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The Westin Josun Seoul Hotel

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The Westin Josun Seoul Hotel - Selected hotel in Seoul, Korea

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Hotel Details

Brand

Westin

Hotel Group

Marriott

Location

The Westin Josun Seoul Hotel · Seoul, Korea

Expert Review: The Westin Josun Seoul Hotel

The Westin Josun Seoul Hotel, a distinguished Michelin Key Selected property, offers a blend of historical grandeur and modern amenities in the heart of Seoul. With a legacy spanning over a century, it remains a highly regarded choice for both business and leisure travelers.

1. Overall Rating & Sentiment

The general consensus for The Westin Josun Seoul Hotel is overwhelmingly positive, with guests frequently praising its excellent service and prime location. It is consistently ranked among Seoul's finest hotels and is recognized as a luxury business establishment. While some guests note that parts of the interior may appear slightly dated due to its long history, the hotel consistently maintains high standards of luxury and hospitality.

2. Key Highlights

Guests particularly appreciate the hotel's superb location, placing them within easy reach of major attractions, shopping, and business districts. The excellent customer service is a recurring highlight, with staff often described as incredibly helpful, polite, and attentive. The hotel's extensive amenities, including a fully-equipped gym, an indoor pool with jacuzzis, and a variety of upscale restaurants, also stand out. Its historical significance as Korea's oldest luxury hotel, established in 1914, adds a unique charm, with authentic artifacts from the Josun era still present on the grounds. The executive lounge is also a popular feature for eligible guests.

3. Room Quality

The rooms at The Westin Josun Seoul are generally described as spacious and comfortable, often featuring a traditional ambiance with neutral-toned furniture. While some aspects of the design, particularly in the bathrooms, might be considered slightly dated, the rooms are well-maintained. Guests commend the plush mattresses, excellent linen quality, and modern amenities such as wall-mounted smart TVs, Nespresso machines, and surprisingly functional bedside control panels with numerous outlets and USB ports. Executive suites may also include separate baths and showers and heated toilet seats.

4. Dining Experience

The hotel offers a diverse culinary experience with several sit-down restaurants, including Cantonese (Hong Yuan), Japanese (Sushi Cho), Italian (Rubrica), and American (The Ninth Gate, one of Seoul's oldest Western-style restaurants). The Aria buffet breakfast on the first floor is highly popular and receives rave reviews for its impressive and varied spread, featuring unique pastries, a DIY Sanuki udon station, American breakfast staples, and Korean side dishes. The executive lounge also offers breakfast, though some guests note it has less variety compared to Aria.

5. Service & Staff

The service and staff at The Westin Josun Seoul are consistently lauded as excellent. Guests frequently highlight the staff's politeness, kindness, and willingness to go above and beyond, from assisting with check-in and luggage to providing local recommendations and even securing salon reservations after checkout. Many staff members are also fluent in English, which is highly appreciated by international visitors.

6. Location & Accessibility

The hotel boasts an ideal central location in Seoul, making it exceptionally convenient for exploring the city. It is within walking distance of popular attractions such as Gyeongbokgung Palace, Bukchon Hanok Village, Myeongdong shopping street, Namdaemun Market, and City Hall. Accessibility is further enhanced by its proximity to subway stations (Euljiro 1-ga and City Hall) and the convenience of an airport limousine bus that stops directly at the hotel.

7. Value & Pricing

The Westin Josun Seoul is considered to offer exceptional value for a luxury hotel in Seoul, especially when compared to the city's average hotel room prices. While prices can vary, guests often find the level of amenities and service justifies the cost.

8. Common Complaints

While generally well-received, some recurring criticisms include the slightly dated interior design in certain areas, particularly the bathrooms, where some guests found the shower heads archaic and water pressure to be lacking. The variety of the executive lounge breakfast is sometimes noted as limited compared to the Aria buffet. The indoor pool can become crowded, and a reservation might be necessary. Additionally, non-executive guests may incur a fee for sauna access, and children are sometimes charged for snacks in the executive lounge. There's also a possibility of noise from protests in the nearby City Hall area, which light sleepers should consider.

Sources

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  5. Current time information in Seoul, KR.
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  19. tistory.com

Google Reviews

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4.5

6,429 reviews

Recent Guest Reviews

Tim Lee

a month ago

I think The Westin is the oldest hotel in Seoul, but the facilities were beautiful and well maintained. The breakfast buffet had excellent offerings and kept us very satisfied. The gym facilities were clean and had plenty of equipment. Unfortunately, I didn't get a chance to try out the sauna and swimming pool, but definitely looked great. As other reviewers have mentioned, the highlight of Th...

SN

Local Guide2 months ago

Thank you for making our recent stay memorable at the Westin Josun Seoul. From check-in to check-out, the service was flawless and incredibly attentive - no waiting at the reception desk at all. The K-limousine stopped right at the hotel with staff were already waiting to welcome us. They even noticed my birthday and surprised me with thoughtful gestures. Luggage handling and airport bus tickets ...

Tess Dunn

Local Guidea week ago

Some of the best service I have ever experienced after travelling to 47 countries. Everyone is beyond kind and helpful, housekeeping was incredible, the bartender makes an amazing martini, and my facial/massage was one of the best I’ve ever had. Amazing!!!

Lena

Local Guidea month ago

I spent five days at the oldest hotel in Seoul and I'm incredibly satisfied. I will definitely stay here again on my next visit 💛 ​This hotel has some unique policies compared to other Westin properties. Specifically, reservations are required for the pool and evening lounge. Although I did not use the pool, I was able to access the lounge without a reservation. I visited the lounge three or fou...

Pippa Ryan

a month ago

I had an amazing stay at The Westin Josun Seoul, with truly exceptional service. After I accidentally left my phone and reading glasses behind, Lizy, Ping and Summer went above and beyond to help locate everything and organise secure FedEx delivery back to me. Their communication, care and professionalism were outstanding and made a stressful situation completely seamless. The hotel itself was f...

Sarah K

Local Guide2 months ago

Very late to give a review (Stayed during July) Excellent hotel with beautiful buffet of diverse cuisine choices, best services, rooms, and location. Facilities were amazing, offering comfortable hot springs and massage chairs. Very memorable and potentially one of the best hotels I’ve gone to so far, thank you.

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