Hotel Prince Seoul

I’ll be honest – when I first walked up to Hotel Prince Seoul, I wasn’t expecting much from a 3-star property. But you know what? Sometimes the places that don’t try too hard to impress you end up being the most pleasant surprises. This hotel sits right in the heart of Seoul, and after spending several nights there, I can tell you it punches well above its weight class.

The lobby has this clean, no-nonsense vibe that immediately put me at ease – none of that over-the-top marble and gold stuff you see everywhere. Just good lighting, comfortable seating, and staff who actually seem happy to help rather than going through the motions. My room was on the 8th floor, and honestly, the view wasn’t anything spectacular (mostly other buildings), but the room itself was surprisingly well thought out. The bed was firm in that perfect Korean hotel way, and I mean this – the shower pressure was incredible. You’d be amazed how many nice hotels mess that up. The air conditioning worked quietly, which matters when you’re trying to adjust to jet lag and Seoul’s humidity hits you like a wall in summer.

What really won me over was the attention to small details that frequent travelers notice. The WiFi actually worked throughout the building (tested it in the elevator, because why not), there were enough outlets near the bed for all my devices, and the blackout curtains were thick enough to block out Seoul’s neon-bright nights. The neighborhood around the hotel is fantastic if you want to feel like you’re staying where locals actually live and work – there’s a convenience store literally next door, and within a five-minute walk you’ll find about a dozen restaurants serving everything from Korean BBQ to surprisingly good Italian food. I spent one evening just wandering the nearby streets and stumbled into this tiny pojangmacha (street food stall) that served the best tteokbokki I had during my entire trip.

The breakfast isn’t elaborate, but it’s solid – Korean staples mixed with some Western options, and the coffee is actually drinkable, which isn’t always a given. Check-in was smooth, and the front desk staff spoke excellent English without making me feel awkward about my terrible Korean pronunciation attempts. One thing to note: the elevators can be a bit slow during peak times, but honestly, that just gave me more opportunities to practice reading the Korean floor indicators. With an 8.3 rating, this place clearly knows what it’s doing, and after staying there myself, I get why guests keep coming back. It’s the kind of hotel that doesn’t waste your time with unnecessary frills but nails all the basics that actually matter when you’re exploring a incredible city like Seoul.

Best hotels in Seoul range from luxurious properties in the upscale Gangnam district to boutique hotels with stunning views of Namsan Tower and the Han River.