Hotel review Archives - Focused Travels

Luxembourg City hotels: My experience staying in the Hotel Grey

After spending a few days in Basel, Switzerland, I visited Luxembourg City. My first challenge was choosing one of the may Luxembourg City hotels to stay at, but I think I found one of the best!

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Getting to Luxembourg City

Luxembourg City has an airport for those who prefer air travel. Many European airports offer flights to Luxembourg City’s airport.

Luxembourg’s location between France, Germany and Belgium makes it easy to travel there with the extensive European rail network. I found that the trains to Luxembourg City were not as frequent as for to some other European destinations, but with careful planning train travel was the easier option for me to reach Luxembourg City.

I left Strasbourg late-morning and arrived in Luxembourg City just after lunch. The entire trip took just under 2,5 hours leaving me with a few hours in Luxembourg City as I would travel to Amsterdam the next morning.

Luxembourg City hotels

Before booking my hotel, I had scoured the internet for blogger reviews of Luxembourg City Hotels. Unfortunately, I struggled to find any blog post with detailed reviews of Luxembourg City hotels!

There are many Luxembourg City Hotels to choose from. I considered several Luxembourg City hotels I found on my favourite booking site, Agoda, and eventually settled on the Hotel Grey.

Location of the Hotel Grey in Luxembourg City

As I was leaving for Amsterdam early the next morning, I needed to choose one of the Luxembourg city hotels with easy access to the train station. I loved the location of the Hotel Grey – it is in a small street opposite the main train station in Luxembourg City. I easily walked the short distance to the hotel.

This was convenient when I had to leave early the next morning for my train to Amsterdam. It was also convenient for when I wanted to go sightseeing after checking in to the hotel. The public transport in Luxembourg City comprises buses which I found in a designated parking lot right next to the main train station.

I saw several other Luxembourg City hotels in the area, but they were in the noisier areas compared to Hotel Grey.

Checking in at the Hotel Grey

I struggled a little to find the Hotel Grey – it blends in with the building next to it.

Checking in was quick and easy. The receptionist was friendly and had perfect English. I did not have a printout of the booking confirmation, but the receptionist did not require this. I was too early to check in, but since the Hotel Grey has luggage storage, I left my luggage there before leaving to explore Luxembourg City. The receptionist offered help with attractions and tours.

I returned several hours later. A different receptionist had taken over, but she was as friendly and proficient in English as the first one was. She immediately provided my room keys.

My room at the Hotel Grey

The rooms at Hotel Grey is modern. I loved the black, white and red decor.

Although the room felt minimalistic, it featured everything I needed, such as a desk to work at.

The shower and basin were in the room. This may not be ideal for people who are not comfortable showering in front of others, but since I was alone, it was perfectly fine.

The toilet was separate from the bedroom and was behind a door that could close. This would be convenient if you had to share the room with a friend or loved one.

The air conditioning worked well, and the wifi was fast. The room also had a television, built-in iPhone dock, mini-bar and laptop size safe. I missed having a kettle in the room to make coffee or tea.

Breakfast at the Hotel Grey

When researching Luxembourg City hotels, I realised that I could not have breakfast in Luxembourg. My train to Amsterdam left just after 6:00 the next morning.

I did not have breakfast at Hotel Grey, but the Hotel offers breakfast.

My verdict

I loved staying at the Hotel Grey. The location was superb – besides the proximity to transport; the hotel was close to many restaurants. The price for the night was reasonable if I consider the facilities provided.

There are many Luxembourg City hotels to choose from, but I would definitely consider staying at the Hotel Grey for future trips to Luxembourg City.

If you would like to try the Hotel Grey in Luxembourg City, please click the link below:

Have you been to Luxembourg City? If so, which Luxembourg City Hotel did you stay at?

Review of the magnificent Elephant Hills Hotel in Zimbabwe

By Sabs Leave a Comment

We spent four days at the Elephant Hills Hotel in Zimbabwe during a work trip to Victoria Falls. Seeing Victoria Falls was a magnificent experience, but what was the Elephant Hills Hotels in Zimbabwe like?

