NEW: A luxurious stay at the Signiel Seoul

I recently had the opportunity to travel to Seoul, South Korea as part of a group and enjoyed a stay at the iconic Signiel Seoul hotel and today I’d like to share parts of my experience with you. I was a guest of the Signel during my short stay as part of an organised tour of Seoul, however all views are my own.

Location

Located within the iconic Gangnam area of Seoul (Gangnam Style anyone?), the Signiel Seoul is situated within the Lotte World Tower – which is the tallest building in South Korea and the 5th tallest in the world at 555 metres. The tower itself houses a mix of the hotel, residences, a shopping centre and the “Sky Deck” – which is home to the highest glass-floor observation deck in the world.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Background

Signiel is the super-luxury brand from the Lotte Corporation and encourages guests to “Live Beyond Expectations”; which is something I like a lot. It is super luxurious and I admit that it might not be for everyone, but for me it feels like the Signiel brand could be something really big in the future. The property is also a member of the Leading Hotels of the World consortium, which is a collection of authentic and individual luxury hotels, with more than 400 properties across the world. I wouldn’t have guessed otherwise, at it is impressive.

Guest Rooms and Suites

Each of the 235 guest rooms and suites feature panoramic views of the city  and come with state-of-the-art amenities in a classic and contemporary design. I resided in a “Deluxe Room” on the 91st floor. (Yes, floor 91!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The size of a deluxe room varies from 40-50 square metres depending on the location within the hotel (floors 90-101), however it did feel very spacious and the bed was super comfy. I am a bit of a technology geek so being able to control the curtains via a remote control or using the switch on the wall was pretty cool.

The bathroom was also of a good size and features two sinks, a dressing area, separate WC and a wet room comprising of a bath and a standalone shower.

I did love the wardrobe which can be accessed either from the bathroom or the foyer of the guest room. Saves a few steps here and there!

The hotel also boasts ultra-fast complimentary Wi-Fi (hurrah) and the interactive TV in the room featured both local and international channels. You can also connect to bluetooth so you can listen to your own audio on your smartphone via the sound system.

Typical rates for this type of room start from approximately £260 a night, excluding local taxes and charges.

Dining

The Signiel Seoul also features iconic restaurants including STAY by multi-Michelin-starred chef Yannick Alléno (French Fusion), and Bicena (Korean cuisine). I enjoyed a five-course dinner in “STAY” and I can honestly say it was an exemplary dining experience. I am actually quite a fussy eater but enjoyed most the food, just not the caviar or foie gras.

Breakfast in the morning was very nice. It’s a buffet-style set-up however fried, scrambled or poached eggs are made to order.

One of the bars within the hotel is Bar 81 is also the highest bar in South Korea which is pretty impressive. It’s on the 81st floor just in case you didn’t guess from the name…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Additional Amenities

There’s also an Evian Spa (there are only a couple in existence), fitness centre and swimming pool. It’s amazing how technology has advanced so things such as a swimming pool on the 85th floor of a skyscraper can become a reality. If you work in the events industry, the Signiel Seoul also features several events spaces which are available for use; each of which feature state-of-the-art audio and visual equipment.

Final Thoughts

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed my stay at the Signiel Seoul and found the atmosphere, service and overall experience to probably be one of the best I have witnessed. After being disappointed with a stay at The Shard in London a couple of years ago, my faith in luxury skyscraper hotels has been restored. I mean, who couldn’t resist this for a view whilst I enjoyed some authentic Green Tea and Cookies in my room…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Signiel Seoul is the first property within the Signiel brand, but the Lotte Corporation seem keen to expand this into other markets outside Asia. Could we see a property in Europe soon? Only time will tell!

Live Beyond Expectations – I love this tagline!