Banyan Tree Club & Spa Seoul, Seoul

though initial appearance may be less than stellar, this is more than made up for by the excellent service of the friendly and helpful staff. there is a complementary shuttle bus service that takes you to key drop off sites in seoul, which is a definite plus. the room i stayed in was clean and relaxing in a simple asian/zen type decor of white and wood and the bathroom luxurious with wall to ceiling and floor in gorgeous marble with kohler bath/sink and grohe fixtures. if you are fortunate to get one of the higher floors, the views of either south mountain (namsan) or the city (and depending on the room--if you are lucky both) are simply amazing.

the food is fresh, tasty and not too expensive --and it is equally good in both korean and western cuisine. the breakfast buffet at the cafe is more than worth the money--locals come to the bakery for their well known breads.

the only downside of Tower is that there is no sauna/bath for women..., but the word is that the men's sauna/bath is very refreshing and locals frequent this regularly as well.