Fraser Place Central Seoul Residence

After planning a five-day/four-night stay in Seoul and reserving accommodation through Agoda, we were informed a week before our scheduled check-in date that the hotel we'd selected and paid for could no longer accommodate us. In a rather last-minute bind, we decided on the Fraser Place Central Seoul Residence. While, as you can probably imagine, I was quite vexed and a bit apprehensive heading to check-in, I was optimistic about the Fraser, particularly because of the size of our accommodation, which included two sizable bedrooms and bathrooms, a full kitchen, dining room, and living room. This is the main selling point of the hotel, point blank. That amount of space is truly unbeatable in Seoul (excluding homestays; we wanted hotel amenities). I didn't appreciate how helpful this would be throughout our trip when I made our initial booking, and for that, I am grateful. Now, with the size of the room I described and a property as large as the Fraser, there are bound to be details that go overlooked. The rooms are a bit dated, and many areas showed accumulated dust and debris. Though this might just be because my family is particularly germ-averse, we did not feel comfortable settling into any of the furniture without wiping things down ourselves or, in the case of cloth furniture, covering them before use. The morning after our initial nighttime check-in, we opened the windows (another plus) to air out the stale smell we arrived to the night before. As the days wore on, however, we did become more comfortable in the space. The daily housekeeping, while rather surface level, was much appreciated, and each of the staff members who tidied was very kind. My family members enjoyed the hotel amenities, including a gym and sauna. Though there is a swimming pool, we were informed upon check-in that usage would be limited to once per day. The actual definition of this policy became murky when an informational card in our room stated the policy was applied per guest, while a pool attendant insisted that it meant per room. Anyway, it wasn't majorly consequential, but something that could have used clarification. The surrounding area isn't particularly bustling. If you aren't familiar with Seoul, do not expect to be "right in the mix" if you select this property. While you will be a quick bus ride away (there are multiple convenient stops right outside the hotel) from the real action, please know that you will not be walking distance from Seoul Station (perhaps so, if you aren't carrying luggage), Myeongdong, etc. There are some decent convenience stores, restaurants, and cafes nearby, but the area is quiet. While our initial front-desk service and the service throughout was okay, an absolute star of a staff member went above and beyond at the end of our stay when we asked if the hotel could hold some of our luggage while we went on to spend a few days in Busan. He gladly agreed and, upon our return to Seoul, had it ready for us to retrieve. So, what's the verdict? I would absolutely recommend the Fraser for families or large groups staying in Seoul for longer than three days and who don't mind a bit of extra travel to reach the real hot spots of the city. The price of our stay was affordable (ultimately saving us money compared to our initial stay), and again, the room was spacious beyond what I'd even anticipated. While the facilities aren't the most updated, a few swipes of a disinfectant and a bit of fresh air can easily clear up any initial discomfort.

We had a great visit while visiting Seoul. Highly recommend this hotel!

We booked three 2-bedroom units for our 3-nights stay for our of group 10, which consisted of three generations ranging from 16 to 84. Everyone enjoyed the stay and loved having all the comforts of home like the kitchen and washer/dryer. The staff was friendly, professional, and very helpful in assisting us in booking larger taxis to get around in and assisting us with our numerous luggage. I highly recommend this hotel for families who desire more space and practicality. Thank you for the wonderful stay, Fraser Place Central Seoul!

an ok hotel