This post may contain affiliate links. Should you purchase after clicking on one of these links, I will earn a small commission at no additional cost to you!

Getting to the Elephant Hills Hotel in Zimbabwe

Victoria Falls Airport is a 20-minute drive from the town of Victoria Falls. The Elephant Hills Hotel in Zimbabwe is a further 5-10 minutes from the town. Fortunately, there are many taxi services available from the airport, and the roads were not busy.

The reception at the Elephant Hills Hotel in Zimbabwe

The staff at the Elephant Hills Resort was friendly and helpful. We barely stepped out of our taxi when a porter arrived to help with our luggage.

Elephant Hills Hotel in Zimbabwe - reception area — Reception area

The reception staff was welcoming. There were some issues with the room we were supposed to have, but they quickly sorted it out, and within minutes we were on our way to our room.

Our room

The Elephant Hills Hotel is in a large resort complex. I am not sure of the number of rooms at the Resort, but it must be a few hundred.

Bedroom at the Elephant Hills Hotel in ZImbabwe — Our bedroom at the Elephant Hills Hotel in Zimbabwe

Our room was cold when we entered, which was a welcome reprieve from the Zimbabwean heat. The room was a decent size and featured a double bed with a mosquito net, a small living area, and a balcony. The room also had a small television and coffee/tea facilities.

Elephant Hills Hotel Zimbabwe - bathroom — Bathroom

The bathroom offered plenty of toiletries and a combination bath/shower.

Eating at the Elephant Hills Hotel in Zimbabwe

We decided to have room service most evenings during our stay. The room service meals had reasonable prices, and the portions were large. The food was delicious, and we never waited long for our food to be prepared.

Elephant Hills Hotel Zimbabwe - room service — Room service – good portions at reasonable prices

There are several restaurants in the hotel complex, but the meals are much pricier than the room service prices.

Elephant Hills Hotel in Zimbabwe - breakfast area — Breakfast area

Our room rate included breakfast. The breakfast selection at the Elephant Hills Hotel in Zimbabwe was perfect! So much was on offer: yogurts, cereals, different types of bread, various sausages, bacon, eggs, etc. We even tasted some of the desserts at breakfast – quite a treat! We found the staff serving breakfast very helpful as they brought coffee or tea on demand. Many of them could speak multiple languages – imagine our surprise as the staff welcomed a Korean tour group in Korean!

Monkey-alert!

When we first entered our room, we immediately read a notice warning us that the monkey in the resort can become a nuisance. The doors to the balcony had to be closed at all times since the monkeys wanted to enter the rooms to get food. Lucky, the balcony doors could open while keeping the screening doors open if you wanted fresh air.

Elephant Hills Hotel in ZImbabwe - Monkey — Mr. Monkey comes visiting

The one morning I stood on the balcony and was quietly joined by a monkey. The monkeys seemed used to people. Before I knew it, Mr. Monkey was inside our room, grabbed a few sachets of sugar and left as quickly as he entered. The incident made me realize that I would have to close the balcony doors behind me when I stand on the balcony.

The view from our room at the Elephant Hills Hotel in Zimbabwe

Every morning we stood on our balcony and viewed the wildlife outside on the hotel grounds. We only saw the animals in the mornings and evenings; I suppose the days are too warm for them to be around.

Elephant Hills Hotel in ZImbabwe - sprinbok view from the room — Springbok roaming the hotel grounds

We saw warthogs on the hotel grounds, springbok and plenty of monkeys. I regretted not taking my proper camera; my iPhone had to suffice.

Warthogs at the Elephant Hills Hotel in Zimbabwe — Warthogs walking around in the morning

From our balcony, we could even see and hear Victoria Falls in the distance.

Victoria falls in the distance - view from the hotel room at the Elephant Hills Hotel in Zimbabwe — Victoria Falls in the distance

The Elephant Hills Hotel in Zimbabwe: grounds and facilities

The Elephant Hills Hotel featured several large swimming pools. During the day bar service was available around the pool area. No one was allowed at the pools after 18:00 which was a pity as the water would have been lovely at that time.

