The Westin Josun Busan

The Westin Josun Busan, a Michelin Key Selected property, consistently receives high praise for its exceptional location and attentive service, making it a favored choice for travelers seeking a luxurious beachfront experience in Busan.

1. Overall Rating & Sentiment

The general consensus for The Westin Josun Busan is overwhelmingly positive, with an overall average rating of 4.4 out of 5 from Marriott guests and a "Wonderful" rating of 9.0 out of 10 based on over 1200 verified KAYAK ratings. Guests frequently describe their stays as "fantastic," "excellent," and "luxury and comfortable," highlighting a strong sense of satisfaction and a desire to return.

2. Key Highlights

Guests consistently laud several aspects of The Westin Josun Busan:

• Location: The hotel's prime beachfront position on Haeundae Beach, nestled at the far eastern end next to Dongbaek Island, is a major draw. This offers stunning, unobstructed ocean views and a peaceful atmosphere away from the main crowds, while still being minutes from attractions. Direct access to the beach and adjacent walking paths are frequently mentioned as significant advantages.
• Service & Staff: The staff receives high marks for being friendly, attentive, professional, and helpful. Many guests note their "consistent, thoughtful service" and "meticulous care."
• Views: The breathtaking ocean and beach views, particularly from rooms and dining areas, are a recurring highlight.
• Amenities: The indoor pool, including a children's pool, seawater hot spring sauna, and health club, are popular amenities. Free Wi-Fi and free private parking are also appreciated.
• Cleanliness: The hotel is consistently praised for its cleanliness.

3. Room Quality

The Westin Josun Busan offers 290 well-appointed rooms, many featuring panoramic floor-to-ceiling windows with stunning ocean or Dongbaek Park views. Guests describe the rooms as "exquisite," "clean," "well-equipped," and providing "quiet comfort" with plush bedding. While some reviews mention the hotel's age (built in 1978) and that certain aspects of the decor, particularly in older rooms or corridors, might feel "outdated" or reminiscent of hotels from the 90s, others note that rooms have been renovated and are clean. Specific room types mentioned include Deluxe Beach Triple, Junior Suite, and Executive Beach King, with the Executive Beach King offering a spacious feel. Some feedback indicates that bathrooms in some rooms, like the Deluxe Beach Triple, can feel small and compact, while Junior Suites offer larger bathrooms. Issues with unstable water temperature in showers have also been noted in some suites.

4. Dining Experience

The hotel features four restaurants and a bar/lounge.

• Breakfast: Guests generally enjoy the breakfast spread, which can be taken in the Executive Lounge or the 1F buffet (Camellia). The Executive Lounge breakfast is often preferred for being more relaxed and curated, offering fresh salad greens, quality cold cuts, made-to-order eggs, yogurt, pastries, and good coffee. Camellia is noted for offering a wide variety of Korean dishes, Western classics, Vietnamese noodles, and a good selection of drinks, baked goods, and fresh fruits. Breakfast with ocean views is a highlight.
• Restaurants: Sheobul, the signature Korean restaurant, is praised for regional dishes made from fresh seasonal ingredients and high-quality, fresh, and flavorful food with delicious side dishes. Other dining options include O'Kims and Chosun Deli Beach Cafe.
• Executive Lounge: Besides breakfast, the Executive Lounge offers afternoon snacks with light bites, pastries, cookies, fruits, and finger foods, and an evening happy hour with hot dishes, cheeses, desserts, and drinks.
• Specialty Items: The hotel's bakery, Chosun Deli, offers various baked goods. The Panorama Lounge is known for its "pricey but worth it" mango bingsu, generously topped with fresh, sweet apple mango.
• Criticism: Some guests, particularly Marriott Bonvoy Titanium members, have observed a decline in the main restaurant's food quality over the past decade compared to other domestic hotels, suggesting a reliance on staff hospitality to compensate for a lack of investment in the food itself.

5. Service & Staff

The service at The Westin Josun Busan is consistently highlighted as a strong point, with staff receiving ratings of 4.5 out of 5 for service and staff. Guests describe the staff as professional, polite, friendly, helpful, and kind. Requests for extra towels or room adjustments are handled quickly. Housekeeping is diligent, and the overall service is characterized by "quiet efficiency" and being "consistent and attentive, not overbearing." Specific individuals and the concierge team have been recognized for exceptional assistance, such as helping with car rental paperwork.

6. Location & Accessibility

The hotel's location is one of its most celebrated features, receiving an average rating of 4.8 out of 5. It is "nestled right on Haeundae Beach" at its far eastern end, offering a "tranquil beachy getaway" with fewer crowds and less city noise. Guests enjoy unobstructed views of Haeundae Beach, Dongbaek Island, and the sea towards Mipo. Dongbaek Island provides lovely, pine-covered trails and coastal views for walking. The hotel is a short stroll from Busan Aquarium and close to Haeundae Market. While feeling removed from the hustle, it's still only minutes from main attractions. Haeundae Subway Station (Busan Metro Line 2) is a 20-minute walk away, and Gimhae International Airport is approximately a 40-minute taxi ride. Free private parking is available on-site.

7. Value & Pricing

The Westin Josun Busan is generally considered to offer good value, with a "Value for Price" rating of 9.0 out of 10 on KAYAK, though Marriott's internal rating for "Value for the Money" is 4.1 out of 5. Some guests, particularly Marriott Bonvoy members, find excellent value due to included lounge and sauna access, room upgrades, complimentary breakfast, and welcome gifts. The average room price is around $293, which is considered an "unbeatable value for discerning travelers seeking a lavish escape" compared to the city's average. However, some food and drinks within the hotel, such as the mango bingsu, can be expensive. The cheapest deals for rooms are often found in March and September.

8. Common Complaints

While overwhelmingly positive, some recurring issues and criticisms have been noted:

• Dated Aspects: Despite being well-maintained and having renovated rooms, some parts of the hotel, particularly corridors and the overall design, are perceived as "outdated" or needing a "touch up," reflecting its age (built in 1978).
• Noise Levels: Some guests have mentioned issues with noise levels.
• Food Quality Decline: As mentioned in the dining section, some long-term guests and Marriott members have observed a decline in the food quality at the main restaurant over the years compared to other luxury hotels.
• Club Lounge Weekend Restrictions: One guest noted that on weekends, the Club Room had an "unusual" one-hour usage limit.
• Small Bathrooms: In certain room types, such as the Deluxe Beach Triple, the bathroom size has been described as small and compact.

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