I have never stayed at a J.W. Marriott property before, so my family and I were excited to try out the J.W. Marriott in Dongdaemun on our first trip to Seoul!
Given that the hotel is part of the JW brand (the luxury arm of Marriott) and the hotel is highly rated, I had high expectations going into the trip. I knew it was going to be an interesting stay, starting with the taxi ride to the hotel.
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
I knew it was going to be a comfortable stay the moment I walked into the room. Some rooms can feel stuffy when you walk in, but this hotel room felt spacious. I blurted out, “Wow, this feels like a Conrad.” In my mind, the Conrad (of the Hilton brand) is the classic luxury hotel, often in a class of its own. The J.W. Marriott is obviously not a Conrad, but the hotel has the same luxury feel and a calming comfort.
THE ROOM IN PICTURES
The room is also surprisingly modern. A console sits on the bedside counter, and it controls everything in the room. From the lights to the curtains to the A/C system, you can take care of those settings right from the console. As someone who loves technology, it’s like an awesome toy!
If that’s not enough, the room also has a BOSE system for the flat screen TV. Although I didn’t make much use of the TV, it is still a unique sight. It’s not everyday I see a BOSE system in a hotel room.
THE SERVICE
The service at this hotel has been impeccable at every turn. From the bellhop who brought our luggage up and gave us an overview of the electronic system, to the front desk who checked us in and took care of our foreign currency requests. Each and everyone of the staff we encountered had been efficient and friendly.
At one point, we ran into an issue with the AC during our stay, and the front desk staff promptly sent maintenance staff to investigate. A hotel staff also came up with the maintenance staff (acted as a translator) while he chatted with us. He warmly welcomed us back the next day when he saw us in the lobby and asked us about our day at our tour. I was surprised he even remembered us because he sees a lot of guests day in and day out. These little touches added up and made our stay at the J.W Marriott Dongdaemun all the more welcoming.
THE LOCATION
One of the best thing about this hotel is that it is centrally located. It’s a shopper’s paradise as the hotel is minutes away from Dongdaemun Market. There are a lot of shops around. There is a Doota Mall nearby with a decent food court, and a subway station right outside for easy access if you want to travel to other parts of Seoul.
THE HOTEL GETS A MENTION FROM A PASSERBY
One evening as I was waiting to cross the crosswalk on the way back to the hotel, I overheard someone conversing in English with his companion. It went something like,
“Huh. There’s a J.W Marriott here. I wonder if a “JW” is different from one of those crappy Marriott hotels we’ve stayed at?” He then apparently answered himself. “It’s probably a crappy one.” I guessed he had a bad impression of a Marriott somewhere.
Fortunately, I don’t have to wonder about a “J.W” property anymore. Although the J.W. Marriott in Dongdaemun looks relatively unassuming on the outside, there is a good reason why this hotel is rated as one of the top 5 hotels in Seoul. I’d say that this hotel has far exceeded my expectations in terms of its location, quiet comfort, and consistently solid service. I am very particular about giving 5 stars to any hotels, but I would gladly give this hotel its well-deserved 5-stars rating.
Have you stayed at the J.W Marriott Dongdaemun? Did you have a good stay, or are there other hotels you would recommend in Seoul?
