Four Seasons Seoul, Korea -- Reviews and Comments
Jun 25, 2017, 12:19 pm
Four Seasons Seoul
97 Saemunan-ro Dangju-dong, Jongno-gu Seoul, KR
Four Seasons Seoul weekend stay review (0 Photo)
Four Seasons Seoul
Check In
The first part of check-in was terrible. No one to help with our bags but the poor Guest relations associate. Kagehitokari suggested using the curbside check-in app but I'm not a fan of checking in via apps (reminds me of low end places I've had to stay at). Probably only going to work if you come from a cab and not their parking garage. I think the hotel should put roaming bell people to help or ask people in the lobby if they need help.
Just ended up pushing them myself. In room check-in, sign paper and finished.
The welcome amenities were very nice. They also write a small welcome message on the window addressed to you.
Housekeeping
The room was spotless. No dust bunnies or ramen stains like one of our first visits.
Location
Great for first time tourists. Most tourist attractions are at your doorstep but carry an umbrella as Seoul is entering the monsoon season.
Lounge
Access is only included with the Palace, City Executive suites and club rooms. It will never be packed like GH's Grand Club or Conrad's lounge. Weekdays have your businessmen crowd and weekends your local staycation crowd. The food quality is better than most others in Seoul but I noticed small cost cutting features like the maki rolls and only offering hot dishes when prompted.
Dining
Dining
They gave me a pile of niçoise to eat via room service. Just awful.
Maru on the first floor does great burgers and they have a very wide selection of Western and Korean favorites. Give a pass to Kioku unless you have a corporate CC paying for it. Overpriced for mediocre food.
Breakfast was served in-room and only so-so. Forgot a number of items and the egg white omelette was dry and tiny. I don't know how they forget items that were clearly marked on the menu card.
Room
Room
I've posted about this suite before. A great upgrade from the standard Premier room. It makes you feel like the stay was money well-spent and is lightyears ahead of my normal suite at Park Hyatt Seoul. I like that it's tastefully decorated and not overfilled, cluttered with cheap junk furniture like Signiel Seoul. Views of Gyeongbukgung Palace to the north and Seoul Tower to the southeast. I really only expected a Corner room since it was full occupancy for the weekend.
The bed was just heavenly. No mattress topper needed here.
Recommendations: ask for them to put the temperature to 20 degrees Celsius or below before you check-in. Tell them to blast it if you want it Arctic like. All the windows and the strong Korean sun made this room VERY warm upon check-in. It took a while for it to cool down and not good in summer.
Take rooms facing away from the Executive Lounge or street level. The glass is not one way and a fully lit room is visible from the outside! I was shocked to be able to view guests when driving in...
Service
Service
Better than my first few stays but still ways to go with small things they neglected to do.
Forgot:
- to bring yogurt and green juice with breakfast (room service)
- to bring bath salts (housekeeping)
- to bring a stored item of mine (bell desk)
- to ask before starting to clear the tea, bread basket, etc (room service)
The service at the Executive Lounge is spot on. Asking before clearing dishes or glasses. Asking if you need a refill of champagne (yes!). Asking if they can do anything else. Service with a smile.
This hotel has an iPad for many room functions and requests so maybe it's brought down service attentiveness levels?
Location
Great for first time tourists. Most tourist attractions are at your doorstep but carry an umbrella as Seoul is entering the monsoon season.
Overall
FS Seoul spoils you. Makes every other Seoul hotel room look like they're dated (most are). F&B could be better at most outlets. They need to focus on quality, rather than serving a million and one dishes. The service isn't perfect but it's 100% better than in the beginning. I'm confident Mr. Barta and his team will only continue to get better than take a turn for the worse.
edit on July 18, 2017: This property took a turn for the worse. I won't be going back there after being told my Seoul relaxation might be better served at another hotel.
