Seoul Hotels with Pools

Traveling with my little one during the summer, Japan was out, Thailand was a no-go, so Korea became our top choice. After a lot of searching, this hotel looked great and was close to the duty-free shop. Based on reviews, I chose the new building. Check-in was on the 15th floor, and the front desk staff even reminded me that I didn't need to pay a deposit for the fridge items if I took them out. They also upgraded us to a suite, which was absolutely amazing! The room was quiet and spacious; I almost wanted to stay there all day. Downstairs, there's a big supermarket with all sorts of delicious food, very similar to what you'd find in Japan, which was super convenient in this hot weather. Just a short walk through the underpass, and you're in Myeongdong, perfect for shopping, sightseeing, and food. There's also an airport shuttle (6701) at the very end of the old building. The only downside is that it's difficult to get a taxi in Korea right now; we had a car to go out, but had to take the subway back as ride-hailing apps like Didi and Gaode didn't work. On the bright side, the complimentary data package was more than enough.

The room was great, located on the 23rd floor with a stunning lake view. When I booked, I selected a three-person meal option for two adults and one child. The price for a two-person meal and a three-person meal was different at the time of booking. However, upon arrival, the hotel informed me that one of the meals in my three-person package was a complimentary children's meal. Since my child is 13 years old, exceeding the 12-year age limit, they were not eligible for the free buffet breakfast, and I was asked to pay. To avoid disrupting our travel plans and mood, I paid for the meal. However, I find this explanation completely unacceptable. I purchased a three-person meal package, but at the hotel, it was treated as if I bought two meals and received one free. If I had known it was a complimentary meal from the hotel, why would I not just book the two-person meal package and save some money?! I urge Trip.com and the hotel to communicate and provide a satisfactory resolution.

This hotel is perfectly located! It's just south of Seoul City Hall Square and west of Myeongdong. The subway station is only a few dozen meters from the lobby entrance, and Sejong-daero is right to the west. It's also not far from the major palaces and Namsan, so the location couldn't be better. The staff are very friendly, attentive, and welcoming. While the facilities might feel a bit more compact compared to newly built five-star hotels in China, they are well-maintained and perfectly adequate. Overall, it offers great value for money.

The bigger the hope, the greater the disappointment. By domestic hotel standards, this place is essentially an upgraded budget hotel in terms of hardware. Regarding the service, every staff member I encountered greeted me warmly and proactively. When my ride-share dropped me off at ground level, two attendants helped me carry my luggage upstairs. Its location is absolutely unbeatable, right in Myeongdong. It's very close to Lotte Duty-Free, Shinsegae Duty-Free, and the Nanta show. My final conclusion is: Is it worth over 5,000 won for two nights? I can only say that the Wyndham I stayed at in Busan for just over 700 won felt more like a five-star hotel in terms of amenities, and it only cost a third of what I paid here.

This is an older hotel. The lobby is on the 5th floor, and you then take an internal elevator to your room. The room decor is a bit dated. The larger suites are quite good, featuring a kitchen, dining table, and living room sofa. However, the smaller rooms are right by the entrance, facing the bathroom. If there's an odor from the toilet, you have to open the door to air it out, and the door can only be propped open with a chair. The windows are frosted, which is a bit awkward. Disposable slippers are in the wardrobe of the larger suites; I'm not sure if toothbrushes and toothpaste are provided, as I always bring my own toiletries when I travel. Extra beds and bedding are charged separately. There are no international power adapters, but the kitchen outlets work. The room comes with a fridge, washing machine, cutlery, and a dishwasher. Overall, the rooms are quite spacious, making it suitable for family trips. The hotel's location is excellent, right next to Hyundai Department Store and Coex. Across the street from the hotel, there are convenience stores and restaurants. Blue Bottle is located just a short walk and turn to the left after exiting the hotel. It's also very close to nearby luxury shops by taxi, perfect for a shopping spree.

Upon check in, we asked for a 2 twin beds room, without even checking by the staff, I already heard no. Then she asked me for my credit card, didn’t even mention how much limits she gonna hold. Anyway. During the stay, there were zero turn down services. I called and asked why and I was told that we had to request for it. First time hearing this from a Fairmont. Totally disappointed. The bathroom lights were flashing (a bit scary at night), light bulbs had to be replaced I guess, called someone to come take a look. Didn’t expect they didn’t even offer a room change. So I guess they came in to fix the light while we were out. On the day of checking out, I called to request for a late check out. Without checking, rejected me. I had to ask again and got an extra 30 mins. Standard check out time is 11am, which is already ridiculous, got extended to 11:30, what a joke. Will never stay here again and might even stay away from all Accor hotels.