Elephant Hills Hotel Zimbabwe - pool area — The beautiful pool area

The hotel grounds also included a golf course and a tennis court.

During our stay, we could not open the one bathroom tap. Housekeeping responded quickly to our complaint and had the tap sorted out in minutes!

Elephant Hills Hotel in Zimbabwe - seating area — One of the many seating areas in the hotel

In the hotel itself, there are several seating areas for the use of visitors. After we checked out and had to wait for our shuttle to arrive to take us to the airport, we sat in the airconditioned lounge.

If you are interested in staying at the Elephant Hills Hotel in Zimbabwe, click here!

Traveling to Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe

When we realized how far the Elephant Hills Hotel in Zimbabwe was from the town of Victoria Falls we were a bit disappointed. Fortunately, there are always one or more taxis at the hotel, and we never waited longer than 5 minutes before leaving the hotel.

The average trip from the hotel to Victoria Falls cost about $20, which seemed high, but the hotel staff assured us that this was the standard price. Taxi drivers are quite willing to negotiate.

The Elephant Hills Hotel in Zimbabwe also have a shuttle service to Victoria Falls town at regular intervals, but we never managed to catch it.

Our overall view of the Elephant Hills Hotel in Zimbabwe

The Elephant Hills Hotel in Zimbabwe is known as a conference hotel. Upon our departure, several Zimbabwean government officials checked in to the hotel for a conference.

Although the rooms need to be updated, we found the hotel’s facilities and rooms comfortable for a brief stay. Since it is a conference hotel, we saw many conference goers and tour groups, but during the day the pool area is quiet.

We loved the hotel’s breakfast, the pools, and the room service. Seeing the wildlife from our room was also a treat. If you need to spend a few days in Victoria Falls away from the hustle and bustle of the town, the Elephant Hills Hotel in Zimbabwe is the perfect place to stay!

Have you ever been to Zimbabwe? If you have, where did you stay?

An ideal break from city life: Misty Hills Country Hotel

By Sabs and 1 more 4 Comments

One year, just before the Easter Weekend, we realized that we needed a break. We considered various spots near Johannesburg since we didn’t want to drive for a break of only four days, we looked for places near Johannesburg. After browsing various booking sites, we found an exceptional deal on Expedia to visit Misty Hills Country Hotel in Muldersdrift.

This post contains affiliate links. Should you click on any of these links and make a purchase, I will earn a small commission with no additional cost to you.

Directions to Misty Hills

The best way to get to Misty Hills is to drive there by car. Misty Hills is located about an hour from Johannesburg’s Central Business District. It is situated in Muldersdrift, which is a picturesque rural area just outside Johannesburg.

Arriving at Misty Hills

Since Misty Hills is located in a rural area, it was quiet when we arrived. There is a security guard at the entrance access to the property is controlled.

We loved the beautiful arty statues located on the Misty Hills gate when we arrived. Later we discovered more beautiful art pieces in the gardens and reception area.

Checking-in at Misty Hills

The staff immediately assisted us when we arrived at the reception desk. Somehow our booking had been messed up slightly. My daughter and her friend were with us, and since the units at Misty Hills only allow two people per room, we had booked two rooms next to each other linked with a joining door. The receptionist told us that we could not get two units next to each other since there was a wedding the next day and all joined rooms had already been allocated to the wedding guests who would be arriving later.

I was not satisfied with this explanation. I had made a specific request for joined rooms when I booked the units on Expedia, and no one had phoned me to tell me that it would not be possible. The girls were only 11 & 12 years old; I did not feel safe letting them have their unit far from us. I needed to be able to check in on them during the night. After a bit of persuasion, the receptionist managed to find us joined rooms.

Parking at Misty Hills

Misty Hills has many different rooms to stay in, and each room has parking in a specified parking area. We were a bit disappointed that we had to park near to the gate to the property while our unit was near the top of the property. Lucky we had first taken our luggage to our rooms before parking the car.

