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Summary of reviewsKensingtonHotel Seorak, situated at the entrance of Seoraksan National Park, is renowned for its prime location, making it a favorite among nature enthusiasts and hikers. Guests frequently commend the hotel for its convenient access to the park, stunning mountain views and proximity to key attractions such as the Seoraksan cable car. The venue exudes a unique charm with its blend of English-style decor infused with Korean elements, creating an aesthetically pleasing and comfortable environment for visitors.
The breakfast experience at KensingtonHotel Seorak receives significant praise for its variety and quality with diverse offerings including vegetarian options, Korean and European dishes. Guests enjoy the hearty and delicious spread, often enhanced by the scenic mountain views from the dining area. Despite some mixed feedback about the cost and occasional service variations during weekdays, breakfast is frequently highlighted as a memorable part of the stay.
Dinner experiences at the hotel, particularly at The Queen restaurant, have yielded mixed reviews. While many appreciate the staff's accommodating efforts towards dietary preferences and the delightful custom dishes, others have criticized the limited menu variety and perceived high prices. The dining options, although noted for quality in some instances, appear to require more diversity and a pricing strategy reflective of the hotel's caliber.
Room accommodations at the hotel have both commendable aspects and areas needing improvement. Guests often praise the spaciousness, cleanliness, comfortable bedding and breathtaking views of the Seoraksan landscape. However, the rooms show signs of aging with some describing them as outdated and in need of renovation. Cleanliness is inconsistent with reports of mouldy bathrooms and stained carpets. Nonetheless, the cozy British-style interiors and the unique balance between Western and Korean decor add to the charm, though comprehensive updates are recommended to enhance the overall experience.
The staff at KensingtonHotel Seorak are generally lauded for their friendliness and helpfulness, despite occasional language barriers. Their professionalism and efforts to resolve issues positively contribute to guest satisfaction. However, some instances of indifferent service suggest areas for improvement in maintaining consistently high service standards.
While the hotel is marketed as a four or five-star establishment, some guests feel it falls short of this rating, reflecting a standard closer to three stars. Despite the critiques and the higher cost, the pleasant atmosphere, exceptional location and friendly service appeal to many visitors, making it a memorable option for those visiting Sokcho.
Overall, KensingtonHotel Seorak stands out particularly for its strategic location, blending of decor and commendable service, despite needing renovations and improvements in some areas to fully meet guest expectations. Show more
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Hotel with All Inclusive Packages
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4-Star Hotel
Room Types
Standard Double RoomLocated on floors 6 to 8, the modern rooms feature an LCD TV with 2 free movie channels and a bathroom. Two complimentary bottles of mineral water are provided per day.
[Breakfast for 2] Standard Double RoomFeaturing free toiletries and bathrobes, this double room includes a private bathroom with a bath, a shower and a hairdryer. The double room features air conditioning, a tea and coffee maker, a wardrobe, a safe deposit box, as well as a flat-screen TV with cable channels. The unit has 1 bed.
Deluxe Ondol Double Room with Mountain ViewProviding free toiletries and bathrobes, this double room includes a private bathroom with a bath, a shower and a hairdryer. The air-conditioned double room provides a flat-screen TV with cable channels, a tea and coffee maker, a wardrobe, a safe deposit box as well as mountain views. The unit offers 1 bed and 1 futon.
[Breakfast for 2] Deluxe Ondol Double Room with Mountain ViewProviding free toiletries and bathrobes, this double room includes a private bathroom with a bath, a shower and a hairdryer. The air-conditioned double room provides a flat-screen TV with cable channels, a tea and coffee maker, a wardrobe, a safe deposit box as well as mountain views. The unit offers 1 bed and 1 futon.
Deluxe Family Ondol Double Room with Mountain ViewFeaturing free toiletries and bathrobes, this double room includes a private bathroom with a bath, a shower and a hairdryer. The spacious air-conditioned double room features a flat-screen TV with cable channels, a tea and coffee maker, a wardrobe, a safe deposit box as well as mountain views. The unit has 1 bed and 1 futon.
[Breakfast for 2] Deluxe Family Ondol Double Room with Mountain ViewOffering free toiletries and bathrobes, this double room includes a private bathroom with a bath, a shower and a hairdryer. The spacious air-conditioned double room offers a flat-screen TV with cable channels, a tea and coffee maker, a wardrobe, a safe deposit box as well as mountain views. The unit has 1 bed and 1 futon.
Suite (Randomly assigned Room)Offering free toiletries and bathrobes, this suite includes a private bathroom with a bath, a shower and a hairdryer. The spacious air-conditioned suite offers a flat-screen TV with cable channels, a tea and coffee maker, a wardrobe, a safe deposit box as well as mountain views. The unit has 3 beds.
