Kensington Hotel Seorak

Looks like old North Korea hotel. Furnitures looks like from NK Russia or other poor communism country. Restroom is full of fungus! Bottle opener is rusty and dirty! It can be acceptable in a cheapest guest house but not in five star hotel with 200K-1M prices per night. You can easily get much better standard in less than half of this price.

Perfectly located hotel for spending time in the National Park, literally a 5min walk to the front gate. The hotel itself is ok but is very old and outdated and could do with being renovated. It is a themed hotel which is a bit strange and the hotel would do much better just being a normal hotel and being modernised instead. Did the job.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I had a very pleasant 3nights stay at Kensington Hotel Seorak with my guests and would like to express my sincere appreciation to the entire team. A special thank you to Ms. Hyun, who I believe was the front desk manager, for being exceptionally kind, professional, and attentive throughout our stay. Her warm hospitality, genuine care, and willingness to assist made us feel welcome from the moment we arrived. The hotel staff overall were friendly, courteous, and dedicated to providing excellent service. The location is wonderful, particularly for those visiting Seoraksan, with beautiful natural surroundings and easy access to the mountain. The hotel itself has a classic charm and unique character. While some areas of the property are showing their age and could benefit from renovation and modernization, the outstanding service, cleanliness, and commitment of the staff create a very positive guest experience. Thank you to Ms. Hyun and the entire Kensington Hotel Seorak team for your kindness and hospitality. We truly enjoyed our stay and would be happy to return again.

I had a wonderful time, but set your expectations accordingly. This isn't your typical pristine spotless 4* Hotel, it's kind of like a time capsule from an older era. The hotel seems to have peaked pre 2000s. It's like staying at a Museum, the amazing collection of celebrity memorabilia, and letters to the hotel by various world leaders that stayed there are very interesting. They even have a a great Beatles stuff collection at the Cafe on the 9th floor. As you will be able to quickly tell the hotel is themed after British culture. The double decker bus outside, the furniture. Everything very inspired by Kensington Palace in UK. It can feel a bit dated, but I think it fits the aesthetics which is why I say it's like a time capsule. That said the hotel could use a bit of TLC, a bit dusty with all the carpet and heavy curtains. Drawers barely work, old shower curtain. Though to be honest I found those to be very minor issues, given the following positives. The location is fantastic. If you're visiting the many trails nearby you get ultimate flexibility here. Clear view of the peaks (especially from the café!), walking distance so you can start whenever you want. I walked to the trail, decided it was too busy, took a nap, and then went when the tour buses had left, I couldn't have done that if I wasn't so close! The staff were also very friendly and helpful. I truly felt welcomed. I didn't try their food, as I generally prefer to forego hotel options for something more local oriented. Highly recommend if you're visiting the area!!