The Westin Josun Seoul Hotel
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Hotel Details
Location
Seoul
Korea, Asia
Brand
Westin
Hotel Group
Marriott
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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.
Marriott
Hyatt
Accor
Hilton
