Hotel Boutique 9

The location is very convenient, helpful staff

Great value for money. It was beyond our expectations. The girl in the reception was very nice and helpful. Special thanks to her.

在地铁站旁边，地理位置优越，房间宽敞，舒适整洁，非常满意。

We chose this hotel because of its excellent reviews, its convenient location near the subway, and the spacious rooms. Unfortunately, after staying here, we found that almost everything seemed to come with an extra cost, while the quality of service fell far below what we expected. There were three guests staying in our room, yet only one key card was provided. We requested a second key card, but the receptionist informed us that we had to pay a 10,000 KRW refundable deposit for an additional card. While a deposit itself is understandable, providing only one key card for three guests is extremely inconvenient and not what we would expect from a hotel. We then asked for a bath mat after showering. A non-slip bath mat is a basic safety amenity that most hotels provide to prevent guests from slipping. We were simply told they didn’t have one. Later, we requested an extra blanket because there were three people staying in the room. Again, the answer was simply “No.” No explanation, no alternative, and no attempt to find a solution. The biggest disappointment, however, was the reception team. The staff struggled to communicate in basic English. We completely understand that not everyone speaks fluent English—that is not the issue. Hospitality is not about perfect language skills; it is about the willingness to help. Unfortunately, although the staff appeared to understand our requests, they showed little interest in assisting us or finding any solution. Their attitude, manner, and customer service were genuinely disappointing. The reception team urgently needs proper hospitality training to meet even general hotel service standards. On the positive side, the housekeeping staff were wonderful—kind, friendly, and genuinely welcoming. There was also one young male receptionist who went out of his way to help us, and we sincerely appreciate his professionalism. Sadly, the rest of the front desk staff left a completely different impression. This is not our first trip to South Korea, but it is our first time staying at this hotel—and it will definitely be our last. We will not recommend this hotel to friends, family, or travellers from our country. What made this experience even more disappointing is that everyone in our group works in the hospitality industry. We have an Executive Chef, an F&B professional from Sydney, and I work as an F&B business consultant and director. We understand what genuine hospitality looks like because we work with service standards every day. That is why this experience was so frustrating. Compared with the hotels we stayed at during our previous trip to Korea, the difference in service quality was obvious. It reminded us that hotel star ratings are not just decorations—they should reflect consistent service and real guest experiences. Ironically, some of the most memorable hospitality we received in Korea came from a small pocha (street food tent) with no stars, no awards, and no luxury branding. The staff there welcomed us warmly, made every effort to help us, and left us with wonderful memories. That experience showed us that true hospitality is not about stars or awards—it’s about attitude, respect, and the willingness to care for your guests. This hotel has a great location and spacious rooms, but without significant improvements to the reception team’s attitude, communication, and hospitality training, it feels much closer to a hostel than a three-star hotel. We sincerely hope the management takes this feedback seriously and improves the system, because the property has potential—but the guest experience is being let down by the front desk service. Truly and deeply disappointed. Ps. ONLY young men always in black suit and short hair staffs are nice