Last Updated on July 7, 2024 by HB
Welcome, travelers to Korea! Are you considering a stay at the ‘Handpicked Hotel and Collections‘ (โ โ โ โ 4 Star), situated in Gwanak-gu, Seoul, Korea? Or perhaps youโve already secured your reservation? Then youโve landed at the right place on my blog!!
I, HB (Hotel Boy ๐), am committed to providing you with the most comprehensive reviews of Koreaโs finest hotels, unrivaled by anyone worldwide!
In this post, I have compiled the following information:
- In-depth Analysis of Global Guest Reviews
- Showcasing Top-tier Reviews from Korean Guests
- Quick Overview of Hotel Information
- Diving into Price Analysis
As a hotel guide residing in Korea, Iโve prepared an objective and insightful analysis based on numerous reviews from both local and global guests, all through a uniquely Korean lens. This aims to engage all your senses and assist in making an informed decision for your unforgettable stay in Korea.
Without further ado, letโs dive right in!
1. About ‘Handpicked Hotel and Collections‘
‘Handpicked Hotel and Collections’ is ranked 1st in the Gwanak area among the Top-Rated Hotels in Seoul as analyzed by HB. (For those intrigued, don’t forget to peruse HB’s previous post, ‘[A Localโs Insight] Discover Top-Rated Hotels Across All of Seoul’.)
Before we delve into the detailed analysis, allow me to present a quick overview of ‘Handpicked Hotel and Collections‘.
Source: Agoda
Set among restaurants and cafes in the Sang-do dong neighborhood, this stylish boutique hotel is a 4-minute walk from the Seongdae Traditional Market bus stop.
Minimalist rooms offer free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs and en suite bathrooms. Suites add kitchenettes; some have terraces.
Valet parking is complimentary. Other amenities include a sleek traditional restaurant and a cafe, along with a fitness center and a playroom for kids. There’s also event space decorated with modern art.
Source: Google Maps
‘Handpicked Hotel and Collections‘
- Grade: โ โ โ โ 4 Star Hotel
- Address: 120 Sangdo-ro, Dongjak-gu, Seoul
- Official Website: http://www.handpicked.kr/
- Telephone: +82-02-2229-5499
- Check-in time: 3:00 PM
- Check-out time: 12:00 PM
2. In-depth Analysis of Global Guest Reviews
Let’s dive into a thorough analysis based on real guest experiences at ‘Handpicked Hotel and Collections‘.
Remember, these reviews encompass perspectives not just from Korean guests, but also those hailing from various corners of the globe. Our forthcoming review draws heavily upon data gathered across platforms like ‘Agoda’, ‘Booking.com’, and ‘Google Maps’.
2.1. Comprehensive Reviews from ‘Agoda‘
โ Agoda Ratings: 8.1 / 10, based on 1,438 reviews
Here’s how users who booked through ‘Agoda’ rated ‘Handpicked Hotel and Collections’.
Handpicked Hotel and Collections has earned an excellent score of 8.1 out of a possible 10, shining particularly in areas such as ‘Cleanliness’ and ‘Service’.
What follows is an exhaustive analysis of guest reviews, with our main focus on recent comments to maintain both relevance and freshness.
