Starhills Hotel

Breakfast was good, but the room itself was odd, with a very high ceiling and one tiny window. The walls did little to block noise: someone next door shouted into their phone until 3 a.m., for about four hours. We tried the reception when the person didn't respond, but the staff there couldn't speak English.

The bathroom was rather dim, even with both lights on, which was my one real complaint. Everything else suited my solo trip so well that I'd stay again. I booked a double room. It was fairly spacious, with a small sofa, a small fridge, two desks, two computers, and a large shower with a bidet. The bathroom had shampoo, conditioner, body wash, a hair dryer, hair straightener, comb, and round brush. The room was comfortable, and the area was quiet. There are lots of restaurants down the block, and the airport bus stop was a convenient five-minute walk away for my early flight. The staff were friendly. When I couldn't get my luggage lock open, someone at the front desk found several tools to help pry it open. There was also a free breakfast buffet for guests, with both Asian and Western options.

We had a city view from our large, clean room. Seoul's main sights were close enough to reach on foot, and the location was great.

A cat in the lobby was the memorable part for me, since you can play with it. The location also worked really well, close to Namdaemun and Myeongdong, with stations and good shops within walking distance. Our rooms were clean and tidy in my experience, despite seeing other reviews that called them dirty. They're average, with all the essentials, including a hair dryer. Staff speak English, though they came across a little cold and intimidating. This suited us because we spent most of our time exploring, came back for a quick rest, then checked out for our next stop. If you want to relax at the hotel and make it part of the trip, I wouldn't recommend it. For a short stay in a prime location, it can work.