Sotetsu Hotels The Splaisir Seoul Dongdaemun

The location is good and the rooms are larger, but the staff’s attitude and the early check-in charge were a real problem for us. This was our first stay at this property, after staying at L7 by Lotte in Myeongdong, which was by far the best hotel we stayed at across Seoul. We’ll think twice before recommending this one. I may post a more detailed review after our next three-day stay. Early check-in is not free. If you arrive early, be ready to pay for the room even if it’s available. I’ve stayed at more than 209+ star hotels around the world, and this is the first time I’ve been charged to check in just three hours early. If no room is available, that makes sense, but I don’t see a reason to charge when one is ready and it’s a reasonable time before check-in. Another concern was how rude the staff were. We’ve generally found locals to be very friendly and well behaved, but that wasn’t our experience here. We often heard “it’s not my problem.” If a breakfast dish is running out, ask for a refill or you may be told it’s sold out, followed by “it’s not my problem.” As a foreigner in a place where language can be a real barrier, I’d expect basic help and courtesy. We’ve found that across S Korea, but not at this property.

Getting around was easy, with an elevator just outside the hotel leading down to the subway network. The rooms were clean and had glassware. I’d call it a high grade three star hotel. Breakfast had a wide selection, though the quality seemed average, and the towels felt small and thin. I didn’t care for the scented aroma therapy in the lobby, which I found a little nauseating. The toiletries were very meh, about the quality of what you’d get in most US motels.

We had a comfortable, spacious room with a view of the city and Seoul tower. The hotel is conveniently right in front of the subway station, and there was some Halloween decor to add a festive feel. The staff gave great service during our early morning checkout and advised us about the airport shuttle bus.

The only real drawback was waiting for the lift, which could take a while. Otherwise, the hotel was great value for money and the location was hard to beat. We booked a Deluxe Family Twin Room for five nights, originally intended for three people, though only two of us stayed in it. It was clean and a decent size, with a single bed and a double. We could open our luggage, and bottled mineral water was supplied daily. The bathroom had a bathtub, a toilet with bidet, and shampoo, conditioner, and shower gel. I was pleasantly surprised to find a humidifier in the room. The hotel is at exit 4 of Dongdaemun History & Culture Park Station, beside DDP and surrounded by shopping malls. The subway elevator and airport limousine bus stop are right outside, and two convenience stores are within a two-minute walk. There are 20 floors, with a cafe/restaurant on the second floor. The gym and coin laundry are in the basement, along with an ice maker and microwave. The laundry room only has two washers and two dryers. Staff were very friendly and greeted guests as they arrived. One front desk staff member also kindly introduced the hotel at check-in. I’m not sure if it was a limited-time promotion, but they offered a 25,000 won voucher for Shinsegae department store and an additional 10,000 at Shinsegae Myeongdong. You can also claim a tax refund on the lodging at the airport.