Practical hotel reviews from real stays in Seoul and Korea
StayArchive is an independent hotel review site built around firsthand stays and original photos. I focus on rooms, breakfast, lounges, elite benefits, facilities, service, and value — the things that actually matter after check-in.
Start Here
Choosing where to stay in Seoul? These guides bring together multiple firsthand stays to make the decision easier.
Best Hotels in Gangnam
Compare luxury, business, and Marriott options across Gangnam based on actual stays.
Marriott Hotels in Western Seoul
A practical guide to Marriott properties across western Seoul, from value stays to longer trips.
4 Classic Luxury Hotels in Seoul
A look at four long-established Seoul luxury hotels and how their experiences differ.
Hotel Comparisons
Side-by-side comparisons written after staying at both properties.
Lotte Hotel Seoul vs The Westin Josun Seoul
Two classic downtown luxury hotels compared on rooms, lounges, breakfast, and overall experience.
Grand InterContinental vs The Westin Seoul Parnas
Two major COEX-area hotels, compared from location and rooms to club lounge experience.
JW Marriott Seoul vs Josun Palace
A comparison of two very different luxury choices in southern Seoul.
Browse the Archive
Prefer individual hotel reviews? Browse by destination or hotel program.
Latest Reviews and Guides
Recent hotel reviews, comparisons, and guides from the StayArchive.
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Grand Walkerhill Seoul Review: A Resort Escape by the Han River
Grand Walkerhill Seoul combines Han River views, wooded surroundings and resort-style facilities in eastern Seoul. After several stays in Club Suites and a standard room, here’s my take on its rooms, Club Lounge, pools, location and whether it still offers good value.
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JW Marriott Dongdaemun Review: Great Breakfast, Perfect for Seoul Sightseeing
A two-night stay at JW Marriott Dongdaemun Square Seoul with an excellent Tavolo 24 breakfast, a striking indoor pool and one of Marriott’s better locations for sightseeing in Seoul.
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JW Marriott Seoul vs Josun Palace: Which Hotel Would I Actually Book?
JW Marriott Seoul and Josun Palace are two of Seoul’s best luxury hotels, but they offer very different experiences. Here’s how they compare in rooms, breakfast, elite benefits, service, location, and overall value.
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Grand InterContinental Seoul Parnas vs The Westin Seoul Parnas: Which Luxury Hotel Is Better?
Trying to choose between Grand InterContinental Seoul Parnas and The Westin Seoul Parnas? Here’s a detailed comparison of rooms, breakfast, lounges, location, elite benefits and value.
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Best Hotels in Gangnam, Seoul: 7 Hotels Compared After Real Stays
Gangnam is often discussed as if it were a single neighbourhood. It is not. COEX, Yeoksam, Gangnam Station, Apgujeong, Cheongdam and Banpo may all appear in the same southern Seoul hotel search, but staying in one can feel very different from staying in another. A hotel near Samseong Station is convenient for conventions and shopping.…
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Grand InterContinental Seoul Parnas Review: Club Lounge and a Rare High-Ceiling Suite
A renovated Junior Suite was comfortable, but the rare Club Grand Suite and its excellent lounge turned a familiar COEX hotel into one of my strongest Seoul staycations.
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Josun Palace Seoul Review: Excellent Hardware, Frustrating Luxury
Two stays brought excellent rooms, one of Seoul’s best hotel breakfasts and outstanding wellness facilities. They also revealed a service model that made luxury feel unnecessarily conditional.
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Aloft Seoul Gangnam Review: River Views, Suite Upgrades and Real Value
Three low-priced Marriott stays brought a river view, an oversized bed and one suite upgrade I barely had time to use. Here is how Aloft Seoul Gangnam holds up at current rates.
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JW Marriott Seoul Review: Still One of Gangnam’s Safest Luxury Choices
After two stays and one separate Flavors breakfast visit, JW Marriott Seoul still feels like one of Gangnam’s safest luxury hotel choices. It is expensive and not the newest hotel in Seoul, but the comfortable rooms, strong Marriott benefits, excellent wellness facilities and convenient Banpo location make it hard to dismiss.