| Location | Handpicked Hotel and Collections is located in an area that may not be convenient for public transportation, but it is conveniently located across the street from the airport bus stop. The nearest subway station, Sindaebang, is a 10-15 minute walk away, but there are many bus stops in the vicinity. It also has various businesses like restaurants, supermarkets, health and beauty stores around. |
| Room | The rooms are clean with a sleek design. They are generally not large but are cozy and comfortable. Some reviews mentioned the lack of storage space, good soundproofing, and smart toilets. |
| Breakfast | Breakfast is optional and is served in the cafe located in the basement. The satisfaction of the western breakfast varied in the reviews. |
| Friendliness | The staff is very friendly and proactive in customer service. Some reviews mentioned difficulties in the staff’s ability to speak Japanese. |
| Facilities | There is a cafe and shop in the basement, and a traditional Korean restaurant in the building. Some reviews mentioned that the use of additional facilities was not possible. |
| Price | The value for money had mixed reviews. Some reviews mentioned that the rooms were small and expensive, while others found it satisfactory for the price. |
| Others | Handpicked Hotel and Collections has a minimalist atmosphere, and you can feel the owner’s efforts in each corner. Also, upon check-in, they provide coupons that can be used in the basement cafe and restaurant. |
| Overall Opinion | The pros include clean and stylish rooms, friendly staff, and accessibility to the airport bus. The cons mentioned include the distance to the subway station and room size. Considering the location and room size, the hotel has high satisfaction for the price, especially with good accessibility to the airport, it is recommended. |
2.2. Comprehensive Reviews from ‘Booking.com‘
โ Booking.com Ratings: 7.6 / 10, based on 202 reviews
Let’s take a look at how users who booked through ‘Booking.com’ rated ‘Handpicked Hotel and Collections‘.
Handpicked Hotel and Collections bagged a good score of 7.6 out of a possible 10, excelling notably in areas of ‘staff’.
Next up is an exhaustive analysis of guest reviews. Just like with Agoda, we’ve concentrated on recent comments to ensure that our insights stay timely and relevant.
| Location | Most guests were satisfied with the hotel’s location. Many said that it has good access to public transportation and is surrounded by convenience facilities and restaurants. However, some guests did not like the location. |
| Room | Opinions on the room were mixed. While some guests were happy with the cleanliness and bedding conditions of the room, some expressed dissatisfaction with the cleanliness of the room, the cleanliness of bedding, and the condition of the furniture. Also, some guests commented that the room was small. |
| Breakfast | There was no mention of breakfast from some guests. |
| Friendliness | Most guests were satisfied with the staff’s kindness and professionalism. However, some guests expressed dissatisfaction with unfriendly staff. |
| Facilities | There was little mention of the facilities. |
| Price | The opinions of guests were not clear. While some guests were satisfied with the price, some evaluated that the value for money was not satisfying. |
| Others | Some guests mentioned that the room was quiet and the water pressure was good. However, some guests expressed dissatisfaction with the check-in time, WiFi connection problems, and dust problems in the room. |
| Overall Opinion | Handpicked Hotel and Collections’s location and the kindness of the staff were generally satisfying. However, there were complaints about the cleanliness of the room and the condition of bedding and furniture. Also, some guests evaluated that the value for money was not satisfying. |
2.3. Comprehensive Reviews from ‘Google‘
โ Google Maps Ratings: 4.1 / 5, based on 554 reviews
Moving on to our next platform for reviews – ‘Google Maps’. Out of a potential perfect score of 5, ‘Handpicked Hotel and Collections’ has impressively clinched a rating of 4.1. What’s intriguing is that unlike other review platforms that categorize scores by specific features or services, Google Maps rates hotels according to guest types. Here we see couples, solo, and business guests awarding Handpicked Hotel and Collections with their top ratings of 4.0.
Following this, we present you an exhaustive analysis of guest reviews. – just as with Agoda and Booking.com cases – we’ve prioritized recent comments to keep our insights relevant and timely.
| Location | Generally, satisfaction with the location of Handpicked Hotel and Collections was high. In particular, many commented on the excellent accessibility due to its proximity to the subway station. There were also reviews stating the convenience of having an airport bus stop nearby. |
| Room | Opinions on the room condition and cleanliness were diverse. While some reviews positively mentioned the tidy room and comfortable bedding, others negatively pointed out issues such as dust and hair, indicating room cleaning needs to be improved. There were also opinions that the rooms were small. |
| Breakfast | Although there weren’t many comments about breakfast, the existing ones were positive, mentioning that it was delicious. |
| Friendliness | Opinions on the staff’s friendliness varied. While some reviews positively evaluated the staff’s kindness, others negatively pointed out their rudeness. |
| Facilities | There weren’t many opinions about the Handpicked Hotel and Collections’s facilities. However, some reviews positively evaluated the atmosphere and service of the restaurant on the 9th floor and the cafe in the basement. |
| Price | Generally, there were many opinions satisfied with the cost-performance ratio. However, some reviews expressed dissatisfaction with the room condition considering the price. |
| Others | Some reviews pointed out problems such as poor soundproofing and heating issues. In addition, there were positive evaluations about the bar-shaped shampoo considering the environment. |
| Overall Opinion | This hotel received positive evaluations in terms of location, cost-effectiveness, and comfortable bedding. However, there were also opinions that improvements are needed in cleanliness, service attitude of some staff, and facility issues. |
3. Showcasing Top-tier Reviews from Korean Guests
Being situated in South Korea, it’s no surprise that ‘Handpicked Hotel and Collections‘ plays host to a significant number of Korean guests. In my quest for understanding guest experiences, I’ve come across a plethora of reviews penned by Koreans. Allow me to share some of these standout reviews with you.
