JW Marriott Seoul [Master Thread]
Aug 19, 2018, 7:13 pm
#92
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 733
I am interested to hear any recent reviews too. Pre-reno (last year) was quite disappointing all around and every time back to Seoul I have instead stayed at Courtyards regardless of whether I need to be in Gangnam. The only redeeming factor was I had positive relationships with many staff and started getting "invitations to breakfast in the restaurant" slipped under my door every night (much superior to lounge breakfast).
Aug 20, 2018, 11:23 am
#93
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Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Parts Unknown
Posts: 10,054
I am interested to hear any recent reviews too. Pre-reno (last year) was quite disappointing all around and every time back to Seoul I have instead stayed at Courtyards regardless of whether I need to be in Gangnam. The only redeeming factor was I had positive relationships with many staff and started getting "invitations to breakfast in the restaurant" slipped under my door every night (much superior to lounge breakfast).
Sep 2, 2018, 12:21 pm
#94
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Join Date: Mar 2013
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Posts: 10,054
Rooms are better than they were but they kept the 1 sink basin, diamond layout counter from before. F&B definitely more competitive than before too. JW Marriott Dongdaemun still seems newer and fresher though.
Sep 27, 2018, 9:22 am
#95
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Join Date: Aug 2002
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Marriott press release today on the renovation/grand re-opening:
JW Marriott Seoul Reopens After Extensive Renovations, Offering Sophisticated Travelers Enriching Experiences in the Korean Capital | Marriott News Center
Cheers.
JW Marriott Seoul Reopens After Extensive Renovations, Offering Sophisticated Travelers Enriching Experiences in the Korean Capital | Marriott News Center
Cheers.
Jun 11, 2019, 4:12 am
#97
Join Date: Oct 2015
Programs: AA: EXP, 1MM Marriott: Ambassador, LTT
Posts: 407
I am currently in the midst of 5 day stay here. I was planning on posting a review after I complete the stay. If you have any specific questions let me know, but in general the positives are: newly renovated rooms, great lounge, good business location negatives: large hotel, inconsistent service.
Jun 11, 2019, 6:31 am
#98
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Europe
Programs: Hilton Honors, Marriott Bonvoy, Accor, Hyatt, (Former IHG Ambassador)
Posts: 1,394
I am currently in the midst of 5 day stay here. I was planning on posting a review after I complete the stay. If you have any specific questions let me know, but in general the positives are: newly renovated rooms, great lounge, good business location negatives: large hotel, inconsistent service.
I had read somewhere that they had been a bit cheap in the rennovations and some old parts of the rooms have remained, especially in the bathrooms. Is there any truth to this ? Do the bathrooms have walk-in showers or bathtubs ?
On a more general level...does it feel like you are staying at a 5 star luxury hotel, as JW Marriott is supposed to be ?
Jun 11, 2019, 8:32 am
#99
Join Date: Oct 2015
Programs: AA: EXP, 1MM Marriott: Ambassador, LTT
Posts: 407
Executive Suite Sinks
Executive Suite Shower
Executive Suite Tub
Executive Suite Toilet
Executive Suite Power Room
So this is a tough question because we came here from the Ritz Kyoto which is a world-class 5 star hotel, so my perspective and basis for evaluation is a little skewed by that. I will say that the hotel compares favorably to other JW Marriotts I have stayed at in the US and abroad (although I have only stay in one other JW in Asia in Beijing). The service is a little uneven for a 5 star hotel (didn't get access to 1 of our rooms until 5PM on 1st day, no turn down service in our suite first 2 nights) and the hotel is also pretty large for a 5 star hotel at 349 rooms so it can feel a little more hectic than most 5 stars. As far as the room goes, the toiletries, lines and bed are very good although not as good as somewhere like the RC Kyoto, but then again the room doesn't cost $1000+ night either. The lounge is brand new, huge, tasteful and puts out a great spread of food throughout the day. One of the best non-Ritz lounges I have been too in the Marriott system. Overall, it has a 5 star feel, but its not the absolute top end. We considered moving to the JW Marriott Dongdaemun as that is a much smaller, more intimate, yet modern hotel but their lounge doesn't allow kids at all and that was a deal breaker for us.
