“Feels more like a motel than a hotel”
We booked the Premiere Room at The Ace Hotel in Seoul for six nights but ended up leaving after only three nights. The experience was so poor that staying any longer felt unbearable and unhealthy.
Room Condition:
The room itself was large in size, but that was the only positive. It was extremely dark, outdated, and uncomfortable. The tiny window barely allowed any light, which made the room feel like it had no windows at all. The atmosphere was claustrophobic and heavy—definitely not a space where you can relax or feel at ease. The overall look and feel were more like a cheap roadside motel than a proper hotel.
Comfort and Sleep Quality:
The bedding setup was disappointing. There were no proper bed liners, the blankets were very thin, and the pillows were small, flat, and hard. Sleeping was difficult every single night because of how uncomfortable the bed was. A good night’s rest, which should be a basic expectation in any hotel, was impossible here.
Amenities:
For a hotel in Seoul, even at a basic level, you expect complete toiletries and a safety box in the room. Neither was provided. The toiletries were incomplete, and the lack of a safety box made the room feel unsafe. These missing essentials only added to the frustration of staying here.
Location:
The hotel is hidden in a narrow alley, which makes it inconvenient for travelers. It is not in a prime area and lacks the easy accessibility that many other Seoul hotels offer. If you are visiting as a tourist, you will find this location less than ideal.
Overall Experience:
On top of everything, I actually got sick on the first day of staying in this hotel. The room environment was so depressing and uncomfortable that I only started to feel better after transferring to another hotel. That says a lot about the overall quality of this place. Instead of feeling refreshed and relaxed, my health and mood were negatively affected.
Final Thoughts:
This hotel does not deliver the experience you would expect from a place that calls itself a hotel. From the dark, suffocating rooms to the cheap, motel-like atmosphere, thin bedding, lack of basic amenities, and poor location, the entire stay was disappointing.
If you want to enjoy your time in Seoul, feel comfortable, and stay somewhere that actually feels like a hotel, I strongly recommend booking elsewhere. The Ace Hotel feels much more like a motel than a hotel, and I would not suggest it to anyone looking for a safe, comfortable, and enjoyable stay in Seoul.
