HotelChatter - kr

The Hotel of Doom Gets Some New Glass; Still Looks Pretty Scary

juliana — 2009-09-04T12:03:55-05:00

<![CDATA[<img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/1425/doomhotelfacelift.jpg" class="top"> We can hardly believe it but after 16 years of neglect, the <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2008/7/18/131416/507/hotels/North_Korea_s_Ryugyong_Hotel_Gets_a_New_Lease_On_its_quot_Doomed_quot_Life">Doom Hotel</a> in North Korea, aka Ryugyong Hotel, has finally been updated with some new glass windows at its peak. Some background on this scary-looking hotel: The building was started in 1987 and planned to have 3,000 rooms inside its 105 storeys. But ultimately, the construction tab became to much for North Korea to handle and so it was left mostly abandoned for 20 years. It's never even hosted any hotel guests. But there are some improvements now being made. <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/lifestyleMolt/idUSTRE5831EN20090904">Reuters</a> reports: <blockquote> The peak of the 3,000-room hotel, in a country that permits few foreigners to visit, is encircled in new rings

North Korea's Ryugyong Hotel Gets a New Lease On its "Doomed" Life

juliana — 2008-07-18T13:34:15-05:00

Quite possibly the worst hotel in the world is the Ryugyong Hotel in Pyongyang, North Korea. This is not because the hotel is infested with bed bugs, or has crappy service, pay-for-WiFi or outrageous valet parking charges.

Nope, it's the worst hotel in the world because it has been abandoned for over 16 years with construction on the 105-storey pyramid-shaped hotel halted in 1992. It's never even hosted hotel guests. Oh yeah, and it's in North Korea.

Indeed, it's been dubbed "The Hotel of Doom" and the "Phantom Hotel." And if you think it doesn't look so bad, ugh. Check it in Google Earth.

The Second Biggest Hotel in Pyongyang

markj — 2006-05-25T10:07:26-05:00

<![CDATA[<img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/3/pyonyang_skyline.jpg"> The Ryugyong Hotel, aka Dr. Evil's secret hideout hotel, never fails to fascinate us, even though it will more than likely never see an actual guest. The DPRK has actually struck the hotel from all official maps, and we hear many tour guides won't even confirm Ryugyong's existence. Ha.  Yeah, the big, ominous, monolithic structure in the middle of town, that just so happens to be the seventh tallest building in the world doesn't exist. So if Ryuguyog is a figment of your imagination, where do you stay if you visit Pyongyang?  Well, more than likely you will stay at, <a href="http://w3.whosea.org/general/info_dprk.htm">Koryo Hotel</a>, the second largest hotel in North Korea (also the second highest building in the

Ryugyong Hotel Spotted on Google Earth

dzot — 2006-04-07T15:32:45-05:00

<![CDATA[<img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/3/ryugyong_looms.jpg"> [Publisher's note: <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/user/dzot/stories">dzot</a>, a hotel maven with tenure around these parts, fondly recalls his first encounter with us, which involved our <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2004/12/30/132441/09/misc/2004_Awards_Best_Villain">2004 Best Hotel Villain</a>. Enjoy.] The first time I ever visited HotelChatter was when another site linked to <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2004/10/22/102731/59">this post</a> about the surreally eerie Ryugyong Hotel in North Korea. DamnIntersting.com has posted <a href="http://www.damninteresting.com/?p=490">even more info</a> about this travesty. The hotel, which was once found on city maps before the construction even began, has now been completely stricken from the official maps. Tour guides usually claim not to know where it is. Either a majority of the country is in a state of denial about the whole thing, or they avoid the

2004 Awards: Best Villain

HotelChatter — 2004-12-30T13:30:18-05:00

HotelChatter 2004 Award :: Best Villain

Now we are not saying this hotel is evil, we have no idea if that is the case.