Thanks for the heads-up. I requested a top floor, and I hopefully expect to be getting up relatively early in mornings anyway. How often do major protests occur?

It's really variable to be honest. There are what you call "professional demonstrators" that hold small protests on a somewhat frequent basis. If you're thinking of protests like the beef protests back in 2008, then you don't have much to worry about. From time to time, there are protest marches that clog the main streets downtown. Again, these don't happen that frequently. However, it is an election year so who knows what will happen. This has its own set of peculiar activities. Best thing to do is just ask the hotel staff.

I used to work a couple of short blocks from the Plaza, and a group of us would regularly meet at the top floor bar after work. We spent many an evening watching the tear gas flying around down below, in front of City Hall. Ahhh….memories, memories!

The W opened up in the last few years on the eastern part of the city. It's by a casino if that is your thing. It's a nice change of pace from people used to just staying by City Hall or right in Gangnam.