Premier TwinOffering free toiletries and bathrobes, this twin room includes a private bathroom with a bath, a shower and a hairdryer. The air-conditioned twin room offers a flat-screen TV with cable channels, a tea and coffee maker, a wardrobe, a safe deposit box as well as mountain views. The unit has 2 beds.
Premier Family TwinThis air-conditioned family room includes a flat-screen TV with cable channels, a private bathroom as well as a terrace with mountain views. The unit offers 2 beds.
Executive TwinProviding free toiletries and bathrobes, this twin room includes a private bathroom with a bath, a shower and a hairdryer. The air-conditioned twin room provides a flat-screen TV with cable channels, a tea and coffee maker, a wardrobe, a safe deposit box as well as mountain views. The unit offers 2 beds.
Executive Family TwinThis air-conditioned family room is comprised of a flat-screen TV with cable channels, a private bathroom as well as a terrace with mountain views. The unit has 2 beds.
Guest Reviews
7.8
Good
Location
KensingtonHotel Seorak receives high praise for its unbeatable location, especially for those eager to explore the Seoraksan National Park. The hotel is situated right at the entrance to the park, offering an unparalleled convenience for hiking enthusiasts. Guests frequently highlight how the proximity to the park allows for easy access, often just a short walk of five minutes or less. This ideal placement means visitors can start their adventures in Seoraksan without the hassle of long commutes or additional travel arrangements.
The scenic views of the Seoraksan landscape from the hotel are also a treasured highlight, adding to the overall appeal for nature lovers. Reviews mention that the hotel’s position offers beautiful vistas of the mountains, enhancing the overall experience. Additionally, the proximity to the Seoraksan cable car is noted as a helpful convenience, making it easy for guests to enjoy all aspects of the park.
While the focus remains on the fantastic location and scenery, the hotel's English-style atmosphere with a Korean twist and the spacious, pleasant rooms also receive positive mentions. This blend of cultural aesthetics coupled with friendly service adds a unique charm to the stay, complementing the natural beauty surrounding the hotel.
In summary, KensingtonHotel Seorak stands out chiefly for its strategic location at the entrance of Seoraksan National Park, making it a prime choice for hikers and nature enthusiasts. The added benefits of stunning mountain views, convenient access to park amenities and a charming ambiance make it a well-regarded option for visitors to the area.
Breakfast
KensingtonHotel Seorak offers a highly praised breakfast experience characterized by variety, quality and scenic views. Guests frequently highlight the extensive and diverse selection, including numerous vegetarian options and both Korean and European dishes. Many reviewers note the breakfast as neat, delicious and boasting an exquisite taste, making it a standout feature of their stay.
The buffet's setting often includes stunning mountain views, which enhances the dining experience. The breakfast is described as hearty and satisfying with improvements noted over the years. Several reviewers mention the high cost but generally agree that the quality justifies the price.
However, there are some mixed opinions. While many find the breakfast exceptional, others believe it is just average or not worth the cost. A minor group experienced issues like reheated items or limited choices on weekdays when breakfast is served as a set menu. Despite these critiques, the breakfast at KensingtonHotel Seorak largely receives positive acknowledgments for its variety, taste and the beautiful setting in which it is served.
Dinner
Guests have shared mixed opinions about the dinner experience at KensingtonHotel Seorak. Many appreciated the staff's efforts to accommodate dietary preferences, particularly for vegetarians, stating that custom dishes were delicious and that the staff were notably helpful. The dinner at The Queen restaurant received positive remarks and a wine event was highlighted as excellent.
However, concerns were raised about the limited menu options with several reviews pointing out that the menu lacked variety and that vegetarian and meat-free choices were scarce. Some guests found the food to be overpriced and remarked that the quality did not meet their expectations for a hotel of this caliber. Others mentioned that the on-site dining was somewhat restrictive with restaurants closing early and limited alternatives in the vicinity.
Overall, while the hotel made some commendable efforts to cater to specific dietary needs, there is room for improvement in menu variety, quality and pricing to meet broader guest expectations.
Rooms
KensingtonHotel Seorak offers a mixed experience for its guests with some notable positives and areas in need of improvement. The hotel rooms are often praised for being spacious and clean, featuring comfortable beds, excellent bedding and breathtaking views of Seoraksan and the surrounding landscapes. The spacious layouts and cozy British-style interior create a pleasant atmosphere for visitors. Many guests have highlighted the delicious breakfast as a memorable part of their stay.
