Tower Hill Hotel

There was hair everywhere, in the bed, bath, and towels. Everything was old and smelled bad, and dinner never arrived. Reception wasn't efficient either. In the morning I found a bag that was probably my dinner hanging from the door handle. What a joke, that's something I'll remember.

BIFF and the subway are both close by, which is a big plus. The room felt dated and had a damp smell, maybe from the carpet. The bathtub curtain was a little dirty, and the sink was clogged, though they fixed it the next day during our two-night stay. Check-in was unfriendly. Toothbrushes weren't supplied, so you have to buy one from the vending machine as part of the hotel's green campaign.

The only real catch was that the buffet was available for just two hours. Otherwise, I had a good experience.

The room was much tinier than I expected. It was listed as 24 square meters, yet felt smaller than two Seoul hotel rooms I'd stayed in that were listed at 18 square meters. We were on the third floor, which lined up with a street at ground level because of the building's position. Cars and people passing could see inside, so we had to keep the blackout curtains shut all day. We could hear pedestrians talking as they went by, too. Getting around on foot wasn't easy either. The nearest subway station was a 7-8 minute walk, along a road with cars and no sidewalk. That would be awkward with luggage or small children, and especially in the rain. At the desk, staff struggled with basic English questions like where the subway was or how long a taxi would take. I wondered whether foreign guests could get enough help in an emergency. Some staff were also rude. On both September 1 and 2, I heard the two women on shift laughing and talking about customers while I waited by the elevator, which made me uncomfortable. The room was cleaned well, and they provided a toothbrush and shower cap. Still, I won't choose this hotel again.