3.1. Best Review: “Handpicked Hotel and Collections: A Review on Junior Suite Room, Breakfast, and Naru Lunch at Sangdo-dong Hotel”
Summary of the Blog Post
Handpicked Hotel and Collections, located in Sangdo-dong, is one of the top 100 hotels selected by Britain’s Monocle. Here I share my experience of visiting this unique place. The hotel has a distinct structure, where you have to go up to the 9th floor for check-in, which doubles as a breakfast area in the morning and operates as a Korean restaurant, Naroo, at other times.
The Junior Suite King room is spacious and comfortable enough for two people. The bed is very comfortable, and most rooms are designed to look out the large window, making it a pleasure to wake up in the morning.
Breakfast can be enjoyed at Naroo, and I recommend checking the monthly weekday breakfast menu in advance. Lunch is also available at Naroo. Though there are many great restaurants in Sangdo-dong, lunch at Naroo is an experience not to be missed.
The Handpicked Hotel and Collections is a landmark of Sangdo-dong and is great for family visits. With its excellent facilities, including a fantastic cafe and restaurant on the basement floor, I highly recommend visiting the Handpicked Hotel and Collections when you’re in Sangdo-dong.
Source: https://blog.naver.com/mslink/222895989764
Source: https://blog.naver.com/mslink/222895989764
(* For a detailed review, I recommend visiting the original article.)
4. Quick Overview of Hotel Information
4.1. Amenities and Facilities
Languages spoken
- English
- Chinese [Mandarin]
- Japanese
- Korean
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible
Internet access
- Free Wi-Fi in all rooms!
- Internet
- Internet services
- Wi-Fi in public areas
Things to do, ways to relax
- Fitness center
- Garden
- Ticket services
- Tours
Access
- CCTV in common areas
- CCTV outside property
- Check-in/out [private]
- Fire extinguisher
- Front desk [24-hour]
- Non-smoking rooms
- Safety/security feature
- Security [24-hour]
- Service animals are welcome
- Smoke alarms
- Soundproof rooms
Getting around
- Airport transfer
- Car park [free of charge]
- Car park [on-site]
- Rental car
- Taxi service
- Valet parking
Cleanliness and safety
- Anti-viral cleaning products
- Body thermometer
- Cashless payment service
- Daily disinfection in all rooms
- Daily disinfection in common areas
- Face coverings on staff
- First aid kit
- Guest rooms seal after sanitization
- Hand sanitizer
- Hot water linen and laundry washing
- Hygiene certification
- Individually-wrapped food options
- Physical distancing of at least 1 meter
- Room sanitization opt-out available
- Rooms sanitized between stays
- Safe dining setup
- Sanitized kitchen and tableware items
- Staff trained in safety protocol
- Sterilizing equipment
- Temperature check for guests and staff
Available in all rooms
- Air conditioning
- Desk
- Free bottled water
- Individual air conditioning
- Internet access โ LAN
- Internet access โ wireless
- LAN Internet in room [free]
- Wi-Fi [free]
Dining, drinking, and snacking
- Alternative meal arrangement
- Bar
- Breakfast [continental]
- Coffee shop
- Kitchen
- Restaurants
- Shared kitchen
Services and conveniences
- Air conditioning in public area
- Concierge
- Currency exchange
- Daily housekeeping
- Dry cleaning
- Elevator
- Facilities for disabled guests
- Food delivery
- Gift/souvenir shop
- Heating in public area
- Ironing service
