Somerset Palace Seoul — Hotel in Seoul

This apartment hotel is located in the heart of the Jongno District. You are within easy walking distance of two of the large palaces. Other large tourist sites are also within the district and can be reached by longer walks or by the numerous bus stops and subway stations close by.||My room was large, but very worn out. The couch cushions were completely flat and heavily stained. The furniture is very beaten up, floors completely scratched, curtains fraying, and ceilings were all water damaged (and this was on the 16th floor - which is not the top floor). There is a smell of mold or mildew permeating the hallways.||Room temperature is controlled centrally, you cannot change it. While I was able to open two small vent windows and cool it down, once the temperature rises in the summer I don't know how comfortable it will be in the rooms. The bed was ok for comfort and the sheets and comforter were soft. I will say the rooms are very big. So you do have a lot of space. And there is ample storage for your personal items. There is a very small kitchenette available.||I found the staff to be wonderful and helpful. They were a pleasure to talk to and did help with whatever you might need. They can give you directions to things and provide some recommendations on food. There isn't room service but there are a couple of restaurants in the building. Other restaurants you will need to travel to - Seoul provides any possible kind of food you might want. So head out and explore.||Breakfast is included. It was a very good buffet. Both Korean and western foods are available. It was fresh and tasty. There is also a very small convenience store in the building for small items you may need or snacks and drinks. You can get a T Money card at that store also and you'll need it to ride the busses and subway.||Walls are thin, you'll hear everything going on in the neighbors apartments or above you. And this is also a difficult time politically in Korea, so there were protests every day nearby. Those were very loud and cars with loudspeakers would also drive by early in the morning. The windows are not well soundproofed so you're going to clearly hear all this.||The location is fantastic, but make sure you understand what you are getting. Watch the prices. If a deal is offered this hotel can be a good option. But definitely do not pay a...

I recently stayed at Somerset Palace Seoul for 3 nights and i must admit that i was very worried of how out-dated the hotel is, from most of the reviews i came across. With the level of expectation, i kinda expected how our 1 bed room executive would be like when i entered the room. Even before reaching the room, the moment the lift door opened at level 11, the sight of old carpet and wall papers confirmed my worries.||The 1BR Executive was spacious. We entered a room that was stuffy in the afternoon. So we opened the windows, which did not bring much respite because the direction of wind was not towards the windows . So i called up the reception to ask where is the air con remote control and her reply was that the hotel kept the remote controls from Nov onwards. I requested if they can pass one to us because the room was really stuffy and i'm so glad she acceded to my request. With the two windows opened at night, the room did get cooler and less stuffy. ||I find the bathroom the most disappointing. Given such worn out condition, why hasnt any renovation done? It was not unsuable, it was just very old, a lot of stains, molds, damaged door to name a few. On the last day, i returned to my room around 3pm and housekeeping had not tidied the room. So we called to request just change of fresh towels and clear the thrash. Some 20min, the housekeeper arrived.||The reason that i chose this hotel was because of its location and washing machine facility in the room. My partner actually liked the hotel because of its location even though he commented that the hotel is in need of a make over. He was surprised that i chose this hotel for its very out-dated set up. But not all is bad, the staff like Daniel, Emily and a short hair center part lady, were helpful and knowledgeable in sharing tourists info. Breakfast was included in our stay. Breakfast was a letdown for Somerset standard, out of my 3 breakfasts, i went only on the first day. ||Aplenty restaurants and cafes near the hotel. Anguk train station is about 5-8min by foot, very convinent. Took taxi to incheon airport that was about 1 hour journey. If the hotel undergoes a major make over, i will definitely return to stay when i visit...

Having seen the swimming pool and outdoor one-man (or woman) jacuzzis, I thought that the price was right for a mid to high range hotel. Upon entering the room, I found what was more of an apartment than a luxury hotel room. There was a hob and saucepans and a full sized refrigerator. The TV was not in front of the double bed, but in front of a small couch (sadly not big enough to properly lie on). The room was clean, spacious, the decor fine, it not luxurious, and had everything I needed. The bathroom had a bath and the usual toiletries, as well as a plug right next to the toilet (which seems to be a common thing in Korea - of course!). The water pressure didn't seem very high, but somehow the shower pressure was good enough to make for an acceptable (and hot) shower. The towels were just about acceptable. Why can't hotels use softener?! The breakfast was limited, but satisfactory. Bacon, scrambled eggs, toast (although a better selection of wholemeal breads would be appreciated), omelettes or other eggs on demand, a selection of cereals, fruit, rice porridge and other Asian breakfasts were on offer. Making my own individual (small) cups of tea was a real hassle. Sadly, I didn't get to use the pool or jacuzzis. They shut at 9pm. No lifeguards were there when I first visited, I suspect that it is so shallow as not to need one. The hotel has a gym and a small children's playroom. There is a restaurant where breakfast is served. The internet works well. The staff were very friendly and helpful, if the reception does get a little busy. My only complaint was that the one time I stepped out of my room without my card, the cleaner who was right there to see it, refused to let me into my room but instead sent me down to the lobby. Location-wise, you can't get better than this hotel. It is literally in the heart of Seoul with everything above the N Seoul Tower within walking distance (if Google Maps worked). The taxis are a little dear, but the metro can be navigated fine if you are careful. If I was returned with a group or family who wanted to cook their own food, this may be my first choice. As a lone traveler, I will probably exploring...