Location
Novotel Ambassador Seoul Dongdaemun Hotels & Residences is very well appointed. The hotel is 5 mins walk from Dongdaemun shopping district where the shops close at 5am every day. The hotel is also very accessible with a bus stop just 2 mins walk and the subway just 4 mins walk from the hotel. The nearest subway stop from Novotel Ambassador Seoul Dongdaemun Hotels & Residences is Dongdaemun History & Culture Park Station, where three subway lines serve the station. The hotel is one subway stop from Myeongdong shopping district, five stops away from Gyeongbokgung Station and four stops from Seoul Station. Getting to and from Incheon Airport is a breeze with the Airport limousine Bus Stop being 1 min walk from the hotel. There are at least two 24-hour convenient shops nearby the hotel, with one located in the building next to the hotel. Numerous eateries around the hotel open 24-hour.
Novotel Ambassador Seoul Dongdaemun Hotels & Residences Facade
Airport limousine bus stop is just next to Novotel Ambassador Seoul Dongdaemun Hotels & Residence
The Suite
Novotel Ambassador Seoul Dongdaemun Hotels & Residences has generally two types of accommodation, the hotel side and the residence side. The residence part of the hotel has facilities similar to a serviced apartment. The Residence Premier 1 Bedroom Suite that my friend and I were staying has a generous total floor area of 81m².
Kitchenette
The Residence Premier 1 Bedroom Suite in Novotel Ambassador Seoul Dongdaemun Hotels & Residences is equipped with a small kitchenette immediately after the entrance foyer to the suite. There is a sink for guests to wash their dishes, which the hotel also provide washing detergent and sponge. Beside the sink is a two induction stove for guests to do some simple cooking with the pots and pans stowed in the drawer in the kitchen island. In the kitchenette area, rice cooker and microwave machine can also be found. The hotel provides china and cutlery for up to four guests usage in the numerous drawers around the kitchenette area. A washing machine is concealed inside the cabinet under the sink in the kitchenette area. The washing machine has a dryer function which is great for guests needing to do their laundry in the suite.
Sink in the kitchenette
The washing machine is tucked away in the cabinet under the induction cooker and rice cooker
Coffee and tea
On top of that, the kitchenette is equipped with a full-size fridge for guests to store the groceries they bought. A Nespresso machine and electric kettle are placed on the kitchen island, which can also double up as a dining table that comes with four high chairs. The design of the suite is so thoughtful that power outlets are installed on the kitchen island for guests to use the Nespresso machine and kettle.
Full-size fridge in the kitchenette
A kitchen island that also doubles up as a dining table
Cutlery and cooking ware are stored in the cabinet of the kitchen island
Living Room
Further from the entrance to the Residence Premier 1 Bedroom Suite, after the kitchenette area in the living room. The decor in the living room is contemporary and cosy, due to the earthy tone used in the decor coupled with the lighting from the ceiling. There is a cabinet placed in the entrance foyer next to the kitchen island, which is great for guests to stow away their shopping items without having the living room looking messy. The living room in the Residence Premier 1 Bedroom Suite of Novotel Ambassador Seoul Dongdaemun Hotels & Residences is very well illuminated at all times of the day. In the day the living room is illuminated with natural light from one of the six floor-to-ceiling windows, and at night it is brightly lighted with the yellow lighting from the ceiling and the floor lamp placed in the corner of the living room. The centrepiece of the living room is the L-shaped couch, capable of sitting five to six persons. The sofa is very comfortable to sit on or lying on to watch the numerous programmes on the huge 55″ TV mounted on the wall opposite the couch. A coffee table between the couch and the TV, laid with hotel literature, is perfect for one to place their drinks or even snacks while watching TV.
View of the living room from the entrance foyer
The very cosy living room
Contemporary and spacious living room
View from the living room
Huge 55″ Smart LED TV in the living room
Bedroom
The spaciousness of the Residence Premier 1 Bedroom Suite of Novotel Ambassador Seoul Dongdaemun Hotels & Residences extends into the bedroom. The bedroom is furnished with a large king bed which is very comfortable and made us feel fully recharged to explore Seoul every single night when we were staying in the hotel. The pillows on the bed are of the right firmness to my liking. On top of these pillows, guests can choose from a list of pillow menu to find one that one prefers to get a better night sleep. The spacious bedroom allows the hotel to place an armchair, without obstructing the space, by the floor to ceiling window for guests to relax on with their legs stretched out. I find the armchair perfect to read a book from or simply to gaze at Seoul from the chair.
