Hotel Marcher

I was honestly surprised when I saw that this hotel was only 2-star rated, because it felt like we got a really good deal. The room was HUGE and the bathroom was one of the biggest bathrooms I’ve seen in a hotel. The giant spa bath was a hit with our son. The hotel design was really cool, it kind of felt like we were staying in our own little apartment. There is an entry to take off/put on your shoes and food deliveries were made directly to our front door. We did find the lighting situation a little confusing as there were 2 separate wall panels and an all-in-one remote that could control the tv, air con and lighting. Each night it took us a few tries to switch all the lights off. Not a major issue, but just something to be mindful of. I assume the whole setup was designed to be quite traditional, so the mattresses were rock hard and not great on our joints. Probably not an issue if you’re used to hard mattresses or futons/floor sleeping but was a bit uncomfortable for us as we are used to memory foam. Overall, we enjoyed our stay and the endless food options available nearby. Staff were friendly and used translators to ensure we understood everything.

Hotel Marcher has a lot of things going for it. The rooms are among the biggest I have seen for hotels in Korea. They are clean and functional, and they provide all the necessities for a comfortable stay. The hotel is in a busy section of Busan and it is convenient to tons of restaurants and street activity, so if you like to be in the center of things, this hotel is a good choice. It is also close to the Line 1 metro and is only a few stops away from Busan Station. Staff are extremely friendly and accommodating. What keeps this hotel from a higher rating is the lax attitude toward smoking in the rooms. Marcher bills itself as being a smoke-free facility, but my room was very smoky when I checked in. The hotel was completely booked that night, so I had to sleep in a room that smelled like a dirty ashtray. Unlike other hotels that provide written warnings of fees if you smoke in rooms, there are no such messages at Marcher. Even when I was moved to a different room the following day, I could still smell cigarette smoke in the hallways and even seeping in at times to my bathroom. Smoking seems to be at epidemic levels in Korea, and it appears that Hotel Marcher is hesitant to fight what seems to be a national norm. If you don't mind the smell, this hotel is excellent. If you need a smoke-free environment, I would look elsewhere.