Nouvelle Seoul Hotel Itaewon by Aank

Ladies, I really wouldn't recommend staying here. We booked the largest suite for two nights, costing 2700, and the cleanliness was genuinely awful. There were hairs on the bed, and shockingly, a cigarette pack under the headboard. The bathroom was stuffy when showering, and the toilet flush was very weak. Also, every evening, the street outside was full of foreigners smoking and drinking. The hotel is located on a hillside, and after a day out, climbing back up was absolutely exhausting. The front desk service was quite good though, very friendly. Breakfast options were limited, but the creamy pasta was delicious.

The hygiene was absolutely terrible! I'm blacklisting this hotel permanently! As soon as I lay down, I was bitten all over with these red spots, and they haven't gone away even after three or four days. I booked for three nights but only stayed a few hours because there were mosquitoes and bugs everywhere, biting me all over. I couldn't stand it and had to book another hotel. And of course, I couldn't cancel this booking, what a rip-off! I'll never stay here again! Avoid at all costs!

Pros: My room was incredibly clean, especially the bathroom. The sink gleamed, every corner was spotless, and the large mirror was perfect for makeup. The spacious counter was a huge plus for all my toiletries (girls tend to have a lot of skincare products!). The room size was typical for a Korean hotel, with enough space for two people's luggage. It's quite close to the subway station, with a convenience store and a few restaurants nearby, and a chill coffee shop just across the street. Although it's on a slope, it's a very short one. The elderly gentleman who checked us in at the front desk had an excellent attitude. There's even a tax refund machine in the hotel lobby. Cons: The soundproofing was poor. The two men in the next room were very loud. If it weren't for the language barrier, I think I would have known their entire conversation – there was absolutely no privacy. Luckily, we didn't stay on a weekend, so we didn't hear any bar-goers or drinkers. So staying here really depends on luck; if you get considerate guests who keep to themselves, it's great. But if you encounter loud ones, it's just bad luck. Also, at 1 AM, the TV (or possibly some other electronic box) suddenly blared an ear-splitting alarm, like an ambulance, which startled us awake. Since I take sedatives, being abruptly woken up is very disorienting for me. My girlfriend quickly unplugged all the power cords behind the TV, and the sound instantly disappeared. I don't know what caused this; I forgot to ask the front desk when we checked out, and I still have no idea what happened.

The room was a bit too small; with two 28-inch suitcases, there wasn't enough space to open them fully. It felt a bit dim, and the surrounding area seemed to be more of an international district with fewer local food options. On the bright side, public transport like buses and the subway were quite convenient. The service was excellent; even though they didn't speak Chinese, communication wasn't an issue. When I needed to catch a flight, the staff were very helpful and quick to assist me with getting a taxi.