Four Seasons Hotel Seoul — Hotel in Seoul

The Four Seasons Hotel Seoul is a 5-star hotel situated in the heart of Seoul, South Korea. It consistently receives high praise for its exceptional service, opulent accommodations, and prime location near major attractions. Here's a summary of what makes the Four Seasons Hotel Seoul stand out: Location: It boasts a superb location in Jongno-gu district, within walking distance of significant landmarks such as Gyeongbokgung Palace, Cheonggyecheon Stream, and Seoul Plaza. The hotel is also conveniently close to the Gwanghwamun subway station, providing easy access to the rest of the city. Accommodations: The rooms and suites are described as spacious, elegantly decorated, and offering stunning city views through floor-to-ceiling windows. They feature a blend of modern and traditional Korean design elements, comfortable beds, and luxurious Italian marble bathrooms with soaking tubs. Many rooms are equipped with amenities like iPads, Nespresso machines, and complimentary Wi-Fi. Club level rooms and suites offer access to the Executive Club Lounge with additional services and refreshments. Dining: The hotel offers a diverse range of exceptional dining options, including Korean, Cantonese (Yu Yuan, which has received Michelin recognition), Italian (Boccalino), and Japanese (Akira Back) cuisine. Guests consistently rave about the quality of the food, including the extensive breakfast buffet. There are also stylish bars like Charles H. and Maru for drinks and socializing. Facilities and Amenities: The Four Seasons Hotel Seoul provides an array of top-notch amenities: Swimming Pools: It features three pools, including an indoor lap pool, a heated vitality pool, and a children's plunge pool. Fitness Center: A large, state-of-the-art gym is open 24/7, offering modern equipment and group classes like Pilates and HIIT. Spa: The hotel has a Forbes 4-star rated spa offering various treatments, massages, and facials for relaxation and rejuvenation. Other Services: These include a barbershop, nail bar, Nicolai Bergmann Flowers & Design shop, and a Kids for All Seasons Lounge with weekend programs. The hotel also offers practical services like 24-hour in-room dining, laundry, and dry cleaning. Overall experience: an outstanding hotel, often cited as one of the best in the city. It's praised for its modern facilities, comfortable rooms, excellent dining, and exceptional service, making it suitable for both leisure and business travelers. In summary, the Four Seasons Hotel Seoul offers a blend of modern luxury and traditional Korean touches in a prime location with exceptional service and amenities, making it a top choice for discerning travellers...

Decent stay overall, but underwhelming for a Four Seasons property

First impressions matter, especially at a hotel with the reputation and pricing of Four Seasons. Unfortunately, the welcome and check-in experience at Four Seasons Seoul fell short of expectations.

The check-in felt rushed, impersonal, and lacked the warmth or attentiveness you’d expect at a five-star property. It felt more like checking into a busy airport hotel than a luxury experience. We booked through a premium credit card program that includes benefits such as potential upgrades, but were told none were available due to high occupancy. The way this was communicated felt dismissive and lacked courtesy. When asking about our room’s view, the front desk agent, avoided a direct answer multiple times, only eventually stating it was a “city view,” which turned out to be directly facing an office building. This compromised our privacy significantly, to the point we had to keep the blinds closed for most of our stay. There was even a notice in the room confirming visibility from the building across.

After persistence, we were eventually offered a paid upgrade to a Palace View room, which was a noticeable improvement. Still, it was disappointing that the upgrade was only made available after we pushed back, despite our booking benefits.

Other aspects of the stay were a mix of highs and lows. The breakfast service was average but had a great selection. The gym was a standout, one of the best hotel fitness centers I’ve used, and well-equipped. On the other hand, housekeeping was inconsistent and minimal, with some days feeling like only the bed was made. Room service dinner was fine but unremarkable.

The spa experience was confusing due to apparent internal issues between the hotel and the spa facility. Access to the Korean spa areas required multiple conversations and an extra fee, despite unclear initial communication. The pool area is serviceable, though quite limited, and the sauna near the pool was not adequately heated.

The overall atmosphere felt more like a polished business hotel than a true luxury retreat. Service interactions often felt scripted and lacked genuine warmth or personalization. Some staff were courteous, but others seemed indifferent or even inconvenienced by basic guest requests.

To sum up: Once upgraded, our stay became more comfortable, but the overall experience didn’t meet the standards I’ve come to expect from the Four Seasons brand. It’s an okay city hotel, but lacks the special touches and consistent service that justify its price point. Next time, I’d consider other...

First impressions matter, especially at a hotel with the reputation and pricing of Four Seasons. Unfortunately, the welcome and check-in experience at Four Seasons Seoul fell short of expectations.||The check-in felt rushed, impersonal, and lacked the warmth or attentiveness you’d expect at a five-star property. It felt more like checking into a busy airport hotel than a luxury experience. We booked four nights through a premium credit card program that includes benefits such as potential upgrades, but were told none were available due to high occupancy. The way this was communicated felt dismissive and lacked courtesy. When asking about our room’s view, the front desk agent avoided a direct answer multiple times, only eventually stating it was a “city view,” which turned out to be directly facing an office building. This compromised our privacy significantly, to the point we had to keep the blinds closed for most of our stay. There was even a notice in the room confirming visibility from the office building across.||After persistence, we were eventually offered a paid upgrade to a Palace View room, which was a noticeable improvement. Still, it was disappointing that the upgrade was only made available after we pushed back, despite our booking benefits.||Other aspects of the stay were a mix of highs and lows. The breakfast service was average, but had a great selection. The gym was a standout, one of the best hotel fitness centers I’ve used, and well-equipped. On the other hand, housekeeping was inconsistent and minimal, with some days feeling like only the bed was made. Room service dinner was fine but unremarkable.||The spa experience was confusing due to apparent internal issues between the hotel and the spa facility. Access to the Korean spa areas required multiple conversations and an extra fee, despite unclear initial communication. The pool area is serviceable, though quite limited, and the sauna near the pool was not adequately heated.||The overall atmosphere felt more like a polished business hotel than a true luxury retreat. Service interactions often felt scripted and lacked genuine warmth or personalization. Some staff were courteous, but others seemed indifferent or even inconvenienced by basic guest requests.||To sum up: Once upgraded, our stay became more comfortable, but the overall experience didn’t meet the standards I’ve come to expect from the Four Seasons brand. It’s an okay city hotel, but lacks the special touches and consistent service that justify its price point. Next time, I’d consider other...