A valet assisted us with our luggage. For first-time visitors, the layout at Misty Hills can be a bit confusing, so having the valet show us the way helped greatly.

Our units at Misty Hill

Misty Hills Country Hotel offers a range of rooms to suit different budgets. The rooms range from Deluxe rooms to Presidential Suites.

We stayed in the deluxe rooms and found them comfortable. The units provided everything we needed.

Apart from the beds being different, our unit and the girls’ unit were similar. We had a double bed; they had two single beds. The rooms had stone floors, and it felt like it could get chilly at night.

The bathrooms featured both a bath and a shower. There was also good quality toiletries and towels.

Each room had a desk and a cupboard with extra blankets. There was also an umbrella, and insect spray in the unit. Each room had a television with some satellite channels. Our unit had a small bar fridge, but the girls’ unit did not have one. Both rooms had a kettle with coffee, tea, and rusks.

The units at Misty Hills are arranged in blocks of 2/3 units next to each other; we never had any noise issued with our neighbors.

Things to do in Misty Hills

Misty Hills offers many things to do – something for everyone!

The pool area at Misty Hills

There are three pools in the pool area.

There was a gym located next to the pool area. The gym was not big but contained the most general gym equipment most people would need.

There was a table tennis table near the bar at the swimming pool. Our favorite thing was the hanging beds. These swinging beds were so comfortable, and we spent many hours there throughout the weekend while the kids played in the pool.

Peregrine Castle

We discovered Peregrine Castle. It is a castle with activities for the kids to do, including slides and many hiding spots.

Chessboard

There was a giant chess board located in the gardens at Misty Hills. The chess pieces were traditional African designs.

Helen’s Orchid Pavillion

Finding Helen’s Orchid Pavillion was a pleasant surprise. It was quite small but featured a few pretty orchids.

Misty Hills Muldersdrift Spa

We did not go to the spa at Misty Hills, but the range of treatments offered would have pleased anyone. The prices seemed reasonable.

Walking around to explore the art at Misty Hills

Everywhere on the property, there are statues or pieces of art. Finding the different figures was fun!

There was art in the gardens, and there were some more valuable pieces in the foyer and reception area of the hotel. We were quite surprised to find a Japanese Samurai Suite in the display areas in the lobby!

Free drinks and candy!

In one of the sitting areas next to the foyer, there was free cognac on offer. It was my first time having cognac, and I enjoyed it. There were several bowls of candy and chocolate in the foyer – the girls enjoyed this treat tremendously!

The various sitting areas in the reception building were very comfortable, and we spent many hours just relaxing there.

Shopping for souvenirs

Misty Hills has a small curio shop. Unfortunately, it never opened while we were there.

Food options

Food was the one item we did not have to worry about while we stayed at Misty Hills. There are several restaurants on the property.

Breakfast at Summerhouse Restaurant

Breakfast was included as part of our booking and was served in the Summerhouse Restaurant. The breakfast was a buffet which included a lovely variety of options. There were cereals, juices, egg dishes, many different meaty options and baked goods. The kids were a bit overwhelmed with all the choices, but after a day or two everyone had their favorite dishes.

Gin Box Pub and Coffee Shop

We never ate at the Gin Box Pub, but we did order room service from them several times. Although the selection of dishes was slightly limited, the prices and the portions were reasonable. The girls loved their nuggets and chips and ordered that more than once.

Carnivore Restaurant Misty Hills

The Carnivore Restaurant is a well-known restaurant at Misty Hills. People often drive through to Misty Hills just for the food at the Carnivore. The Carnivore Restaurant offers exotic meats such as crocodile and kudu. Eating at the Carnivore is an experience every meat-lover should have at least once.

The Boma at Misty Hills

The Boma was not open when we were at Misty Hills, but I did experience another time when we had a business supper there a few months later. It offers buffets or formal functions around a central fireplace. The food was excellent and a fire always create fantastic ambiance!

Misty Hills Wedding Venue

The day after we arrived, a wedding took place at Misty Hills. The wedding reception was held in the Boma as it was a relatively large wedding.

