During a recent stay in Seoul I stayed a few days at the Westin Chosun in Seoul. Room booked as usual on the Marriott application to be sure to get the best rate.
For the anecdote it is the oldest hotel in South Korea even if of course the building is not the same anymore…
Location of the hotel
The hotel is very central since it is located in the center of a shopping and business district. Not the most picturesque area of Seoul but it makes it easy to get around the city. If you like to walk you can reach almost all the tourist sites on foot.
Count on an hour’s drive from the airport of Incheon, which is very far from the city.
Arrival at the hotel
The Westin Chosun Seoul occupies a large tower that cannot be missed.
As soon as I get out of my Uber a bellman comes to take my luggage and accompany me to the reception.
Having made my check-in online I am given the keys, I put a signature and it takes less than 2 minutes for me to go to my room.
The day before I had a pleasant surprise. I had checked by simulating a reservation that no more rooms were available so I had no hope of an upgrade. And despite everything I saw in the application during the night that I was upgraded to a “renewal suite”, not even the smallest suite available but the 3rd largest, that is to say a 5 level upgrade! Nice application of the loyalty program.
I will be escorted to my room.
The appearance is very flattering but the number of pillars in the lobby reflects an older building design.
The style of the upstairs hallway is a bit more old-fashioned than the reception area.
The renewal suite at the Westin Chosun Seoul
We enter a small corridor which gives access to a beautiful dressing room.
Then the living room part. Sober and functional.
I like the large office space.
The bareness of the room makes the space seem much larger than it really is, but I don’t mind.
Then the room itself in a style that I would describe as very Japanese with the bed embedded in a platform.
Here again the sobriety of the place increases the impression of space.
Same style for the bathroom with toilets that remind me of my latest vacations in Tokyo.
A single basin sink…
There is a large shower.
And a bathtub also on a platform.
Simply open the door to access the bath directly from the bedroom.
And one last video tour.
Mon impression ?
It is sober and there is a lot of space. We have the usual bedding of Westin so no bad surprise on the quality of the sleep.
But there are several points that cloud the picture.
First of all it’s very very low ceiling. Claustrophobes abstain! Then it’s dark, very dark, even with all the lights on. The touchscreen tablet that controls the lights and air conditioning is a real mess!
Finally, once the charm of the lobby is gone, it is clearly old-fashioned. A hotel that I guess is old, which has been renovated but not enough or half, which leaves a rather mixed impression.
In the end nice but not exceptional at all.
The hotel’s facilities.
Of course, the hotel has a gym. Getting there is a real challenge. You are given a badge at the fitness/wellness/spa reception, you go to the end of a corridor, you pass through a small door, you cross the swimming pool changing rooms and you finally arrive at the fitness room.
A DIY impression that confirms my impression: “we renovated but we did what we could”.
On the other hand, the gym is huge and remarkably well equipped. Luminous what is more.
It even deserves a video.
Very, very good.
There is also a pool that I didn’t feel like trying at all. It is big and bright, but I find the “competition pool with water lines” in a hotel totally stupid.
I will also skip the spa.
Bars and restaurants
As a titanium elite member of the loyalty program I had access to the executive club and that is where I will start.
It is located at the top of the hotel and offers a great view.
It is large, well decorated and even offers small private spaces.
The offer is rich.
It is not difficult to find what you are looking for when it comes to drinks.
Of course there are all the possible and imaginable softs….finally except sparkling water!
A very nice lounge which is in the category of those who compete with the restaurants of the hotel!
I will also try two restaurants: Sushi Cho, Japanese restaurant, and Ninth Gate, more international.
I tried the tasting menu at Sushi Cho. Not only is it ordinary, the place lacks style, and my dinner will be constantly disrupted by a drunken, loud-mouthed customer that the staff won’t dare to throw out, while constantly apologizing for his attitude.
An experience to forget.
What about the ninth gate? The design is very successful.
As for the rest…
Ok for the gambas !
The beef is adequately cooked but the presentation leaves something to be desired.
The glass may be large, but the wine is served in drops.
And if this is a mac and cheese I’m a flight attendant!
I will finish with the bar of the hotel. It is located on the ground floor and is quite large.
The cocktail menu is not bad, the service rather good…but in the evening the noise is deafening with a music not only loud but of a style totally unsuited to the place.
I quickly ran away.
In short, if you have access to the executive club, you can be satisfied with it or go to one of the thousands of excellent restaurants in Seoul, as the Westin Chosun’s offer is clearly not at the level.
Bottom line: yes, but not great
The Westin Chosun Seoul offers a very decent service but below what is expected from a property of this standing. It has obviously been renovated but still suffers from the weight of years and its structure limits improvements and the level of service and quality in the bars and restaurants is far from sufficient.
Further evidence of Westin’s difficulty in reinventing itself.
To compare to recent experiences at Westin they have avoided the neglected and sloppy state of the Westin Miyako Kyoto but are far from the level of excellence of a property like the Westin Jakarta, which is more modern.
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