Lenith Hotel Seomyeon

Our group had rooms 506 and 508, both deluxe twins. The hotel is beside the Lotte Dept store, reached through a back entrance and a narrow alley where people are always smoking. Lots of restaurants nearby mean noise and cigarette smells, especially in the evening and at night. It’s under a 10-minute walk to the closest subway station, exit 7, and about 15 minutes to exit 12, where most bus tours meet. We joined one of those tours. From the first day, the hallway smelled strongly of smoke, and some of it got into the rooms. We kept the doors and windows shut as much as possible. The rooms were dark because the only windows faced the alley and the neighboring building blocked the light, though there were enough lamps inside. Room 508 had a dirty napkin under the bedside table, and there was body hair on the toilet floor in 506. The rooms were cold and very damp. After our first shower, I noticed water on the toilet floor around midnight. I wiped it up, but it came back, and then I saw water bubbling up through the floor tiles. By morning, the floor near my bed and the basin was wet too. The toilet and shower are in separate rooms, while the only basin is outside, facing the bed. We thought shower water was leaking out because the shower area didn’t drain properly or had damaged seals. The damp and cold made it feel like I’d slept underwater. We asked to move rooms immediately. There was just one available, but I had to check out of 506 by 11 am and wait until 3 pm to check into it. Room 206 was also dark and damp, but at least water wasn’t coming up through the floor and there was no cigarette smell. We avoided using the shower area and stood in the bathtub instead, which had no curtain, because I didn’t want another night of flooding. The room was still very cold despite the outside temperature being over 10 C. Reception couldn’t help by turning on the heat, and they had no extra blankets. I’m very grateful they eventually found a portable heater, which saved my daughter and me. My husband and son in room 508 were cold for the remaining four nights too. My husband found the window covered in water the next morning and had to wipe it off with a towel. He figured the shower mist was trapped inside because the ventilation wasn’t working. Our washed underwear took several days to dry. Some people may like the fancy AirDresser Grand, but I’d rather have a regular dresser with more room to hang my inexpensive travel clothes. The hotel provides lots of free toiletries, including toothbrushes and paste, combs, razors, cleaner and lotion packets, shower caps, and washcloths, plus unlimited bottled water. Staff were generous with hand towels when asked, but didn’t provide large body towels. There’s a small snack area open until 11 pm with free instant noodles, plain sliced bread, instant coffee, and hot water. The area was very clean, thanks to the woman who looked after it. If breakfast was included in your room rate, she served it in the morning: one or two eggs, a frozen sandwich, either egg and cheese or spicy chicken, and some shredded cabbage. I noticed only a few names on her checklist. There’s also a free trial breakfast and the kitchen and laundry room were clean and well kept.