JW Marriott Dongdaemun Square

JW Marriott Dongdaemun Square, Seoul: A Comprehensive Review

The JW Marriott Dongdaemun Square, Seoul, a prominent luxury establishment, consistently garners high praise for its exceptional location, sophisticated design, and attentive service. Guests frequently highlight its distinctive atmosphere and prime position opposite the historic Dongdaemun Gate.

1. Overall Rating & Sentiment

The general consensus for JW Marriott Dongdaemun Square, Seoul is overwhelmingly positive, with an average overall rating of 4.4 out of 5. Guests frequently describe their stays as excellent, memorable, and highly recommendable. The hotel is considered a strong contender among Seoul's luxury hotels, offering a consistent high-end comfort experience.

2. Key Highlights

Guests consistently praise several aspects of the JW Marriott Dongdaemun Square:

• Location: The hotel's strategic position directly across from Dongdaemun, a major gateway to eastern Seoul, is a standout feature. Its proximity to the subway (lines 1 and 4) and the Dongdaemun Square area, with its cultural attractions, shopping, and restaurants, is highly valued. Many rooms offer captivating views of the historic gate.
• Amenities: The indoor infinity pool and jacuzzi are frequently cited as luxurious and exceptional, with elegant decor and outstanding facilities. The fitness center, Club 501, is also highly regarded for its spaciousness, state-of-the-art equipment, and eco-friendly LEED Gold certification. The executive lounge provides an elevated atmosphere with good food and beverages.
• Service & Staff: The staff are consistently described as attentive, professional, helpful, knowledgeable, and responsive to guest needs.
• Design: The hotel's design blends classic elegance with contemporary aesthetics. Rooms often incorporate traditional Korean design elements with natural materials like hardwood flooring. The pool area, in particular, is noted for its glamorous design with chandeliers.

3. Room Quality

Rooms at the JW Marriott Dongdaemun Square are generally described as luxurious, comfortable, and surprisingly spacious for Seoul.

• Comfort: Beds are reported to be very comfortable, featuring high-quality mattresses (e.g., Beautyrest from Simmons) and exceptionally soft, luxurious linens. The air conditioning is quiet and efficient.
• Design & Features: Rooms embody a sophisticated, conservative ambiance typical of the JW Marriott brand, utilizing natural materials and traditional Korean design elements. Many rooms offer stunning views of the Dongdaemun Gate. Amenities often include a Nespresso machine, a mini-bar (though sometimes pre-stocked with minimal personal space), and four complimentary bottles of water. Bathrooms are modern and contemporary, typically featuring both a large bathtub and a shower, often with marble finishes and L'Occitane or Aromatherapy Associates toiletries. Some bathrooms even include a small TV. Some executive sky view rooms on the 9th floor have skylights and an open-concept bathroom, which some guests find less private.
• Technology: Bedside tablets allow control over lighting and air conditioning. However, some older reviews mention a lack of sufficient power outlets.

4. Dining Experience

The dining experiences, particularly breakfast and the executive lounge, receive strong positive feedback.

• Breakfast: The breakfast buffet is frequently described as amazing, exceptional, and fantastic, offering an extensive selection of high-quality food. Guests appreciate the variety, including Western options, traditional Korean and Japanese dishes, and a wide array of pastries, fruits, cereals, and hot items. There are also noted vegetarian and even some vegan options, with clear labeling. Some guests particularly enjoy the ice-cream corner at breakfast. The presentation in the Executive Lounge breakfast is designed to resemble a modern kitchen.
• Executive Lounge: The executive lounge is noted for its elevated atmosphere, decent food and beverages, and being a comfortable space. It offers all-day refreshments, afternoon tea, and nightly cocktail hours with a spread of hot dishes.
• Other Dining: The hotel offers a curated selection of dining experiences, including restaurants that blend local specialties with master chef creativity, and a rooftop bar with captivating city views. The Japanese restaurant, Tamayura, is noted for its quiet, zen-like atmosphere and multi-course dining.

5. Service & Staff

The service and staff at JW Marriott Dongdaemun Square are consistently highlighted as a major strength of the hotel. They are described as:

• Attentive and Professional: Staff are very attentive to guest needs, exceptionally friendly, and professional.
• Helpful and Knowledgeable: Guests appreciate their helpfulness, knowledge, and responsiveness. The concierge, in particular, receives praise.
• Loyalty Recognition: Staff demonstrate excellent loyalty recognition for Marriott Bonvoy Elite members, including offering late check-out.

6. Location & Accessibility

The hotel's location is a significant advantage for guests:

• Dongdaemun District: It is strategically positioned directly across from Dongdaemun (Heunginjimun Gate), a significant historical landmark.
• Transportation Hub: The hotel offers excellent accessibility, being very close to the subway (lines 1 and 4), with a direct connection to the Metro station from inside the building, which is especially convenient during cold weather.
• Nearby Attractions: The Dongdaemun Square area provides cultural attractions, extensive shopping opportunities (including malls open until late), and numerous restaurants. The Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) is also within walking distance.
• Airport Access: While Incheon Airport is further out, an airport bus stops directly in front of the hotel, and the subway system offers easy navigation to tourist sites.

7. Value & Pricing

The JW Marriott Dongdaemun Square is considered a luxury hotel, and its pricing generally reflects this. Cash rates are often around the $300/night region, making it a decent, though not always spectacular, use of Marriott Bonvoy points (around 35,000 points for a free night at Category 5). Some guests find it more affordable than other high-end Seoul luxury hotels. Marriott Luminous rates can offer added benefits such as complimentary breakfast, room upgrades (subject to availability), early check-in/late check-out, and property credits or free nights. Overall, the value for money has an average rating of 4.1 out of 5.

8. Common Complaints

While overwhelmingly positive, some minor criticisms have been noted:

• Room Upgrades: Despite elite status, some guests have not received room upgrades beyond a Dongdaemun view.
• Privacy in some bathrooms: The open-concept design of some Executive Sky View rooms can lead to a lack of privacy in the bathroom.
• Limited personal mini-fridge space: Mini-fridges are often pre-stocked, leaving minimal space for personal items.
• Fees for certain facilities: There have been mentions of extra charges for using certain facilities, such as the sauna, which some guests disagree with.
• Lack of outlets in older reviews: One review from 2019 noted a scarcity of power outlets in the room.
• Check-in in the Lounge: One reviewer found the check-in desk located in the lounge to be awkward, detracting from the lounge's relaxing atmosphere.
• Neighborhood Activities (for tourists): While the location is excellent for transport and shopping, some feel there isn't much to do in the immediate Dongdaemun neighborhood for tourists beyond bargaining at markets, making it potentially more suited for locals, long-term guests, or staycationers.

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