The first time we went to South Korea, we stayed at Hotel Skypark Myeongdong 1. I know I gave it a positive review but looking back now the only good things about it were the location and the price. The room there was dark, windowless, and cramped. Those alone are enough to turn me off a hotel room these days. Maybe it’s because I was younger back then (30-something) so I was more accepting of what our accommodations were like. These days, I don’t have the energy to deal with shitty hotels. AirBNBs are also not an option for me. This is my second trip to South Korea and I booked Mercure Ambassador Seoul Hongdae. I got an Accor Plus membership earlier this year and I used my free night here.
I got a Superior Room with 1 King Bed (₱10,000+ per night) since it’s only my daughter and I this time. Our room was equipped with complete toiletries, a mini refrigerator, a hair dryer, an electric kettle, slippers, and a Kanu coffee machine. They also gave us unlimited bottled water everyday. We would each get one from the reception area before heading out so we would not have to buy (bottled water outside costs 900-1,000 won per bottle).
Hotels in South Korea do not give out dental kits so you have to bring your own toothbrush etc. No cotton buds, cotton pads, and the like too. I didn’t know so we ended up buying from the CU Convenience Store across our hotel.
The cabinet had enough hangers and was spacious enough for us to hang our clothes.
The toilet flushes automatically.
There’s a console that controls everything about it. I appreciated the seat warming function as our room would get very cold when I set the aircon to 19C.
We had a decent shower area furnished with liquid soap, shampoo, and conditioner. The heater worked perfectly too.
The room is spacious by Korean standards. I remember not being able to move around in the cramped Hotel Skypark Myeongdong 1 before. This was a refreshing change. The bed is very comfortable. I liked the fluffy comforter and pillows. There were also 2 USB charging outlets plus a regular outlet on each side of the bed. There are also more outlets on the study table. The hotel free wifi is great, I forgot to check the speed but we could do everything we needed to and more so it’s all good.
My daughter had school stuff to work on so this study table was used to death nightly. I should mention that the room is immaculately clean so it’s very relaxing after a long day of traveling around Seoul. We also had a good view of Hongdae from our window.
The hotel has a 24H coin laundromat at the basement. Detergent costs 500 won. A dryer sheet costs another 500 won. It’s 4,000 won to use the washing machine and 4,000 won to use the dryer. We laundered clothes twice. This laundromat is also equipped with a clothes steamer, flat iron, and even a waiting area with magazines and a TV. It’s by far nicer than every other hotel laundromat I’ve used.
Breakfast here isn’t really worth it though. The spread is very basic and it’s 27,000+ won per person. You get a special discounted rate of 19,000+ won if you reserve and pay at least one day in advance. There are a lot of better breakfast options in the area outside the hotel.
Since I’m an Accor Plus member, we were granted early check-in at 11am and late check-out at 2pm. We were also given free welcome drinks of our choice which we brought up to our room. This hotel is near the Hongik University Station Exit 9, but since that has no elevator, we exited at Hongik University Station Exit 8 with our luggage from the airport. Hongik University Station is accessible via the all-stop train from the airport which is the cheapest transportation option. It was a breeze since our luggages were light upon arrival. When we checked-out, we booked a taxi to take us to Incheon Airport (49,000 won) since I really did not want to lug our big (now heavy because of shopping) suitcases out on the streets in 8C weather just to reach the train or bus station.
Staff at Mercure Ambassador Seoul Hongdae are all very courteous and helpful. They also have a good command of English. The location is really excellent. There are so many restaurants, convenience stores, and shops near us. We are also near the train and bus station. It’s also a lot less crowded compared to Myeongdong. Streets are also more spacious, it’s a joy to walk around Hongdae.
I highly recommend this hotel if you’re planning to visit South Korea.
If you are in the Philippines and would like to become an Accor Plus member, I can refer you to my agent Ms. Joy Trangia (Viber +639177608717). I got my membership from her. What’s nice is she keeps me updated on the latest promos, like what freebies are included during the time of membership. She will also always give the best discounted rate if available. Ms. Joy is very helpful and always ready to assist. Just tell her you were referred by me, Rowena Wendy Lei.
I have a video of the hotel HERE.
Mercure Ambassador Seoul Hongdae
144 Yanghwa Ro, Mapo-Gu 04050 SEOUL, South Korea
+82 2-3774-1101
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