However, it's clear that the rooms show significant signs of aging with multiple references to outdated, worn-out and dilapidated facilities. Concerns about mold, musty smells and cleanliness issues have been pointed out. Some rooms suffer from poor maintenance with sagging mattresses, old furniture and fabric with cigarette burns. The bathrooms, despite being well-equipped, are often deemed too small or in need of renovation.
Despite its aged appearance, the hotel maintains a certain charm and guests appreciate the balance between the Western and Korean styles within the rooms. Overall, while the comfort and scenic views offer a healing and enjoyable experience, the hotel would greatly benefit from comprehensive renovations to enhance the overall guest experience.
Beds
KensingtonHotel Seorak offers a generally positive experience when it comes to its beds with many guests highlighting the comfort of the bedding. The rooms are described as spacious and comfortable, often featuring nice king-size beds. Visitors appreciate the high-quality linens, which contribute to a restful night’s sleep and the cleanliness of the rooms adds to the overall comfort.
Some rooms provide a beautiful view of Seoraksan, enhancing the guest experience. However, there are mixed reviews about the condition of some of the furniture and mattresses with occasional mentions of worn-out or uncomfortable beds and issues with older furniture pieces.
While some reviews noted issues such as harder mattresses or beds that felt like planks, many guests still enjoyed their stay due to the roominess and overall comfort provided. There were a few instances where an expected king-size bed turned out to be two single beds pushed together, which may not align with all guests' expectations.
Overall, KensingtonHotel Seorak garners positive feedback for its comfortable beds and spacious rooms, although there are occasional remarks about areas that could use some updating.
Cleanliness
KensingtonHotel Seorak offers a mixed experience when it comes to cleanliness with guests noting both positives and negatives. Some rooms are described as clean, quiet and comfortable and the soft, clean bedding has been praised for providing restful sleep. The facilities, while old, are often described as well-maintained and give off a pleasant vibe. However, cleanliness is inconsistent across the hotel. Many guests have reported issues such as dirty carpets, mould in the bathrooms and noticeable dust and drink stains. Carpets throughout the hotel are described as stained, worn and in need of replacement. The cleanliness of the rooms and facilities did not meet expectations for some, who found mouldy ceilings, unpleasant smells and even insects. Additionally, the hotel would benefit from some renovation and better housekeeping practices. Despite these issues, areas such as the restaurant windows managed to maintain an acceptable level of cleanliness. Overall, while the hotel boasts a charming interior and some well-kept areas, it struggles with maintaining a consistent standard of cleanliness throughout the property.
Staff
KensingtonHotel Seorak has garnered praise for its remarkable service provided by a predominantly friendly and helpful staff. Guests have commended the staff's friendliness, noting their efforts to assist and accommodate visitors to the best of their abilities. Despite some language barriers with many staff members speaking limited English, their willingness to help remains evident, contributing positively to guest experiences.
Particularly highlighted are the staff's professionalism and the commendable service received at the front desk, where efforts to resolve issues were noted. The receptionists, while occasionally struggling with English, endeavored to make guests feel welcome and attended to their needs with kind and accommodating attitudes.
However, there are instances where guests felt that the staff were indifferent or unhelpful, indicating areas for improvement in terms of consistency in service quality. Despite these occasional lapses, the overall impression of the hotel's personnel is positive with guests frequently mentioning their kindness, attentiveness and the hard work they put in to ensure a pleasant stay.
The combination of a beautiful location, a unique atmosphere and friendly service from the staff has contributed to largely favorable impressions of KensingtonHotel Seorak, making it a memorable choice for visitors to the area.
4 Star
KensingtonHotel Seorak, located in Sokcho, leaves mixed impressions among its visitors. While some find the level of cleanliness exceptional, a rare gem even among four-star establishments, others feel the hotel falls short of the prestigious rating it advertises. The facilities and services seem to polarize opinions; despite being marketed as a four or five-star hotel, multiple reviews suggest that its current state reflects a lower standard, perhaps reminiscent of a three-star hotel from decades past.
Nonetheless, the cozy and pleasant atmosphere is acknowledged, making it a viable option for a comfortable stay. Guests also highlight that it is one of the more expensive hotels in the area, though not entirely matching the value for the price. Those seeking a satisfactory four-star service in Sokcho might find it here, given the locale's limited options for such hospitality standards. Despite the critiques, the hotel remains popular among many guests, suggesting a level of service that appeals to a specific demographic.
No, KensingtonHotel Seorak doesn't have any pool.
No, a spa isn't available at KensingtonHotel Seorak.
No, KensingtonHotel Seorak doesn't allow dogs.
No, parking facilities aren't available at KensingtonHotel Seorak.