Conrad Seoul

1. No room upgrades for Diamond members, even if you reserve an upgraded room. The scam they pull is that they will just put you on a higher floor, and they'll call that an upgrade. No. That's not acceptable since Hilton says a suite should be provided. This is directly from Hilton's website: "Space-available room upgrades. If we have a better room available, it’s yours – up to a 1-bedroom suite." 2. If you use AmEx Fine Hotels and Resorts to book your room, don't expect the US$100 hotel stay credit to actually be US$100. The hotel takes a 10% cut from the exchange rate. That's just wrong of them. 3. Also, the Italian restaurant is terrible. Don't go there. The pizza was worse than the frozen stuff at the supermarket.

The hotel itself is great. Would give a 10/10 for the staff, cleanliness, gym, and breakfast. The biggest issue is the location. I stayed here for business and there are loud concerts outside every night that pierce through the room even though I am up on the 30th floor. It is a bunch of loud screaming all evening that goes on past 10pm. So I might suggest that if you are here for business travel and need a good night sleep to stay elsewhere.

Recently, I stayed at this hotel with my family. Based on what I had read, I knew upgrades for Diamond members are rare, so my expectations were low. Unfortunately, the check-in experience was even worse than I anticipated. The staff member (I didn’t catch his name, as they no longer wear name badges) who assisted me not only failed to recognize my membership status but was also quite arrogant. I felt as though he was smirking when explaining that there has been a shortage of 5-star hotels in Seoul since COVID. When I asked about an upgrade, I didn’t expect much, but his response was unpleasant. Thankfully, things improved after that. Every room has a bathtub, and the hotel’s location is excellent for shopping. Though most hotels in Seoul are conveniently located due to the well-organized subway system, this one was particularly well-placed. The lounge food had also improved significantly since my last visit. Finally, the check-out process was much more pleasant than check-in. Unlike the check-in staff, Rachel Lee was kind and helpful, even assisting us in locating a lost item. She really helped improve my impression of the hotel by the end of our stay.

The Conrad Seoul offers a peaceful escape in the heart of Yeouido’s business district. Despite its central location, the hotel maintains a quiet and relaxing atmosphere, ideal for a calm stay. The rooms are clean and well-maintained, providing a comfortable experience. While there are more modern hotels in Seoul with advanced amenities and services, the Conrad remains a solid choice for a quality stay. One minor issue was their laundry service, which declined to clean a chamois garment due to material restrictions. While slightly inconvenient, it did not significantly affect the overall experience. Overall, the Conrad Seoul combines a serene environment with reliable comfort, making it a good option for visitors to the city.

This is my second review of the Conrad Seoul. Previously, I stayed for 4 days with my family but this year, I had an opportunity to stay alone for 8 days. It was originally for 3 days, but given my satisfaction with the hotel, the stay was extended to 8 days total. In that, I cancelled my stays at the Shilla Seoul and the Grand Hyatt at Itaewon. Even if I don't write one more word, I think that might say something about how much I enjoyed my time at the Conrad Seoul. Unlike the last time when touring Korea and Seoul in particular were the goals, I stayed at the hotel for the most part, venturing out to shop at the nearby IFC Mall and the Hyundai mostly. For that reason, I think I had a better feel of the service offered by the hotel than the last time. In short, it was exemplary. I can probably find some faults, but nothing I can complain about. The housekeeping was excellent. It was unintrusive yet comprehensive. Every request was met timely and completely. The turnaround for the drycleaning was particularly good at around 6 hours. Shoeshining was offered and taken advantage of, and it was completed satisfactorily in about the same time period as well. Daily turndown service might as well have been invisible. I actually did not even realize it was offered until I checked my ice bucket 3 night in and found it mysteriously filled. I don't usually make a mess but after that, I realized the the room was subtly but surely straightened out. I confirmed it a couple nights after by running into the housekeeping doing the turndown service. I'm used to it being something you have to request even at the high end properties in the US, so it was a pleasant and welcome surprise. Every employee was helpful and professional. Everything was spotless and well taken care of. I didn't even want to leave the hotel which might be a negative in some sense, but nothing you can really blame the hotel for, If I had to make one complaint, the morning buffet menu could use some variation. But I think that's more about the length of my stays than anything else. After 3 to 4 days, you do see same things repeating. But it's an excellent buffet, meticulously looked after by many roving attendants. It does get busy after about 8AM, especially on the weekends, but they made the waiting area more pleasant than the last time we visited. There are even 2 videos game machines for the kids to occupy their time. I'ma not actually done with my stay; I have 2 more nights remaining. But I feel confident writing this review now because I don't think my experience can be spoiled at the Conrad Seoul if everything proceeds as it has. You can take that as another positive note about this hotel. I'ma planning a return next year with the whole family and Ill probably stay at the Conrad Seoul the entire time. I may never get to write review about the Shilla Seoul and I'ma okay with that.