Oh my my... that's the worst case for any hotel PR -- he has 15 million followers! Wonder what happened..

I bet they don't care that much for foreign guests judging by the way Mr. Morrone was treated. Most Koreans will not even see this unless it somehow blows up in the international press.

Ha, yeah this is spot on.

I visited with a local friend who is a VIP there, and I got the distinct impression that we were allowed to behave as badly as we wanted to. Not necessarily the vibe I�d want if I was a pleb staying there on my own dime.

Great bingsu though.

Hi all,

I'm looking for advice on where to stay for a week in Seoul this spring. We have previously stayed at the PH, Conrad and JW Dongdaemun, but this time will be different since it will be our first trip with two young toddlers. For that reason, I'm looking for a few things in a hotel for this trip:

- Very close proximity to a mall and subway station, ideally in the same building complex
- A spacious room/suite with a separate bedroom
- Good breakfast that we wouldn't mind frequenting for a week straight

I have no status and room price isn't a huge concern.

I'm thinking about the JW Marriott Seoul in Gangnam, but I have never stayed there before and don't know much about it. Conrad is also on an option since we know it well and have enjoyed staying there in the past, but the trek to IFC mall and subway is just a little longer than we'd like to do with children and strollers. Any other thoughts or suggestions?

Thank you!

All suggestions are probably borderline for the Luxury forum.

Luxury hotels connected to/nearby malls in Seoul (not in any order)

Conrad/IFC
Conrad is connected to the IFC mall by elevator and indoor passage.

Fairmont
Connected to The Hyundai department store in Yeouido. Gate 5 and 1 min walk outside to the Hyundai dept. store doors.

JW Marriott
Connected to Shinsegae department store via downstairs hotel lobby to 3rd floor of the department store. The department store elevators are always busy so better to carry them with the baby carriers or let them walk a bit. Subway with stroller through the B1 bus terminal part is not recommended.

Sofitel Ambassador Seoul
Just a short walk along Seokchon Lake to Lotte world Tower and Avenue L/food.

Grand Intercontinental Parnas (connected to COEX mall) and a few minutes walk from the City Air terminal.

I know it's not in favor on this thread, but the Park Hyatt Seoul is connected via an underground passage (which also is a subway station) to a mall.

I tried to list Seoul hotels with direct mall access so OP could avoid stairs with a stroller. PH may be the second best luxury choice considering how abysmal the rest are.

Please remind me what you consider the first.

Four Seasons only by default? The recent reviews show the property to be discombobulated but it�s still the only high-end luxury chain in Seoul.

Thank you so much for your response!

Aside from Four Seasons, I'm not aware of any other truly luxury hotels in Seoul. Rooms at Shilla aren't large enough from what I see online, and as much as I would like to try Sofitel, Jamsil is a little too far out of the city center for us.

Between Conrad and JW Marriott, which would you recommend for a 6 day stay in a suite?

I don't really like Conrad at all. I would probably pick JW Marriott Seoul just to be somewhere more central than Yeouido. Their fitness centre is the best in the entire country.

Well there were newsreports that the rooms were not cleaned thoroghly at the Shilla hotel. Those celebrities drink and sleep in a room wiped by a toilet cloth.

I think it's one of the best hotels in Seoul. Not perfect but they do try to make it perfect.

Recent reports say otherwise but it's still the only true luxury brand in Korea.

I've been to almost all luxury hotels in Seoul. Yes, Four Seasons tries its best but sometimes falls short too. I know two new employees recently quit pursuing other opportunities. Young people in South Korea do not like serving people for low pay. That mindset reflects the overall service quality of any hotel in Seoul. I have seen a stressed-out employee of a luxury brand would cry behind the scene in the US too. It's too demanding to work in a luxury hotel. Especially for managers who have to manage conflicts between their associates and customers. Luxury hotels have always employees unhappy with their jobs, and they clearly express their dissatisfaction through interactions with their customers. Not sure the current level of service could be maintained in the future. Maybe not and the room rates will also skyrocket.