Sorry to bump my own post, but really curious what happened with this property quietly moving to a cat 6.

Perhaps Marriott Bonvoy Lurker can advise?

Hello FlyingFrZ, This hotel was one of the locations that maintained it's category when the updates were announced back in March of this year. Hotels are subject to category change at any time with or without notice based on re-evaluation of current circumstances, and we're sorry for any inconvenience this may have caused.

I've been trying to search flyertalk but with no - for Platinum/Titanium/Ambassador members what is the breakfast benefit? Is it a buffet at Flavors?

Platinum and above receive access to the Executive Lounge which has a great breakfast buffet. Some pictures from our stay of the Club's breakfast buffet are below:



https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...5a3d4e3499.jpg
Breakfast pastries
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...330e447b54.jpg
Breakfast Cheese and cured meats
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...fdf35862f0.jpg
Toasting station
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...1a230d97d9.jpg
Breakfast Cereals
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...6bd3e7d1ab.jpg
Asian breakfast items
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...9bf62e953e.jpg
Hot breakfast items w/made to order eggs
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...838ba172b1.jpg
Breakfast salad bar
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...327ce9d6f9.jpg
Breakfast fruit and yogurt

Planning on going with a friend to Seoul, deciding between the two JWs, wondering which location is better for getting around Seoul as well as going outside of Seoul for day trips (we're relatively young so public transport is our first option). Additionally from a lounge perspective is one greatly superior than the other, looking at breakfast and early evening offerings between going out (I don't need to be told the Korean food scene, I'm well aware)? From what I take Dongdaemun is better situated, but at this time the cost is ~$30> a night so I am leaning towards the JW all things considered. Plus the recent Dongdaemun posts have been a bit negative related to management.

For getting around Seoul, the JW in Gangnam (not the Dongdaemun property) is significantly better when it comes to public transportation as it's above the Express Bus Terminal subway station and next to the Express Bus Terminal for bus trips outside the city. They just finished their renovation as well so the rooms will be newer compared to the JW Dongdaemun.

Hey all,

Anyone have an idea of the odds of getting an upgrade to a suite here? I booked for this coming Wed-Fri using AMEX HC (says room upgrade if available (hotel does show suite availability for the dates of my stay)). Also a Titanium. If odds are pretty good of getting a suite, I don't see the need to burn SNAs, but hoping for some additional data points before making a decision.

Appreciate it!

Korean properties in general are difficult to get upgraded in because of the local trend of weekend staycations. Friends and families often book suites for the weekend to use hotel facilities which avail less suites for upgrades. This is particularly more true for the so-considered 'luxury' properties which both JW Marriotts are a part of.

Yep, I've definitely noticed a lack of upgrades on the weekends. What do you think the odds of an upgrade for a Wed-Fri weekday stay might be? Still no good?

chances of an upgrade during weekdays are much better. try calling ahead in the morning before you arrive saying that you'd appreciate bigger space e.g. a suite if available because of reason XYZ. Sometimes it helps.

I had a two night stay at the JW Seoul about two months ago as a Titanium. I attempted to check-in around noon, and they had a room ready for me. I asked for an upgrade (this was a weekday stay) and said that I could be moved to a Griffin suite if I didn't mind entering the room after 4pm. I readily accepted, and they offered to let me move into and take my luggage to the originally assigned room. I asked if it would be easier if I just checked the luggage with them and if my wife and I could hang out at the lounge, and they said that would be easier, so I did that.

Overall, I would say that this is the best Marriott property in Seoul as far as luxury goes.

The fitness center blows away every other Marriott property that I've visited in Seoul (and I think at this point I may have been to everything except the Courtyards and Nest Designs). Huge lap pools with multiple smaller side pools (like hot tubs, kids pool, etc). There is also a racquetball court, a small quarter-court basketball area, and a decent number of screen golf stations (this costs extra). As with most higher-tier hotel fitness centers in Seoul, they also provide workout clothes, including dri-fit shirts and socks. Exercise machines are plentiful, I can't imagine that you'd have to wait to use a type of machine or free weights.

As with other JWs, the lounge has multiple food presentations throughout the day. The evening hors d'oeuvres could easily be a meal. They had a bartender available to make a limited selection of mixed drinks, as well as pour liquor during the happy hour.

As far as location, it is directly connected to the Shinsegae department store, Express Bus Terminal, and the subway. Definitely well situated as far as location goes, though there isn't much happening in the late night hours, so throwing that out there for those that like to hang out in Seoul until the wee AM hours.

The Griffin suite had plenty of space and was well laid out. We also received a welcome gift of cheese and wine, and the front desk agent sent up another bottle of wine as a thank you for not taking up a room for 4 hours.

I did not eat on-site (other than at the lounge), as there was ready access to a number of restaurants and eateries at the Shinsegae and Famille Station. There is a food "market" in the basement of Shinsegae that has a TON of options available close by.

I would pick the JW Seoul over the JW Dongdaemun every time.

Happy to answer any questions if anyone has any.

falcon9xr: Did the hotel have any policies or guidelines reflecting COVID—for example, no self service in the lounge, everything prepackaged, etc? Everyone in the hotel, and Seoul for that matter, wearing masks?

My info is about two months old, so things may be different now.

Lounge offerings were self-service, but masks were required when going up to get food/drinks. They had a bartender pouring drinks, not sure if that is normal or a COVID change. Anyone who happened to go up to get food without a mask was politely reminded to wear a mask. Serving utensils were still shared amongst patrons. I don't recall seeing anyone wiping down the shared utensils or being on standby for that, though it's possible that I could have just missed it. Things were not prepackaged.

Elevator buttons were covered with an "anti-viral" film, which I don't know the efficacy of. There was plenty of hand sanitizer available in public areas.

They do check your temperature with a no-contact reader when checking-in, and give you a questionnaire to attest that you have completed mandatory 2-week quarantine and haven't visited a hotspot recently or have symptoms.

Nearly everyone in Korea wears masks when out and about. You'll see a number of unmasked folks, but I'd say >90% of folks wear masks. I have seen unmasked groups in Seoul, but that was mostly young adults out for the night around 1-4am, "foreigners" (and I say this knowing full well how odd it is to say that as I was also visiting Korea) at touristy places like Myeongdong and the like, or senior citizens hanging out at like parks, etc. All employees at the hotel wore masks.

Hope that helps!

Did the hotel have more than one lap pool? Were children restricted to the children's pool, etc. and was this enforced? [I'm asking because GH ICN has a children's pool but most children use the adult pool.

Also, are children allowed in the lounge? [The answer is no for JW Design Square, yes at GH ICN, and depends on the time and age at Westin Chosun.]

One lap pool with 6 lanes. I didn't take pictures personally, but I've attached a photo from their twitter account.
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...d1fded3bc.jpeg

I do not recall seeing children in the lap pool, though I'm not sure if that was because there was a rule or just no children interested in being in the lap pool. The smaller pool you see to the right did have children and adults playing in it.

Children are allowed in the lounge, there is an extra charge if children are brought into the lounge for evening hors d'ouvres/afternoon tea. Children are not allowed during happy hour, iirc, but I don't think that that is strongly enforced if you all entered before happy hour begins unless the child is bothering other guests. They'll probably stop you at the door if you try to bring children in after happy hour begins though.

The lounge is separated into several different rooms and is quite large, so you could sequester a group with children into a corner and other guests may not ever know children are there.