“Spacious apartment and great location in the cultural district”

The location is great - easy walking distance to the main palaces, right beside the main temple and lots of local shops and restaurants a short stroll away. There is a machine in the foyer that you can buy WOWPASS travel card at which is easy to use (English instructions) which issues the card for … more

The location is great - easy walking distance to the main palaces, right beside the main temple and lots of local shops and restaurants a short stroll away. There is a machine in the foyer that you can buy WOWPASS travel card at which is easy to use (English instructions) which issues the card for transport and can be topped up in any currency. In the end we didn’t use the card (we will later in other cities) because we could walk everywhere from our hotel. The room - one bedroom suite - was extremely spacious, clean and comfortable. We could say ‘in need of refurbishment’ as the bathroom was a little tired but it was very clean and the apartment was well equipped (washing machine with supply of powder was welcome) so we were satisfied. We couldn’t check in till 3pm - maybe we should have contacted ahead rather than just turning up at 1pm from our overnight flight - but after that hiccup everything was great.

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“Great Location at a Reasonable Price”

The Somerset Palace Hotel is a good choice for the value-conscious traveler. It has full-serviced apartments that include a kitchen with a small stove, washer/dryer and a full size refrigerator. The main drawback is the lack of electrical outlets in the rooms and the requirement for two-prong ada… more

The Somerset Palace Hotel is a good choice for the value-conscious traveler. It has full-serviced apartments that include a kitchen with a small stove, washer/dryer and a full size refrigerator. The main drawback is the lack of electrical outlets in the rooms and the requirement for two-prong adapters. Breakfast has a basic variety of both Western and Korean food. Besides the reasonable price, the best reason to stay at the Somerset is location. The Jogyesa Temple, Gyeongbokgung Palace and famous Insadong shopping/food street are within walking distance. In addition, a subway station and the Airport Express Bus stop are close by.

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“Excellent location for a worn out apartment hotel”

This apartment hotel is located in the heart of the Jongno District. You are within easy walking distance of two of the large palaces. Other large tourist sites are also within the district and can be reached by longer walks or by the numerous bus stops and subway stations close by. My room was … more

This apartment hotel is located in the heart of the Jongno District. You are within easy walking distance of two of the large palaces. Other large tourist sites are also within the district and can be reached by longer walks or by the numerous bus stops and subway stations close by. My room was large, but very worn out. The couch cushions were completely flat and heavily stained. The furniture is very beaten up, floors completely scratched, curtains fraying, and ceilings were all water damaged (and this was on the 16th floor - which is not the top floor). There is a smell of mold or mildew permeating the hallways. Room temperature is controlled centrally, you cannot change it. While I was able to open two small vent windows and cool it down, once the temperature rises in the summer I don't know how comfortable it will be in the rooms. The bed was ok for comfort and the sheets and comforter were soft. I will say the rooms are very big. So you do have a lot of space. And there is ample storage for your personal items. There is a very small kitchenette available. I found the staff to be wonderful and helpful. They were a pleasure to talk to and did help with whatever you might need. They can give you directions to things and provide some recommendations on food. There isn't room service but there are a couple of restaurants in the building. Other restaurants you will need to travel to - Seoul provides any possible kind of food you might want. So head out and explore. Breakfast is included. It was a very good buffet. Both Korean and western foods are available. It was fresh and tasty. There is also a very small convenience store in the building for small items you may need or snacks and drinks. You can get a T Money card at that store also and you'll need it to ride the busses and subway. Walls are thin, you'll hear everything going on in the neighbors apartments or above you. And this is also a difficult time politically in Korea, so there were protests every day nearby. Those were very loud and cars with loudspeakers would also drive by early in the morning. The windows are not well soundproofed so you're going to clearly hear all this. The location is fantastic, but make sure you understand what you are getting. Watch the prices. If a deal is offered this hotel can be a good option. But definitely do not pay a premium for it.

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