Continuing our Seoul Hotels series (other reviews include the Park Hyatt, Grand Hyatt and W Walkerhill), we continue with this dispatch from TPG reader Daniel, who just stayed at the Westin Chosun Seoul. While nothing flashy, according to Daniel, this Westin features an Executive Club floor which can take your stay from “good” to “great.”
The Westin Chosun’s Club Lounge.
He booked a standard king room through American Express Travel at a rate of 405,000 KRW a night (roughly $373 USD a night). The hotel is an SPG Category 5 property requiring 12,000 Starpoints for an award night, or 4,800 points + $90 for Cash & Points. He chose to pay the rate rather than redeem Starpoints.
The room had a Nespresso machine, and Gold status meant not having to pay 22,000 Won for internet.
The standard kings are your usual Westin fare – i.e. sensible rooms that cater to hard-working business travelers looking to relax after a long day. They include 32-inch LCD TVs, oversized work desks, anti-allergy carpets, wooden flooring and espresso machines, and the Westin Heavenly bed of course.
The bar area at the club lounge, which served cocktails and canapes from 5-8pm daily.
However, Daniel is also a Gold status member of the Starwood Preferred Guest program, so he received an upgrade to the SPG Executive Club floor along with complimentary access to the Executive Club and Spa. That also got him free breakfast in the club, along with afternoon snacks and a 5 – 8pm cocktail hour. The spa, which is connected to the gym and pool, features a sauna/steam room, a few hot tubs and, so he says, lots of nice toiletry products.
The pool at the hotel’s beautiful health club and spa.
Considering a stay here? Daniel gives us some of his top highlights from the hotel:
- Convenient location in central Seoul (didn’t stay at the W for that reason).
- Each room includes an iPhone for free local calls during your stay (I didn’t use it since it’s just one more device to potentially use and I wasn’t making any local calls, but imagine it would be helpful for some).
- In-room Nespresso machine.
- The Club was great – I got breakfast there both days and came for an evening cocktail one of the evenings I was there.
- Loved the gym/spa/pool. Ended up going down there, watched the presidential debate in a bathrobe. They provide workout clothes and bathrobe/bathing suits.
- On day three, I was craving a pizza and a Sauvignon Blanc — both of which can be hard to find in Seoul. Thankfully there was an Italian/American place (one of six restaurants and bars) in the lower level of the Westin which was excellent.
The view from Westin Seoul’s Executive Club floor over breakfast.
Sounds like a mix of straightforward Korean hospitality, standard Westin amenities and some Western touches that hit the spot. Got your own take of the Westin Seoul to share? Please let us know!
Disclaimer: This content is not provided or commissioned by the credit card issuer. Opinions expressed here are author.s alone, not those of the credit card issuer, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the credit card issuer. This site may be compensated through the credit card issuer Affiliate Program.
Chase just announced that beginning June 1, 2013, the United MileagePlus Explorer Card will no longer charge a 3% foreign transaction fee. This is... 
While Barclaycard may not have as many travel credit cards as some of the other big issuers, they've been on a roll lately with their US Airways... 
This is the fourth post in a series on my most recent round of credit card applications and will focus on how to conduct a personal credit card... 
This is the third post in a series on my most recent round of credit card applications and will focus on how to conduct a personal credit card... 
Pingback: Destination of the Week: Seoul | The Points Guy