Bedroom in Residence Premier 1 Bedroom Suite of Novotel Ambassador Seoul Dongdaemun Hotels & Residences
A very comfortable King bed in the bedroom
Armchair placed in the window for guests to read a book or simply gaze out of the window
Novotel Ambassador Seoul Dongdaemun Hotels & Residences offers four types of pillows in their pillow menu
Bedside tables are installed on either side of the king bed in the bedroom of Residence Premier 1 Bedroom Suite in Novotel Ambassador Seoul Dongdaemun Hotels & Residences. The open style tables are a tad small with all the gadgets such as telephone on the left side table and a tablet dock on the right table. However, these gadgets can be shifted to the bottom tier of the table freeing up space for guests to charge their lifestyle devices. The hotel has excellent power options for guests. Other than the international power socket, there are USB power ports on each side of the bedside table for guests to charge their phones, tablets, etc. Switches for the lighting in the suite can also be accessible via the switches on both sides of the table. Bedside reading lamps are installed on the headboard of the king bed, freeing up even more space for guests to use on the bedside tables. The tablet on the right side of the bedside table allows guests to control practically everything in the suite. From the lighting to temperature to TV and music controls. Novotel Ambassador Seoul Dongdaemun Hotels & Residences is the first AI hotel in Korea. Other than being able to control these from the tablet, guests can gain access to a webpage via scanning a QR code found on the light switch panel in the living room. This webpage allows guests to control everything in the suite from their mobile phone anywhere in Korea, including requests for make-up room, request for additional hotel amenities, room climate, TV control and lighting controls. I find having this control on my palm and on the go to be very interesting.
A tablet that controls everything in the Residence Premier 1 Bedroom Suite of Novotel Ambassador Seoul Dongdaemun Hotels & Residences on the right bedside table
Tablet menu
Lighting control and power outlet above the left bedside table
Another large 55″ smart LED TV is mounted on the wall in the bedroom, opposite the king bed. This TV has the same entertainment options as that in the living room, allowing guests to watch TV from the comfort of the bed.
55″ Smart LED TV mounted opposite the king bed in the bedroom
Wardrobe Area
Novotel Ambassador Seoul Dongdaemun Hotels & Residences has a generous wardrobe area in the bedroom of the Residence Premier 1 Bedroom Suite. The wardrobe area is an extension in the bedroom, between the king bed and the bathroom. There are a total of three wardrobes, two large wardrobes with two door panels and one smaller wardrobe with one door panel. There is no lack of storage space in this wardrobe for guests to hang out the clothing they bring to Korea. The in-room safe is hidden in one of the drawers inside one of the large wardrobes. On top of that, the iron and ironing board is also tucked away in this wardrobe. The space in the wardrobe area is so large that the hotel placed of a rectangular stool here, giving it a boutique feel, and yet still have sufficient space for guests to move around even with the wardrobe doors open. Having the wardrobe area in front of the bathroom gives guests the convenience of changing into their clothing after a shower.
There is no lack of space for clothing in the wardrobes
The in-room safe is hidden away in one of the drawers in the wardrobe
The wardrobe at the entrance of the bedroom
Entire wardrobe area in the bedroom
There is no lack of space for clothing in the wardrobes
The in-room safe is hidden away in one of the drawers in the wardrobe
The wardrobe by the entrance to the bedroom of the Residence Premier 1 Bedroom Suite. The hotel is happy to provide additional hangers should guests request
Bathroom
Bedroom
The main bathroom in the Residence Premier 1 Bedroom Suite in Novotel Ambassador Seoul Dongdaemun Hotels & Residences is accessible from the bedroom. This main bathroom is huge. The bathroom is separated from the bedroom by a three-panel sliding door. Entering the bathroom, the first thing that caught my eyes is the huge circular bathtub sitting in one corner of the bathroom. This bathtub is perfect for guests to soak away the fatigue after a day’s exploring around Seoul. Despite being large, the water pressure from the tap on the bathtub fills up the tub very fast, guests do not have to wait for too long before being able to enjoy their soak.
A large bathtub in the bathroom
Right by the entrance of the bathroom is large sink countertop with a single sink sitting in the middle of the countertop. The countertop occupies 2/3 of the width of the bathroom, which provides tons of space for guests to place their toiletries on. Novotel Ambassador Seoul Dongdaemun Hotels & Residences provides their in-house bath amenities completed with body lotion, dental kit and shaver. The bath amenities are of good quality.
Sink with a large countertop in the bathroom
Quality in-house bath amenities
There are two cubicles furthest end from the entrance to the bathroom. The cubicle next to the sink countertop is where the shower cubicle is located. The shower cubicle has sufficient space to place bath amenities as well as a cup for toothbrushes. The shower cubicle has both regular shower head and rain shower head. The cubicle next to the walk-in shower, behind the bathtub, is where the toilet is located. The toilet is equipped with a bidet. Instead of a control panel mounted on the wall, usage of the bidet is via remote control.
Large walk-in shower
Toilet with bidet
Guest Toilet
There is another toilet right at the main entrance to the suite at the entrance foyer. The guest toilet, furnished with a toilet bowl with bidet and a sink, is very big. The hotel is very thoughtful in the placing of towel rack with two hand towels in this toilet. This toilet is perfect for the guests of those staying in this Residence Premier 1 Bedroom Suite to use without having the need to enter the bathroom in the bedroom. This toilet is also convenient for guests who wanted to use the toilet without having to walk to the toilet in the bedroom while they are watching TV in the living room.