Jun 11, 2019, 11:34 pm
#101
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Europe
Programs: Hilton Honors, Marriott Bonvoy, Accor, Hyatt, (Former IHG Ambassador)
Posts: 1,394
My wife and I are staying in an Executive Suite and although I have not stayed in the hotel pre-renovation, I am pretty sure the bathroom in our suite was completely redone. It has two sinks a deep soaking tub and a walk-in shower with a double sized rain shower. I will say that one of the reasons I booked the executive suite vs. the normal king suite is that from the pictures on the website the Executive Suite seemed to have a much better/newer bathroom so I noticed the same things you have heard. I have attached some pictures below in case you are curious. My kids are staying in an Executive Deluxe Double room and I didn't really check out their bathroom but I will try to do so tomorrow and post some pics (although it probably looks like a war zone by now).
So this is a tough question because we came here from the Ritz Kyoto which is a world-class 5 star hotel, so my perspective and basis for evaluation is a little skewed by that. I will say that the hotel compares favorably to other JW Marriotts I have stayed at in the US and abroad (although I have only stay in one other JW in Asia in Beijing). The service is a little uneven for a 5 star hotel (didn't get access to 1 of our rooms until 5PM on 1st day, no turn down service in our suite first 2 nights) and the hotel is also pretty large for a 5 star hotel at 349 rooms so it can feel a little more hectic than most 5 stars. As far as the room goes, the toiletries, lines and bed are very good although not as good as somewhere like the RC Kyoto, but then again the room doesn't cost $1000+ night either. The lounge is brand new, huge, tasteful and puts out a great spread of food throughout the day. One of the best non-Ritz lounges I have been too in the Marriott system. Overall, it has a 5 star feel, but its not the absolute top end. We considered moving to the JW Marriott Dongdaemun as that is a much smaller, more intimate, yet modern hotel but their lounge doesn't allow kids at all and that was a deal breaker for us.
So this is a tough question because we came here from the Ritz Kyoto which is a world-class 5 star hotel, so my perspective and basis for evaluation is a little skewed by that. I will say that the hotel compares favorably to other JW Marriotts I have stayed at in the US and abroad (although I have only stay in one other JW in Asia in Beijing). The service is a little uneven for a 5 star hotel (didn't get access to 1 of our rooms until 5PM on 1st day, no turn down service in our suite first 2 nights) and the hotel is also pretty large for a 5 star hotel at 349 rooms so it can feel a little more hectic than most 5 stars. As far as the room goes, the toiletries, lines and bed are very good although not as good as somewhere like the RC Kyoto, but then again the room doesn't cost $1000+ night either. The lounge is brand new, huge, tasteful and puts out a great spread of food throughout the day. One of the best non-Ritz lounges I have been too in the Marriott system. Overall, it has a 5 star feel, but its not the absolute top end. We considered moving to the JW Marriott Dongdaemun as that is a much smaller, more intimate, yet modern hotel but their lounge doesn't allow kids at all and that was a deal breaker for us.
Thanks again for the detailed replies and photos.
Please let us know if your kids' room has any differences.
Jun 12, 2019, 1:32 am
#102
Join Date: Oct 2015
Programs: AA: EXP, 1MM Marriott: Ambassador, LTT
Posts: 407
Executive Deluxe Double Bathroom Sink/Toilet
Executive Deluxe Double Shower
Executive Deluxe Double Bath
Jun 13, 2019, 4:21 am
#103
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Europe
Programs: Hilton Honors, Marriott Bonvoy, Accor, Hyatt, (Former IHG Ambassador)
Posts: 1,394
Below are some bathroom photos from my kids room, an Executive Deluxe Double. Single sink, separate bath/shower with a rain shower head. It looks like they replaced the toilet and the fixtures in shower, but all the marble seems original. Someone who stayed there pre-renovation can probably confirm.
Very useful info here.
Jun 16, 2019, 5:14 am
#104
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Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Parts Unknown
Posts: 10,054
Below are some bathroom photos from my kids room, an Executive Deluxe Double. Single sink, separate bath/shower with a rain shower head. It looks like they replaced the toilet and the fixtures in shower, but all the marble seems original. Someone who stayed there pre-renovation can probably confirm.
Executive Deluxe Double Bathroom Sink/Toilet
Executive Deluxe Double Shower
Executive Deluxe Double Bath
Executive Deluxe Double Bathroom Sink/Toilet
Executive Deluxe Double Shower
Executive Deluxe Double Bath