ibis Ambassador Seoul Insadong (Newly renovated in 2025)

The public hot bath and gym are a nice bonus, since hotels here don't commonly offer them and people usually go to Korean saunas outside the hotel. Haha. This is my second stay since the renovation, and the place now feels modern and minimalist. The bat is a little hard for me, but the pillows are perfect. I also enjoy the small fun quotes posted around the place. The check-in staff were helpful and smiled a lot.

I had a pleasant stay at Ibis Ambassador Insadong. Insadong is a charming, calm neighborhood, and being right in the middle of it made getting around feel easy. The hotel was clean and well looked after. Housekeeping were especially kind and attentive, and the front desk staff were welcoming and helpful. Convenience stores, money exchange, local eateries, bars, and restaurants are right outside, and transit is easy too. There's an airport bus stop within walking distance, plus metro and bus routes going across the city. There's even a nearby jjimjilbang. The price is a little higher than at other Ibis hotels, but you're paying for the location, which is where this place really shines. One problem I ran into was that all my debit and credit cards from Germany were declined, making payment difficult, so it's worth having another way to pay just in case. Still, it's a good choice for exploring Seoul in a comfortable, well-connected area.

The staff were attentive and thoughtful. Miss Anne Lee at the front desk patiently explained the buffet after I misunderstood a notice about the hotel starting to serve buffet lunch in December and thought breakfast buffet had stopped. I hope I got her name right. The housekeeper also noticed that we left the mineral water bottles outside the fridge, and afterward she'd leave them there for us. Korean guests may prefer cold water, but we didn't. Such a nice gesture. We tried the buffet lunch too, and it was great value. Hotel guests get 20% off. For a three-star place, I found the stay excellent value compared with other hotels I've tried. The room was clean and big enough for three, apart from the very cramped shower area. It felt almost like washing inside a spacecraft. There are a gym, laundry area, and rooftop views of the area. The free hot bath became part of my routine almost every night, and it really helped me unwind and lose the day's tiredness. The hotel is only a few minutes' walk from a subway station connected to three lines, making it a great base for independent travel around Seoul. It's also next to Insadong Hanok Village and close to Insadong culture street, with lots of Instagram-friendly cafes. Two convenience stores right by the hotel made late-night snacks and drinks easy to get. I'd definitely stay here again when I visit Seoul.

I couldn't sleep properly here. The room had a strong, very unpleasant smoky smell, and I even found a used plastic bag beside the bed. The thin door let us hear people talking in the corridor, and noisy bars across the road, along with people drinking and smoking near the hotel, made the area loud. I absolutely wouldn't recommend this hotel for families with children.