- Lockers
- Luggage storage
- Meeting/banquet facilities
- Postal service
- Safety deposit boxes
- Shops
- Smoke-free property
- Smoking area
- Terrace
- Xerox/fax in business center
For the kids
- Family room
- Kids club
- Kids meal
4.2. Location
Adress : 120 Sangdo-ro, Dongjak-gu, Seoul
Airports
- Gimpo Airport (GMP) 13.7 km
- Seoul Incheon International Airport (ICN) 43.0 km
Public transportation
- Sindaebangsamgeori Subway Station 510 m
- Jangseungbaegi Subway Station 630 m
Hospital or clinic
- Prime Dermatologic Clinic 550 m
Shopping
- Myeong-Dong Walking Street 8.2 km
Convenience store
- 7 Eleven 1.4 km
4.3. Nearby Attractions
Popular landmarks
- National Museum of Korea 4.8 km
- The War Memorial of Korea 5.4 km
- N Seoul Tower 7.4 km
- Namdaemun Market 7.5 km
- Myeong-Dong Walking Street 8.2 km
- Insadong 9.3 km
- Gyeongbokgung Palace 9.5 km
- Bukchon Hanok Village 9.8 km
- Changdeokgung Palace Complex 10.1 km
- Lotte World 14.6 km
Nearby landmarks
- Sindaebangsamgeori Subway Station 510 m
- Prime Dermatologic Clinic 550 m
- Jangseungbaegi Subway Station 630 m
- Dongjak Cultural Welfare Center 750 m
- Jina Skin Care 780 m
- Jangmi Children park 870 m
- Boramae Subway Station 1.2 km
- Sangdo Subway Station 1.3 km
- Boramae Bukdongsan 1.3 km
- Urideul Mart 1.4 km
5. Diving into Price Analysis
Finally, let’s delve into arguably one of the most critical categories in hotel reviews – pricing.
To pinpoint where you can get your money’s worth, I’ll be comparing rates from renowned hotel comparison platforms like ‘HotelsCombined,’ ‘SkyScanner,’ and ‘Trivago.’
Our criteria for this low-price hunt? A one-night stay from Wednesday to Thursday for two guests in a single roomโbreakfast excluded (as it often significantly bumps up costs).
5.1. Price Comparison via ‘HotelsCombined’
After searching through ‘HotelsCombined’, the best deal I found was $82 when booking through ‘HotelsCombinde’, ‘priceline’, and ‘Agoda’.
5.2. Price Comparison via ‘Sky Scanner’
The lowest price on ‘Sky Scanner’ is $87 for a 1-night stay when booking through ‘Booking.com’.
5.3. Price Comparison via ‘Trivago’
The lowest price on ‘Trivago’ is $71 for a 1-night stay when booking through ‘Booking.com’.
5.4. Official Website of ‘Handpicked Hotel and Collections‘
“I ventured to find the rates directly from the ‘Handpicked Hotel and Collections’ official website. But strangely enough, there were no rooms available on the official site.”
Our analysis reveals that out of all four sites considered, the ‘Trivago’ offers the best deal at USD 71 for a stay at the ‘Handpicked Hotel and Collections’ when booking through ‘Booking.com’. You might want to keep this information handy while booking.
โ Do bear in mind, these rock-bottom prices are subject to change based on your stay dates and when you’re conducting your search.
โ Also crucial to remember – today’s best deal doesn’t necessarily promise future savings.
โ Consider this ‘Lowest Price Analysis’ as a guiding light rather than an absolute rule.
โ For savvy hotel booking, I’d recommend revisiting these comparison sites during your accommodation planning phase – you never know when you might stumble upon an even better deal!”
And with that, we wrap up our review of the ‘Handpicked Hotel and Collections‘, seen through a distinctly Korean lens.
Yours truly, HB – your trusted guide to best hotels in Korea. Stay tuned for more insightful reviews on Korea’s hospitality gems!
