There are many hotels in the area that are similarly priced and just as well located. The difference this hotel has are as follows:
1. The hotel is a stone's throw away from Deoksugung - compound of traditional palace buildings.
2. Its basement leads to an underground shopping arcade that connects you directly to the underground train system and other shopping malls in the area. It also connects you directly to Myeongdong (about a ten minute walk) - an amazing cacaphony of street food, fashion shops and cosmetics stores.
3. The airport limousine bus drops/picks you directly at the hotel doorstep (albeit the sidedoor).
4. Hotel is a ten minute walk to Nandaemun (do check out the ginseng wholesale centre - it's located on the second floor of a dodgy looking building).
5. Some rooms have a chic, designer layout that is different from what you get at other hotels.
6. Rooms are automated: curtains, lights, thermostat, toilet can all be controlled via buttons.
7. Nespresso coffee machine in the room (you have to request for it - only 1 free capsule a day, although they give you three capsules a day. Only the first capsule is free.).
8. Faces the noisy, City Hall ice-skating rink. Could be a plus or a minus, depending.
9. Morning newspaper delivered to your door.
If night-time shopping and street food is your thing, then I would suggest staying at Myeongdong instead. Otherwise this hotel is a pretty nice option.