Jun 25, 2017, 1:08 pm
perhaps i misspoke. before app, multiple FS published "curbside checkin" at least as far back as 2011. ive wondered if any FS (or others) actually deliver on this sort of thing, in terms of escorting guest with luggage from door/car to room. or for a returning guest with no luggage, giving them key at door/car or meeting them at room.
wonder if any club lounges do automatic/'invisible' refills, perhaps after one asks for it
Last edited by Kagehitokiri; Jun 25, 2017 at 1:26 pm
Jun 25, 2017, 7:01 pm
perhaps i misspoke. before app, multiple FS published "curbside checkin" at least as far back as 2011. ive wondered if any FS (or others) actually deliver on this sort of thing, in terms of escorting guest with luggage from door/car to room. or for a returning guest with no luggage, giving them key at door/car or meeting them at room.
wonder if any club lounges do automatic/'invisible' refills, perhaps after one asks for it
FS has a lot of bureaucracy. Case in point, I left my camera behind in the lounge and they wouldn't just say that they had it, safe and waiting until my return.. I had to identify the last few pictures from memory, describe the type and specs. Contents in camera bag. They have to fill out a lost and found item report. It was rather insulting because that camera would have been at the seat we were at in the lounge (left close to closing). If they checked CCTV , they'd see I walked into there with it but didn't walk out of the lounge with it.
I've left things behind at PH Seoul and Busan and all they do is say they have it and will keep it safe for my next visit.
Last edited by Aventine; Jun 25, 2017 at 7:11 pm
Jul 16, 2017, 10:29 pm
I guess the GM got fed up of taking feedback and didn't like hearing about his service failures from DavidO's team. He basically told me I should find another hotel in Seoul to stay for my comfort and relaxation. That's fine. After the poorly handled spider web incident in HK, I wasn't keen on giving money to this hotel brand and this last stay cemented their decline in my eyes. I have 20 nights to give away in Seoul (since Hyatt shot itself in the foot and lit it on fire with its globalist program) and they're not going to FS.
Last edited by Aventine; Jul 16, 2017 at 11:13 pm
Jul 17, 2017, 3:05 am
I guess the GM got fed up of taking feedback and didn't like hearing about his service failures from DavidO's team. He basically told me I should find another hotel in Seoul to stay for my comfort and relaxation. That's fine. After the poorly handled spider web incident in HK, I wasn't keen on giving money to this hotel brand and this last stay cemented their decline in my eyes. I have 20 nights to give away in Seoul (since Hyatt shot itself in the foot and lit it on fire with its globalist program) and they're not going to FS.
Giving up is not an option... If he really asked you to find another hotel, Rainer Stampfer should know about this -- unacceptable. Hotels only learn through feedback and it appears other management companies manage to deliver a better service, so definitely has to do with training (and time).
Jul 17, 2017, 11:00 am
Giving up is not an option... If he really asked you to find another hotel, Rainer Stampfer should know about this -- unacceptable. Hotels only learn through feedback and it appears other management companies manage to deliver a better service, so definitely has to do with training (and time).I don't really want to take this to Mr. Stampfer because I don't really want to go back to FS Seoul ever again. I think Four Seasons Seoul might be the only choice for a high end luxury stay in Seoul but I would rather "slum" it than give him my money ever again.
Last edited by Aventine; Jul 17, 2017 at 11:07 am
Jul 17, 2017, 11:02 am
was upgrade more than one category? lounge access included in suite, right?
what check out time? think only FHR 'guarantees' 4pm, others not published.
Jul 17, 2017, 11:13 am
was upgrade more than one category? lounge access included in suite, right?
what check out time? think only FHR 'guarantees' 4pm, others not published.
The June 28th FS Seoul upgrade was generous. More than 2 categories. I mean we hadn't visited there since opening 2015 so I think they should...try to impress? I would have thought he would have liked to take my business away from PH. He almost succeeded.
The previous time FS Seoul let me check out whenever I wanted. I think it was around 6:30pm this time around. Definitely beyond FHR's time but not uncommon for valued guests.
Last edited by Aventine; Jul 17, 2017 at 11:25 am
Nov 5, 2017, 1:05 pm
Nov 5, 2017, 7:00 pm
They do ask your choice of payment method. I don't think it's really a scam.
Nov 5, 2017, 7:07 pm
Nov 7, 2017, 2:55 pm
Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC)
Feb 6, 2018, 9:21 pm
Feb 6, 2018, 9:30 pm
