Astar Hotel

Good location, clean spacious room and fresh breakfast, parking available:)

Compared to other hotel receptionists, the staff at this hotel spoke fluent English and provided excellent service. However, the rooms were not very soundproof.

It’s a pretty standard hotel. Not the best but also not the worst. However, the level of customer service by their Korean staff was ridiculously rude. Especially Mr Kang Hyung Seok from the night shift.

1. We called at 11pm to ask if there was something wrong with the aircon.
2. We were informed that it is common for air conditioning to be shut and for there to only be central heating during the winter months.
3. We were advised to open the window.
4. We opened the window but it was very noisy.
5. We called again because in all honesty, the aircon was blowing cold air a few moments before our first call.
6. Kang Hyung Seok proceeded to raise his voice at us over the phone
7. He accused us of breaking Korean rules, calling us a rule breaker (in his exact words).
8. He then said that he already told us in the morning that we are not allowed to turn on the air conditioning and that by doing so, we were breaking the rules.
9. We explained that we were out the whole day, and this was the first call we are making.
10. Also, we cannot read Korean. And if the aircon system has been shut, how on earth are we breaking rules by changing the system?
11. He was very abrasive and he sounded very threatening, asking us to go to the front desk at 11pm
12. We went down and asked to speak with his manager
13. He made 2 phone calls, and when we requested for the call to be put on speaker, there was no one on the other end
14. We beckoned for him to pass the phone over and he did. After I took the phone to speak with the manager (basically air? Cause no reply), he asked for it backs and when I put it on the front counter, he said he would call the police…
15. So the police was called. The entire ordeal ended pass 12am, with the police trying to get him to understand that his attitude was the problem. NOT the aircon….
16. We requested for an apology which he agreed to.
17. 15 mins later, our phone rang and his suddenly very elusive manager appeared. I don’t think he was the real manager because his name card reads team lead.
18. Mr team lead said a quick sorry and said they couldn’t give a written apology and asked me to leave a review. Haha. I told him the hotel has tons of reviews that say their staff are rude and nothing has been done.

TLDR: I would say there was no proper resolution other than Mr Team Lead assuring me that Kang Hyung Seok would be retrained.

Perhaps if the GM is reading this. And if the GM even cares. Pull up the CCTV footage. It’s wild that the police was called for such a small matter. They were legit appalled that nothing had happened that requires real mediation. The staff are also not afraid of any consequence because there is no real way to escalate bad behaviour. We were travelling with a kid and elderly. He knew all our info. So put that into perspective… I doubt we were overreacting.

Future guests, perhaps you can all keep an eye out for Kang Hyung Seok haha! See if he greets you in his untucked shirt filled with food stains and stares into your soul while shouting and you and accusing you 😂 he only wore his coat and freshened up after his team lead came down.

That being said, the rest of the staff were okay. Big praise the the foreigner who was working as the restaurant’s service staff. He proved that service isn’t dead in Jeju. Otherwise just stay in an Airbnb and save yourself the trouble.

For the price I paid, I was quite happy with what I got. For starters I only booked a run of the house room—so as a single guest I got a room with a window facing a wall (711) with three single beds BUT early check in nevertheless. I waited 30 minutes and when I went down to request a change of room—was dutifully given a better room with a great view and a double bed (906). There’s a good sauna and gym BUT you have to pay 10k won every time you use it. Location wasn’t too great—nowhere near shopping or sites. But not too far from airport. And upload the k.ride app if you’re from abroad to make taxi rides easier. Watch out though as there’s an entry from the back of the hotel and ride might go there!

Rooms are quite dated and lacking in modern amenities (e.g. a smart TV). Only 2 pillows on the bed and when I requested 2 additional pillows, they told me they only had 1 available... Bizarro. Our friend's room smelled like cigarette smoke when we got there. The staff were relatively friendly. Hotel is decently quiet but difficult to get to tourist attractions from here.