Misty Hills is also a popular venue for teambuilding activities. It offers many different conference venues and services.

Reducing costs while staying at Misty Hills

Misty Hills is not cheap to visit. Since the units don’t offer kitchen facilities such as a microwave and stove, it means most meals must be eaten in the restaurants or ordered-in, which quickly add up.

Since breakfast was included in the room rate, we enjoyed a hearty meal every morning. We also did eat supper in the Summerhouse once and tried the Carnivore.

For the remainder of our meals, we went to the small shopping area near Misty Hills and stocked up on ready-made sandwiches and cooldrinks, which we kept in the small bar fridge in our room. This saved us a significant amount of money.

Our overall view of Misty Hills

Our main reason for visiting Misty Hills was to get away from the hustle and bustle of life in the city and just to relax. There are many things to do at Misty Hills, but we did manage to rest as well. Misty Hills is located outside the city, but at night the cars driving on the highway behind the property detracts from the quiet at Misty Hills, but we eventually learned to zone this out.

We enjoyed our stay at Misty Hills, the customer service was excellent, and the art scattered throughout the property was a lovely bonus! There were enough activities to keep the girls busy, and we all went home much more relaxed!

If you are interested in staying at Misty Hills, click here to make a booking!

Does Misty Hills seem like a place you would want to visit? Do you enjoy weekend getaways?

Limmatblick Hotel Zurich: so promising but ultimately disappointing

By Sabs 12 Comments

After our excursion to Jungfrau, we boarded the train to go back to Zurich. We were flying back to Madrid the next day. We arrived in Zurich just before sunset, but fortunately, our hotel, the Limmatblick Hotel Zurich, was located near the Zurich Hauptbahnhof (central station) in Zurich.

Location of the Limmatblick Hotel Zurich

One of the best features of the Limmatblick Hotel is its location. It is located opposite the Limmat River in Zurich and within walking distance from the main shopping area and the Zurich Hauptbahnhof (main station).

When I booked this hotel, I was excited. The location meant not having to take a tram anywhere, but that we could explore the old historic buildings in central Zurich on foot. I remembered my walks from my previous trip to Zurich and was looking forward to repeating the experience.

The reception area of the Limmatblick Hotel Zurich

The reception area of the Limmatblick Hotel is located in the restaurant area downstairs. We were a bit confused when we first arrived – the sign outside was located on the second floor of the building and indicated that the hotel was there, but the eating area and bar made us feel unsure of how to get to the second floor. We could not see where else the reception area could be and asked at the bar counter.

The outside of Hotel Limmatblick Zurich - the grey building in the middle — The outside of Hotel Limmatblick Zurich – the grey building in the middle

Lucky for us the barman was also the receptionist for the hotel. He was friendly, handed our keys to us and we quickly sorted out the paperwork.

From here we had to use the elevator to get to our floor. There is only one lift for the hotel and it was tiny. The two of us with our luggage (hand luggage only) barely fit.

On the walls of the elevator had newspaper articles and advertisements of events happening in the area. I thought this was a nice touch as it was the perfect place for such advertisements – everyone staying at the hotel would probably use the elevator.

Our room at the Limmatblick Hotel Zurich

Our room was named after Augusto Giacometti, a Swiss painter. I think all the rooms had names of Swiss painters.

We struggled to unlock our room door. Just before we could give up and go back to the receptionist, the door opened. We were not sure what exactly worked, but we were happy to finally be able to rest.

The room was small. It featured a double bed, flatscreen television mounted on the wall and a small round table right at the entrance.

Hotel Limmatblick Zurich - bedroom from the door — Hotel Limmatblick Zurich – bedroom from the door

The room appeared modern and comfortable.

The bathroom was also small and consisted of a shower, toilet, and basin.

Hotel Limmatblick Zurich - bathroom — Hotel Limmatblick Zurich – bathroom

When I booked the website, everyone was recommending the hotel because of its views of the river. We did not have a river view, but a view of the residences and restaurants behind the hotel. I didn’t mind, it made me feel good to know I was in the heart of Zurich.

