I'm free to switch between the EL and restaurant for breakfast and that the restaurant indeed has a larger selection.
Everything's just quite stunning. I'll post photos later.
Welcome amemity consisted of a bowl of nuts and a box of chocolates, very nice. The TV setup is cool but I haven't dug into it yet. Bathroom is very well appointed.
I was told I'm free to switch between the EL and restaurant for breakfast and that the restaurant indeed has a larger selection.
Everything's just quite stunning. I'll post photos later.
Nov 18, 2013, 8:22 pm
#87
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: WAS/TYO
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP (3MM), DL PM, BONVOY TITANIUM, HYATT GLOBALIST, HILTON DIAMOND, IHG DIAMOND AMB, et al
Posts: 5,913
Do suites include lounge access?
Does anyone know if I book directly into a suite is executive lounge access included?
Some of the lower category suites (King Executive Suite, for example) specifically mention lounge access in the room title, yet the higher end (more expensive) suites (the King Premium Corner Suite or Premium King Pure Suite) have no mention of lounge access. Is it assumed?
-FlyerBeek
Some of the lower category suites (King Executive Suite, for example) specifically mention lounge access in the room title, yet the higher end (more expensive) suites (the King Premium Corner Suite or Premium King Pure Suite) have no mention of lounge access. Is it assumed?
-FlyerBeek
Nov 18, 2013, 8:32 pm
#88
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Boulder
Programs: AA Plat, CX Silver
Posts: 2,361
A few very minor complaints:
The elevators are absurdly slow. 37 floors, six elevators. I actually don't think they're all operational. Also, they have a glitch where to randomly seem to stop at floors for no reason. No one gets on or off. It's happened to me too many times for it to just be guests who forgot something in their room. Getting down from the 34th floor in the morning takes forever. 5+ minutes just to get an elevator and then 4-5 stops on the way down.
Also, the speeddial buttons on my phone always go to a busy signal but dialing 0 takes me straight to an operator.
On the positive side, the lounge staff are fantastic. They helped me plan my sightseeing and booked a reservation for me at the Cookin Nanta show, highly entertaining. The restaurant breakfast is fantastic with a huge selection. Only complaint here is that the only fruit on offer seems to be melons which I'm not a fan of but it could just be a seasonal thing.
Other than that, I really love this hotel. I'm about to head to ICN, sad to go.
The elevators are absurdly slow. 37 floors, six elevators. I actually don't think they're all operational. Also, they have a glitch where to randomly seem to stop at floors for no reason. No one gets on or off. It's happened to me too many times for it to just be guests who forgot something in their room. Getting down from the 34th floor in the morning takes forever. 5+ minutes just to get an elevator and then 4-5 stops on the way down.
Also, the speeddial buttons on my phone always go to a busy signal but dialing 0 takes me straight to an operator.
On the positive side, the lounge staff are fantastic. They helped me plan my sightseeing and booked a reservation for me at the Cookin Nanta show, highly entertaining. The restaurant breakfast is fantastic with a huge selection. Only complaint here is that the only fruit on offer seems to be melons which I'm not a fan of but it could just be a seasonal thing.
Other than that, I really love this hotel. I'm about to head to ICN, sad to go.
Jan 12, 2014, 7:58 am
#89
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: West Coast USA
Programs: UA GS/4 MM, AA Exec Plat, Lifetime Hilton D, Hyatt G, Marriott Titanium earned Ambassador
Posts: 7,553
Just checked in for two night stay. Diamond upgrade is within category booked aka regular room goes to Executive floor room. If a suite upgrade is granted you do not get Executive lounge access. That easily leads to a discussion. Given nice upgrade to corner river view 
.
I contacted the Hotel prior to arriving and was forwarded bus directions from ICN. It was indeed 15,000 KRW one-way and late evening took less than 1 hour. The timing was off by 5 minutes so there may have been a schedule change. Bus 6030 at arrival level gate 6B or 13A. Depending on the number of people trying to buy tickets inside go outside near the gate and there are additional ticket booths with one or two windows open. Remember to have cash unless you have a Korean transportation card.
Took breakfast downstairs on 2 then went upstairs for copy of WSJ. The selection is extensive downstairs and looks fair upstairs. As a point of concern there are at least two towers going up towards the river. Have to believe the views from the Conrad are going to be impacted.
. I contacted the Hotel prior to arriving and was forwarded bus directions from ICN. It was indeed 15,000 KRW one-way and late evening took less than 1 hour. The timing was off by 5 minutes so there may have been a schedule change. Bus 6030 at arrival level gate 6B or 13A. Depending on the number of people trying to buy tickets inside go outside near the gate and there are additional ticket booths with one or two windows open. Remember to have cash unless you have a Korean transportation card.
Took breakfast downstairs on 2 then went upstairs for copy of WSJ. The selection is extensive downstairs and looks fair upstairs. As a point of concern there are at least two towers going up towards the river. Have to believe the views from the Conrad are going to be impacted.
Last edited by RTWSTARALLIANCE; Jan 12, 2014 at 6:49 pm
Jan 12, 2014, 1:44 pm
#90
Join Date: Aug 2004
Programs: Meh
Posts: 2,598
Just checked in for two night stay. Diamond upgrade is within category booked aka regular room goes to Executive floor room. If a suite upgrade is granted you do not get Executive lounge access. That easily leads to a discussion. Given nice upgrade to corner river view .
I contacted the Hotel prior to arriving and was forwarded bus directions from ICN. It was indeed 15,000 KRW one-way and late evening took less than 1 hour. The timing was off by 5 minutes so there may have been a schedule change. Bus 6030 at arrival level gate 6B or 13A. Depending on the number of people trying to buy tickets inside go outside near the gate and there are additional ticket booths with one or two windows open. Remember to have cash unless you have a Korean transportation card.
. I contacted the Hotel prior to arriving and was forwarded bus directions from ICN. It was indeed 15,000 KRW one-way and late evening took less than 1 hour. The timing was off by 5 minutes so there may have been a schedule change. Bus 6030 at arrival level gate 6B or 13A. Depending on the number of people trying to buy tickets inside go outside near the gate and there are additional ticket booths with one or two windows open. Remember to have cash unless you have a Korean transportation card.