Grand Hyatt Seoul

The Grand Hyatt Seoul looks impressively grand from the outside, and the lobby and atrium décor—especially the Christmas lights inside and the illuminated trees outside—are truly beautiful. Staff were friendly and helpful, and the valets were quick and attentive with luggage. Rooms were nicely decorated with fantastic views. However, the bathroom felt outdated for a hotel of this standing: no bidet, dim lighting, a clogged sink in room 346, and a leaky right-hand faucet. The hotel sits at the top of a mountain, so getting anywhere requires an Uber or a steep walk, and there aren’t many convenient stores nearby. The good news is that taxis and Ubers are easy and affordable, and the airport shuttle picks up and drops off right at the doorstep. Overall, a mixed experience—beautiful ambience and great service, but outdated rooms and inconvenient location mean I probably wouldn’t stay again.

A great hotel in every regard. Most important to me, the fitness center was large and very well equipped. The Executive Lounge serves an excellent breakfast. The staff across the hotel were top notch.

Wonderful hotel with a great vibe. The swimming pool is exceptional. Food in the Lounge bar was excellent. Not cheap but highly recommend staying there.

From ~$300+/night to feeling like an unwelcome intruder at @Grand Hyatt Seoul as a person of color: Let me start by saying this isn’t coming from some “big-shot traveler” ego. My job requires global travel; my family and I stay almost exclusively in 5-star international chains across Asia, Europe, and the US. I sincerely only mention it not as a flex but for context; this review isn’t from someone who’s never seen real luxury service—I’ve experienced good service to know when something is seriously off. I wanted so badly to give this hotel the benefit of the doubt. I’ve been trying for days to stay objective, to tell myself the constant side-eyes and colder service were just cultural differences or my imagination. But Grand Hyatt Seoul finally made it impossible — giving constant looks that I absolutely don’t deserve to be worthy of their service because of my skin color. I say this because there were other international travelers and I saw how others were treated. However, this was my experience. I saw how everyone rushed to welcome a white-skinned guest, but rolled their eyes for a person of color. Among other things, at check-out this morning I walked to the front desk and asked for basic luggage assistance to the lobby. The female staff member gave me a slow, deliberate top-to-bottom scan checking if I’m worthy of being helped and told me to “go back to the room and dial 9.” I asked her again and she repeated the same thing. When I asked in disbelief if she was seriously refusing to help a paying guest and actually asking me to go back to my room, she sighed like I was the problem and reluctantly agreed. I was paying ~$300+ USD per night to be treated like someone who should feel grateful they let me stay at all. After a week of similar micro-moments, when a supposed global 5-star Hyatt treats a brown guest this way, it stops being “cultural reserve” and becomes unmistakable lookism and quiet contempt. I wish I didn’t have to write this. I tried so hard to excuse it all. One star, only because of the view and the bed was comfortable. Service: zero. Save your money and your self-respect—stay literally anywhere else.

Had a massage at the SPA, and it was an amazing experience. My therapist was Evelyn and she did an amazing job of releasing my hamstrings.