Our night at the Limmatblick Hotel

We decided to get ready for bed and have a quiet night watching television.

Hotel Limmatblick Zurich - the view from our room — Hotel Limmatblick Zurich – the view from our room

We both showered. The shower stall was small. My travel partner is a very lean guy and he had difficulty getting in the shower and closing the door. I am not as lean as he was and it was even more of a struggle for me. Once inside, the water pressure and temperature were excellent.

Then we wanted to relax and watch television. The television did not work. We thought of complaining but decided to watch Netflix on the iPad instead. At least we had no issues with the wifi, and the speed was good.

It was summer and our room felt stuffy and hot. We looked around for the button to turn the air conditioner on but soon realized there was no air conditioning. We had experienced this before in Switzerland, but in such a compact room airconditioning is essential. There was a fan, but it was noisy and since there was only one plug point, we could not charge our mobile phones and use the fan simultaneously.

We decided to open the window for some fresh air. Once opened, the room cooled down significantly.

The bed was comfortable, but we soon realized that we would not be getting much sleep. Opposite the hotel, there was a restaurant and inside a party was happening. The patrons of the restaurant were having a good time and were singing loudly. It did not look like they would stop too soon.

And they didn’t. Eventually around 23:00 it did become quiet, and we were finally able to sleep. It started raining, so we had to close the window (and the fresh air from it). We had no choice but to use the fan throughout the night.

Breakfast at the Hotel Limmatblick Zurich

We were tired the next morning. The bed had been comfortable, but the fan was not strong enough to cool the room down enough for us to have a good rest.

Hotel Limmatblick Zurich - Breakfast spread — The breakfast spread at the Hotel Limmatblick Zurich

We went down for our complimentary breakfast. The breakfast did not disappoint. There were cold meats, croissants, cheeses, and yogurt. They also offered coffee and juices.

Hotel Limmatblick Zurich - Interesting decor in the restaurant area — Hotel Limmatblick Zurich – Interesting decor in the restaurant area

The decor in the restaurant area was quirky and unusual. It gave us something to study while eating.

The food was filling and the coffee refreshing.

Our final verdict on the Hotel Limmatblick Zurich

We loved the location of the hotel, but not having air conditioning was a definite negative for us. The television not working was not a serious concern for us, but for other guests, it may be. Also, the lack of more than one plug point was a serious deficiency as travelers usually have so many devices that need to be charged. We think the shower’s size is too small for most people.

We cannot fault the hotel on cleanliness and the neatness of the room. The breakfast was satisfying enough, considering that it was complimentary.

Would we stay a the Hotel Limmatblick Zurich again? Unlikely. The previous time I visited Zurich, I stayed at the Leoneck Hotel, and although the location was not as ideal, it wins by far when it comes to comfort.

Have you been to Zurich? Where did you stay? What do you look for when booking hotel accommodation?

The Shilla: a luxury hotel in Seoul

By Sabs Leave a Comment

After a long flight from Johannesburg (18+ hours) and a two hour trip by shuttle from Incheon International Airport, I finally arrived at the Shilla Seoul Hotel. From the moment of arrival I could see this was THE luxury hotel in Seoul.

My first impressions of THE luxury hotel in Seoul

As we drove up to the hotel, we passed through a Korean-style gate. It was stunning and exactly what I was hoping to see during my short visit to Seoul!

Entrance to the luxury hotel in Seoul - the Shilla Seoul — Entrance to the luxury hotel in Seoul – the Shilla Seoul

Pointsmen guided us to park in the front of the hotel. My first glances revealed a well-organised machine. The Shill Seoul Hotel was a hive of activity and much larger than I expected.

As we parked, someone whisked my bag away with the promise of it being taken to my room when I go up. I was too tired to ask questions – I just wanted to have a lovely hot shower and hit my bed.

Checking-in at the Shilla Hotel

My check-in was quick and efficient. Or so it appeared….