Toilet in by the entrance to the Residence Premier 1 Bedroom Suite
Service
The service in Novotel Ambassador Seoul Dongdaemun Hotels & Residences is out of this world. From the moment we step into the hotel on the ground level, we can already feel the friendliness and eagerness to help guests from the staff. We were greeted by the concierge staffs and invited to the 20th floor to get our check-in processed. The concierge staff also offered to help us with our luggage and escort us to the reception for check-in, which we declined. At the reception, the staffs welcomed us with the biggest smile on her face. She processed our check-in with such efficiency and made some recommendations for us to explore during our stay in Seoul. The staff also gave us three welcome drink passes (unlike the miserable Ibis Ambassador Busan Haeundae) and recommended us to use the pass at the bar on the 20th floor where the view is more spectacular. The staff was observant and wished my friend an advanced birthday.
Concierge staff on the ground floor who are always willing to help
We were warmly welcomed by the staff at the reception on the 20th floor during our check-in
I had previously requested a birthday cake for my friend whose birthday falls on one of the days during our stay in Novotel Ambassador Seoul Dongdaemun Hotels & Residences. My request was to have the caked delivered at the stroke of midnight and the cake was indeed delivered by a hotel staff despite being in midnight. The staff wished my friend a happy birthday with the warmest smile on his face. As we were receiving the cake, we got locked out of our suite. The staff immediately went to the reception and gotten the master key without letting us wait for too long. We apologise to the staff for making him make the extra trip to get the key to open the door. The staff responded with a smile that it was no trouble and told us not to worry about it.
Birthday cake with compliments from Novotel Ambassador Seoul Dongdaemun Hotels & Residences at the stroke of midnight during my friend’s birthday
I always thought the housekeeping staffs are the unsung heroes of any hotels. It is the same for Novotel Ambassador Seoul Dongdaemun Hotels & Residences. We were assured that we will always return to a spick and span suite every night after exploring Seoul. These diligent housekeeping staffs cleaned every corner of the suite and replenished all the amenities in the suite so we do not have to worry about them running out.
When we redeemed the welcome drink from the bar on the 20th floor, we were warmly welcomed by the only staff at the bar. The staff briefed us of the choice of drink we are entitled to and found us an excellent seat which gave us a commanding view of the surroundings after taking orders for our drinks.
The hotel provides free shuttle service three times a day to six major destinations around Seoul include Myeongdong, Gyeongbokgung, Changyeonggung to name a few. Guests are required to arrive at the hotel concierge early and queue up for the shuttle service. We did not manage to catch the shuttle service during our stay in the hotel as the timing does not match ours.
Complimentary Shuttle service
This bus would take guests around six destinations in Seoul
Hotel Facilities
Gym
The gym in Novotel Ambassador Seoul Dongdaemun Hotels & Residences is located on the 20th floor. The gym is very well equipped with treadmills, bikes, weights machine and free weights for guests to get a good workout. I like the placement of the bikes and treadmills where guests can do their workout and get a great view of Seoul while doing so.
Swimming Pool
There are two swimming pools in Novotel Ambassador Seoul Dongdaemun Hotels & Residences. The hotel requires guests to wear a swim cap when using these pools. The indoor swimming is located on the 20th floor of the hotel and is opened all year long. The swimming pool is heated and is great for guests to swim a few laps in. There is a jacuzzi by the entrance to the indoor pool for guests to relax in.
Novotel Ambassador Seoul Dongdaemun Hotels & Residences also operates an outdoor swimming pool on the rooftop (21st floor). Despite being a smaller pool compared to its indoor counterpart, guests can also get a decent swim from this outdoor pool. The outdoor pool is open only from Jul to Sep each year.
Rooftop Garden
There is a rooftop garden on the 21st floor in Novotel Ambassador Seoul Dongdaemun Hotels & Residences. There are some chairs in the garden for guests to relax and enjoy the view of Seoul. There is also a bar where guests can order some drinks and snacks while taking in the beautiful scenery of Seoul.
Overall
Novotel Ambassador Seoul Dongdaemun Hotels & Residences is an excellent choice for visitors to Seoul. The location is excellent with the Dongdaemun shopping district right at the doorstep of the hotel. The hotel is within minutes walk from the airport limousine bus stop and the subway station. The Residence Premier 1 Bedroom Suite we stayed in was very spacious and comfortable. The incredible space we had in the suite ensured that we had lots of space moving around and put away our belongings. The sleep quality was excellent in the king bed. The service we received throughout our stay with Novotel Ambassador Seoul Dongdaemun Hotels & Residences is impeccable. We were always greeted with smiles whenever we bumped into any of the staffs around in the hotel. We felt welcome to the hotel by the diligent staffs working tirelessly around the clock to ensure guests are well taken care of. I would not hesitate to book a stay at this hotel the next time I visit Seoul.