THE PLAZA Seoul, Autograph Collection

We had an overnight stop in Korea and Mrs Vicar booked The Plaza. We were both very happy with it. From the moment we arrived nothing was too much trouble for anyone and always with a smile. Unfortunately there was heavy rain upon arrival which meant our plan to walk about and check out the local scene for lunch came to nought. Instead we ate at the ground floor restaurant which was a welcome surprise. I can’t remember giving soup much of a mention before but the minestrone and clam chouda were definitely worth waiting for. I say waited for as they appeared after our quality club sandwich and burger. The waitress said it took time to cook them from fresh. It must have been something lost in translation… The hotel room was fairly compact as it had one of the largest double hotel beds we’ve experienced. It had the funkiest lighting we’ve seen complete with a control panel for the motorised curtains as well. The bathroom was spotless with an ample shower and a multifunctional toilet that came with its own control panel. It’s a thing in this part of the world.. The toilet also had an illuminated polar bear icon on top of it so you could find your way to it in the dark. Everything was scrupulously clean. All in all a great stay.

I’ve always thought a concierge’s main role is to assist guests and help them feel at home. However, this morning when I asked for help arranging a courier, I was surprised to be told there would be a concierge fee and that amount to 75% of the courier cost. When I suggested I might handle it myself, I was met with a dry, “But you don’t speak Korean.” I found this response quite unwelcoming. arranging a courier is no more complex than booking a restaurant, a service most hotels provide without extra charge. In an age when essentials like WiFi are free, it’s surprising to see such high fees for basic assistance. If a charge is necessary, it should be communicated with more hospitality and less judgment. Hospitality should make guests feel supported, not penalized for needing help or not speaking the local language.

The customer service in this hotel is phenomenal. The club lounge is one of the best I’ve been in and to a staff member. Everyone is friendly, helpful, and tries to meet your expectations. The hotel is also beautiful clean most everyone speaks English.

Great location, view from room is wonderful. Easy access to underground mall and public transportation. Would have liked an easier place for lunch/bar. The lounge is good, but a more bar-like environment would be nice. Laundry is expensive. Room service is reasonable and quick.

Great location for walking to the Night Market, and the nearby streets with local restaurants. We were able to catch reasonably priced cabs to take us all over Seoul, and they brought us swiftly back to the Plaza with no problems. (We took Airport Limousine #6701 in from the airport.It drops you right in front of the hotel, for only $13 a person.) There are plenty of coffee shops nearby - and it's easy to snag breakfast and coffee within a few blocks. (So many coffee shops..) We are Marriott members and were able to access the lounge for breakfast and afternoon snacks, and evening drinks. The selection at breakfast was fine, plenty of variety and a Nespresso machine. We were disappointed that there were no beers or wine available in the late afternoon, but it is what it is. We did not use the hotel restaurants - there were too many options outside the hotel! (The Pearl, Dublin Brewery, the Night Market, Korean Barbeque, etc.) Anyway, our adult daughter was in the regular double room, and we had a one-bedroom suite. The suite was great - lots of room, king-size bed, electronic controls for drapes, lights, air-cond, etc. The bathroom was large and clean and had both a shower and a tub - a very nice room. The double room however was just over-the-top funky; a bed plopped in the middle of the room facing the windows, huge Pixar-style lamps, large mirrors on opposing walls.. not very soothing or relaxing. More like - "Hey! Isn't this cool?" Yeah, sorta. Anyway, the hotel is quite nice, the location is convenient, the beds are comfortable, and the staff is polite. The servers in the lounge are extremely helpful and the cleaning service is quick and efficient. If you stay here, it may be worth it to pay extra $ for a suite, but.. we didn't spend much time in our room. Seoul is a marvelous, huge, fun City and we enjoyed our stay very much.