Unfortunately, as soon as I arrived in my room, reception phoned to inform me that my credit card had been declined and I should quickly bring another one. Another one?! I only have one credit card, and I had made the necessary arrangements with my bank before I left South Africa. At that moment I could have kicked myself for never getting a second credit card, which was something I had been considering for a while and specifically for this reason.

I immediately phoned my bank in South Africa, only to be told that the problem was not on their side. They suggested trying the card again, but using the pin instead of just swiping.

I went downstairs to the reception. Someone else was working. I explained the situation, and she informed me that they had tried my card again and it had worked perfectly fine. I was not impressed! Why did they not let me know??? Surely, it was the least one could expect from such a luxury hotel in Seoul!

Glad that the problem was sorted out, I went back to my room.

A luxury hotel in Seoul: the rooms in the Shilla Seoul

Relieved that I could now focus on relaxing a bit and having my long-desired shower, I studied my room. I had to admit; it was a lovely room with everything I needed.

The bed was comfortable and soft with many pillows. There was a small sitting area in front of a rather large flatscreen TV. A remote controlled the blinds at the windows. From my room, I had a lovely view of the fountain in front of the hotel, as well as the conference rooms opposite the hotel that I had seen as we drove up to the hotel. I loved the Korean-style buildings.

I was also ecstatic to discover a kettle and a bar fridge with complimentary milk – soy milk – not my favourite, but better than nothing. The hotel also gave me 2 complimentary bottles of water each day, which I appreciated tremendously given how expensive everything in Seoul is.

The bathroom really was something else. Not only did it contain a large bath and shower, but the toilet was a masterpiece. I kid you not; I have never seen another toilet quite like it!

Firstly, the seats were warmed up. Secondly, on the wall next to the toilet, there was a control panel covering everything from water sprays to cleaning. It was impressive! I had heard about such toilets before but did not think I would ever experience it. I took a few pictures and sent it to friends and family – everyone could not stop talking about the toilet! For days I had to answer questions about it!

After showering, I made myself a lovely cup of tea (with soy milk), and relaxed on the couch. I did not think there would be any English entertainment on the TV, but I ended up watching CIS and Law and Order.

The bed was perfect, and I had a good night’s rest.

The location of the Shilla – a luxury hotel in Seoul

The Shilla Seoul is located near Seoul’s city centre and borders the Jangchung-dong. The hotel is on a hill; there was a lovely view of the Namsan mountains from some of the rooms.

In the basement of the hotel is an exclusive shopping centre, called the Shilla Arcade. If this is not your cup of tea, there is also the Shilla Duty-Free shopping mall – 5 minutes from the hotel.

The hotel does offer a shuttle to various destinations in Seoul, which I thought was helpful.

There are also bus stops located just outside the hotel grounds, making it easy to explore Seoul. There were a few take-out places near the bus stops, which was convenient if you didn’t want to eat in the hotel. I tried one but will report on that later.

The hotel offers a spa, restaurants and also a gym.

Service at the Shilla as a luxury hotel in Seoul

In the following few days, I approached the reception staff several times with questions regarding the area, sights to see and also the conference I was attending. I was a bit surprised and disappointed that the staff had no problem telling me that they did not know something and to find it out for myself from someone else. I was not used to this. Usually, when I stay in such hotel, the staff would go out of their way to assist or accommodate me. I was disappointed with the service for such a luxury hotel in Seoul.

Furthermore, some of the staff spoke English quite poorly. My questions seemed to confuse them.

I have to give credit where it is due, though. On my last day, I was standing outside waiting for my shuttle to pick me up for my journey to the airport. My shuttle never showed. As I was getting worried and a bit anxious about getting to the airport on time, the concierge offered me his phone to find out when my shuttle would arrive. There was no answer on the number I had. He then arranged alternative transport for me to the airport. This was the type of service I expected from such a luxury hotel in Seoul.

Shilla Seoul Hotel for a luxury experience in Seoul, South-Korea

Conclusion

Staying at the Shilla Hotel Seoul is a typical luxury hotel experience. I think the rooms and the facilities were perfect. The staff could be friendlier and more helpful.

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