W Seoul Walkerhill, Seoul

This was a great hotel. The staff speaks very good English, infact not all of them are even Korean. Very clean, and there is a casino attached to the hotel.

My wife and I stayed at the W Hotel Seoul Walker Hill for 3 nights Friday Nov. 16 – Monday Nov. 19, 2007. $280/night. The hotel lives up to its billing as astonishingly well designed. The lobby was modern, trendy, and spacious. The staff was numerous and all well trained and courteous. They all speak English. We chose the “Fabulous” room, which featured a king sized bed, stereo, dvd player, auto-open/close curtains, frig, ironing board, safe, too many lighting feathers to name, and a two person Jacuzzi with river view. We went for non-smoking so were delegated to a low floor (6th floor), but the view was still fine. The room and service definitely lived up to the “Fabulous” name. One problem, however. The trendy styled room featured a nearly open bathroom with lightly frosted glass doors, so your partner’s toilet visits are visible and worst yet, fully audible. So you may not want to choice this room if you are going with someone that you are long familiar with. (My wife and I are of course married, and thus familiar with each other, but I don’t think that it will ever be fully comfortable for me to sit on the squatter in front of someone else.) Adjacent to the W is the Sheraton which has a casino and duty-free shop in the basement. You can access the casino through a connecting underground passage. There is absolutely nothing else around the W because it is on the side of a mountain in Northeast Seoul. Get snacks, drinks for the room, etc. before you come if you don`t want to rely on room service. Did not eat at the hotel restaurant because we opted to go to outside Korean places, but drink in the 1st floor Woo Bar which boasts the longest bar counter in Korea. Good drinks (about $20 each), simple snack foods ($40 chicken wings), good service. Bar blasts loud techno-music so you have to scream at the person next to you in order for them to hear you. All in all, the W Hotel Seoul Walker Hill deserves its 5 star billing. I would stay again, but maybe choose a room with more toilet privacy.

Now we are talking new style hotel - this is really what we have been looking for in Asia! From the entrance of the hotel- with the bar triving the scene - to the room - WOW- and the SPA- that is one space oddessy experience - you will be amazed! You will love it! I do!

Facilities were not up to par with 5 star hotels. They lacked a hot tub, and the sauna room was extra charge. The sun deck was not pleasant - small and no service. The pool/sun deck area ran out of slippers and did not get more upon our request. So, there were no slippers to use in the public restrooms. The shower design in the rooms made the bathroom flood everytime. 3 coffees in the restaurant were 36,000Won ($36USD). When we asked a manager why it was so expensive, she quoted other 5 stars in Seoul as having similar prices. This was untrue, becuase the 5 star we stayed at three days prior had free coffee. Concierge's desk booked us a show and gave us the wrong time, so we arrived an hour late. I was questioned and given a hard time when I brought a drink into the bar/lobby area from a prior purchase. This happened even though our group was ordering more drinks from the waitress. Workout facility was good - good classes. Modern decor.