Overall, I had a good stay, although I would recommend keeping expectations reasonable for a Novotel. The room was clean, comfortable, spacious, and bright with plenty of natural light. The bed had a good level of firmness, and both the pillows and duvet were very comfortable. However, I encountered two issues during my stay. First, there was a problem with the motion-sensor light near the entrance of the room. It was supposed to turn on when someone entered or walked by, but the sensor in my room seemed to malfunction. The light kept turning on by itself even when no one was moving nearby, and this happened dozens of times throughout the night. As someone sensitive to light while sleeping, this was quite disruptive. I contacted the front desk the next morning, and they quickly sent a technician who removed the sensor/light system. I really appreciated how efficiently the staff handled the issue, although unfortunately it had already affected my sleep for the entire night. Second, the bathroom floor and the area connecting the bathroom to the room were quite slippery when wet. Extra caution may be needed, especially for elderly guests or families with young children. Before check-in, I received an email informing me that the hotel swimming pool was under maintenance and that guests would need to use the pool at the neighboring Grand Mercure instead. However, during my actual stay, the swimming pool at the 4F Fitness Club was still available for use. The information was therefore somewhat inconsistent, although it did not negatively affect my stay. I also paid to use the sauna facilities. The area was clean and well maintained. The facilities consisted of one cold bath, one hot bath, and a dry sauna. There was no wet sauna or steam room, and I personally found the dry sauna temperature to be relatively mild. If the sauna is an important part of your stay, you may want to consider whether the facilities meet your expectations before paying the additional fee. Overall, the room itself was comfortable and spacious, and I was impressed by how quickly the staff responded when I reported the sensor issue. There were a few minor issues with the facilities and communication, but the stay was generally pleasant. A good hotel overall, just don't set your expectations too high.

⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Four stars, deductions mainly for hardware details) For our trip to Busan's Haeundae, we booked this two-bedroom, one-living-room apartment-style family room. Booking in advance made the price very reasonable, and it's perfect for groups or families traveling with children. ✅ Pros & Highlights: 1. **Excellent Location**: Right next to the heart of Haeundae's main street. You can step out and immediately find shops for browsing, shopping, and buying daily necessities, making transportation incredibly convenient. It's only three subway stops directly to Shinsegae Centum City department store, making shopping and dining hassle-free. 2. **Great Layout**: It’s a standard two-bedroom, one-living-room layout with two queen-sized beds (1.5m). The two bathrooms mean no fighting over facilities. It also has a separate living room and an open-plan kitchen, plus a washing machine in the room, which makes daily laundry and cooking very convenient. 3. **Unique Balcony & Amenities**: The most unique feature is the rotating balcony, offering a good view. There's a café on the ground floor where guests can have breakfast (I didn't pre-order breakfast). The overall space is spacious and has a strong homey feel. There are three air conditioners in the unit, providing ample cooling. ⚠️ Areas for Improvement: 1. **Housekeeping Request**: Unlike regular hotels, there's no 'make up room' light. If you want your room cleaned, you have to call the front desk to schedule it, which is quite inconvenient. 2. **Lack of Blackout Curtains**: The second bedroom only has a sheer curtain, no thick blackout curtain. As soon as it gets light, direct sunlight streams into the room, making it easy to be woken up and affecting sleep quality. I hope the hotel can add blackout curtains to improve this. 3. **AC Remote Control Issue**: There's only one remote control for three air conditioners. If you want to turn on the AC in different rooms, you have to keep moving the remote back and forth, which is very inconvenient to use. 4. **Hot Common Hallways**: The common hallways on each floor don't have air conditioning. When entering and leaving the room, the hallways feel noticeably stuffy and uncomfortable. Overall, the value for money is good, and the location and layout are very suitable for family travel. However, there are quite a few hardware details that could be optimized. Friends who are particular about blackout curtains and AC remote convenience might want to consider these points beforehand.

Originally, I booked a hotel in Gangnam, but considering factors like shopping and sightseeing, I decided to switch to Voco Myeongdong at the last minute. Overall, I'm quite satisfied. In terms of service, from the front desk reception to the lounge, the swimming pool, and breakfast, every staff member was smiling and dedicated to providing excellent service. It was really good. For dining, the breakfast selection was extensive and the food tasted great. Enjoying a hot bowl of Vietnamese pho in the morning was very comforting. The lounge also had a good selection; happy hour offered three hot dishes, along with cold platters, desserts, drinks, and alcoholic beverages, all of high quality. The room was also quite satisfactory. It was well-equipped with all sorts of amenities. The first round of the mini-bar was complimentary every day, and the quality was decent. The smart toilet and bathtub were very convenient. There were also USB and Type-C chargers. The only minor issues were that the USB charging port seemed to be of poor quality and often disconnected. The 0.8m bed was a bit narrow, and there was a slight risk of falling off when turning over. Also, upon check-in, there were two bottles of shampoo and one conditioner in the shower, and I had to inform the front desk to get a bottle of body wash sent up. Furthermore, the swimming pool closes quite early, at 8:00 PM. The location is truly excellent. There's a subway station and several bus stops right downstairs. From the lounge, you can directly see Namsan Tower. Namdaemun Market is right across the street, and it's a direct walk to Lotte and Shinsegae Duty-Free Department Stores, as well as Myeongdong's main shopping street, making it very convenient for shopping. The hotel also has a GS25, Burger King, and coffee shops, making it incredibly easy to grab a bite or a drink. I would definitely choose this hotel again next time.

Facilities: Very well-equipped, excellent. Hygiene: Clean and tidy, cozy and inviting. Service: Very welcoming, they try their best to anticipate guests' needs; everything was quite good. Environment: Very convenient location in the city center.