ITAEWON

The room renovations look nice, check-in was easy, and the staff were kind. The elevators were quick and never crowded, and the air purifier was great, especially since cigarette smoke is likely to seep into the room. The location is fine, with the subway an easy walk away. But I couldn’t relax here. Loud music went on until 2 a.m. on weekends, the beds were hard and uncomfortable, and the thin walls let me hear the person next door snoring all night. My conditioner was empty when I arrived. I asked room service to refill it, but they didn’t, so I had to buy a small bottle. I mainly use hotels to wash and sleep, and it was frustrating that both of those basic needs became difficult. Unfortunately, I wouldn’t stay again or recommend it.

The room was clean and a decent size, and the staff were polite, friendly, and spoke good English. The location was convenient for the subway, convenience stores, the mosque, and halal food, though it’s a bit far from some day tour pickup spots. I had a comfortable stay at Imperial Palace Boutique Hotel Itaewon.

I used to love this hotel, but since the renovation it’s become pretty terrible. Things in the rooms don’t work, including the power sockets, and water won’t drain from the bathtub or sink. The rooms are very dim too. There are signs in the bathroom about going green and avoiding single-use plastic, but there’s nowhere to refill drinking water, so they hand out plastic bottles in the lobby. It feels contradictory, and like they’re not paying much attention to the place. I won’t be back.

For 250,000 won, or 150 euros, a night, this was ridiculous. Hair was all over the room when I moved in, though it didn’t bother me much at first. Then I found out the basement club thumps away until 5:30 a.m., even on the 11th floor, and I couldn’t turn off the room light because the master switch and bedside buttons didn’t work. At 5 a.m. they sent someone to reset a switch in a box hidden in the wardrobe, but the bedside controls still wouldn’t work. A nightmare.