Hotel The Designers Kondae — Hotel in Seoul

A high quality property that almost makes the grade. It's just missing a few things that would suggest that the owners/managers have not actually slept a night in each of the rooms themselves. For example, powerpoints are inconveniently positioned or simply not sufficiently available for plugging in devices by the bedside (or the electric kettle on the desk), and there are issues in some rooms with water spray from the shower.||I stayed in two rooms over a 10 day period - the first room on the second level was simply not up to standard or expectation, so the staff kindly relocated me to the tenth floor for the remainder of my stay after I complained. The 2nd floor room was a tiny shoebox with a bathroom that flooded water everywhere when showering, and there was nowhere to put a suitcase. At night the room was incredibly hot - with underfloor heating you could not switch off and that left you feeling grilled. The room was so small and well sealed that it was claustrophobic and I had a really terrible sleep. The only escape was to open the small double-glazed window (but then the street noise from traffic along the busy road meant sleep was absolutely impossible). If the staff had not offered to upgrade me to a larger room the next morning I would've left the hotel and even forfeited my prepaid booking because that 2nd floor room was like being locked in an unbearably stifling hot cell.||The 10th floor room, however, was much better, more roomy, with floor space for luggage, and more windows that could be opened that were high enough up to avoid most traffic sounds from the street. This room had a couple of seats, a nice roomy bathroom and shower/bath, and an airy feel (unlike the claustrophobic small room from the first night). Everything was of high quality - linen, appliances, fittings, etc. The whole hotel has been constructed to a very high standard and all the finishes are excellent quality.||Wifi was free and reliable, and the hotel has excellent quality large flatscreen televisions in all rooms and very good quality furnishings. Downstairs the bakery/cafe is very nice, does a reasonably good coffee, and has tasty things on the all day menu in addition to special baked items and sweet treats made on the premises. Cafe staff are kind and efficient, and did their best to understand my English and mangled attempts at Korean language!||Special mention of the staff at reception too, especially the smartly dressed guy who was duty manager. They were all extremely professional, helpful and polite.||My advice: never book the small double rooms sight unseen, they are just too small. Instead ask for a slightly larger room, and take a few power adapters with u so u can charge your devices at the same time. In all other respects it is a very good place to stay, away from all the tourist madness and in a more local metropolitan...

I chose this hotel because it was located close to the office of a business partner I was visiting. It's easy to access via public transportation - the Incheon airport bus stops right outside, it's located on a major bus thoroughfare, and the Gunja subway stop is nearby. There are tons of trendy restaurants and shops to the south around Konkuk University, and adequate options in the immediate neighborhood. The hotel itself is quite new and stylishly decorated. There is ample free parking. On weekdays, the onsite bakery/coffee shop's set menu breakfast is outstanding; on weekends it converts to a small buffet with fewer options. My impression is that rooms vary greatly. I booked a "designers suite double" which proved to be a very quiet, spacious modernistic room with a small refrigerator, wall-mounted TV, large firm bed, wood, leather and horsehair furniture, a gigantic bathtub, rain shower, electronic lighting controls and concrete floors. It was a little dark since there was only a tiny window over the bathtub looking out to an airshaft of sorts. Wifi was blazing fast and staff were efficient, with somewhat limited English. Overall, I felt it provided very good value, and worked well for me due to its location. But definitely felt more oriented towards locals, and perhaps as a couple's...

Room was roomy enough and new and clean. Linen and beds were spotless. ||Bathroom design was quite lacking. For a 2 in 1 bathtub/rainshower there was no shower curtain and water splashed out on floor during showers. If you sit in tub, the taps are beyond reach and you have to stand up to reach it. ||Not enough racks. No place to put toiletry tray even and this was laid out (nicely) on TV console in the room. Hairdryer was hanging precariously on a narrow ledge. ONE hook on the wall in the toilet, for a room with a double and single bed. ||We spent two nights. Housekeeping came to top up towels but forgot the floor mat, which was crucial since water would splash out during shower. ||ONE power point. Under the TV. ||ONE mirror. Above the bathroom sink. ||Overall classy feel to the room, but not...