Category: Hotels

My blog mainly focuses on traveling Busan, but this time when I visited Seoul, I stayed in the Josun Palace Hotel. I loved my stay so much that I’ve decided to share it with you in my blog.

What is the Josun Palace Seoul Like?

The Josun Palace Hotel is a luxurious 5-star hotel located in the central Gangnam area in Seoul. If you are not new to Korea, you know what the Shinsegae Group means here. It is South Korea’s retail hub, operating department stores across the nation. The Shinsegae Group also owns its own hotels. Josun Palace, Grand Josun, Grand Josun Jeju are some of the the high-end hotels that the Shinsegae Group manages. That means if you have a Shinsegae gift voucher, you can use it to pay for your room.

The Josun Palace Hotel is still brand new, since it opened in 2021. The check-in time was at 3 pm and check-out was at 12 pm.

What are the Rooms Like?

I stayed in the Masters Room. It featured two double sized beds and a bathroom.

The size of the room and beds were large enough to accommodate two adults and two kids comfortably. The bathroom was spacious, too.

The lobby of the hotel is located on the 25th floor. The actual rooms are located between the 27th and 35th floor. Once we arrived on the ground floor, the employees there escorted us to the lobby. The room I was given was on the 29th floor. The room itself was clean and well decorated with white and gold décor. It also had a view of Seoul. During the day, the Namsan Tower could be seen from the room.

What About the Facilities?

Let me begin with the indoor swimming pool. Swimming caps are required, and extras are provided by the employees. The swimming pool is decorated with white and gold décor, making for many instagrammable spots.

The changing room was a little small, with only two shower rooms available.

There was also a fitness center. Guests can use the swimming pool and the fitness center from 7 am to 10 pm.

A complimentary breakfast was offered on the 24th floor from 6 am to 10 am.

Next to the hotel, there is a building called Centerfield that has many cafes and restaurants inside.

How do I Get to the Josun Palace Seoul?

I took a taxi from the Suseo Train Station to the Josun Palace Hotel. It cost about 14,000 won.

You can also get to the Josun Palace Hotel by subway. The tricky part is that the hotel is located in the middle of Seolleung Station and Yeoksam Station, line number 2 (Green Line). From either station, it takes about 5 to 10 minutes to walk to the hotel.

Conclusion

I had a pleasant time at the Josun Palace Seoul and I would recommend it to anyone who may be looking for a hotel in the downtown Seoul. I paid $850 for the room per night, but the prices fluctuate depending on when you plan your trip.  

I am back with another hotel review. My blog mainly focuses on travelling Busan and what life is like in the city, but this time, I will be talking about a hotel in the city of Daegu. Fyi, Daegu is the third largest city in Korea. Daegu is close to Busan, only being about a two and a half hour drive away. Embarrassingly, this was my first time traveling to Daegu. When I tried to book a hotel, I was clueless. It looked like the number of accommodations in Daegu was very limited. So, I’ve decided to share a little bit of my experience here in my blog.

What is the Daegu Marriott Hotel Like?

The Daegu Marriott Hotel is a 5-star hotel located in downtown Daegu. The hotel is still new, since it opened in 2021.

Being right across from the Shinsegae Department Store Daegu, the location was unbeatable. The Shinsegae Department Store is connected to the Dong Daegu (East Daegu) train station. This makes it a super convenient location for people who travel by KTX or SRT (they are trains that travel between Busan and Seoul).

The check-in time was at 3 pm and check-out was at 12 pm.

What Are the Rooms Like?

I stayed in the Deluxe Double Room. It featured two double sized beds and a bathroom. It looked like the room also featured a balcony, but it wasn’t accessible. The size of the room and beds were large enough to accommodate two adults and two kids comfortably.

The room I stayed in was located on the 7^th floor, but all the rooms had same view.

I’ve seen in other people’s reviews that their rooms featured a bathtub, but my room didn’t. If you want a room with a bathtub, I suggest requesting one at check-in.

A complimentary breakfast was offered in the lobby between 7 am and 10 am. When we checked in, we were told to come to breakfast early the next morning or else the line would be too long. The staff was right. We went to breakfast before 8 am (around 7:45 am). The breakfast area didn’t look too busy at first, but when we finished our meal, it was so crowded.

What About the Hotel Facilities? 

There was a gym which was free for guests and an indoor swimming pool and sauna. Hotel guests were supposed to pay for the swimming pool and the sauna (27,500 won per adult / 17,500 won per child), but luckily, when we checked in, we were given a coupon. 

If you want to use the swimming pool, don’t forget to bring a swimming cap, since they are required.

The sauna was an expansion of the shower facilities for the swimming pool and had three tubs with different temperatures.

How Do I Get to Daegu Marriott Hotel? 

If you travel by train, get off at the Dong Daegu Station (East Daegu Station).

It will be a 10 minute walk from the Dong Daegu Station to the hotel.

This time, I drove to Daegu.

The parking spaces were not very spacious. If you parked in the evening, the chances are high that you will be asked to park in the parking tower.

Conclusion

As I’ve said, the number of hotels in Daegu is quite limited. So, I would recommend the Marriott Hotel to those looking for a hotel in Daegu. The hotel was modern, comfortable and the location was unbeatable.

The price of the rooms do fluctuate depending on when you book your stay, so keep that in mind when you are making your travel plans.

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While I was driving around the Kyungsung University area the other day, I noticed a brand-new building near the Hwangnyeong tunnel. After doing some research on Naver, Korea’s most popular search engine, I discovered that it was a youth hostel / wedding venue. It looked nice, so I decided to take my family there on a staycation. Here is what I thought of it!

What is Grand Moment Youth Hostel Like?

The Grand Moment Youth Hostel, situated in Hwangnyeongsan Mountain, opened its doors in August of this year. With 117 brand new rooms, it is the place to be!

The standard check in time is at 3 pm and check-out is at 11 am.

The Grand Moment Youth Hostel has also become a very popular wedding venue. It is the perfect location for newlyweds to host their ceremony because of its ideal location and accessible parking.

If you want to find more information, you can visit their website: grandmoment.co.kr. Details are available in Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese and Cantonese.

What Are the Rooms Like?

It may just be me, but when I hear “youth hostel,” the first thing that pops into my head is a dormitory with bunk beds.

Fortunately, the rooms at the Grand Moment Youth Hostel were far from that. The rooms are very similar to those in a standard hotel, some even larger.

I stayed in a room that was best suitable for three people. It featured a bedroom with two beds (one queen-sized bed and one single-sized bed) and a bathroom.

All personal hygiene items were provided at no additional charge.

The room I stayed in was faced Kyungsung University and the apartment complexes nearby.

However, if you are lucky, you can get a room that has a view of Hwangnyeong mountain. Maybe I’ll go back next spring when the cherry blooms are blooming and request a room with the mountain view. (Pictured below is an image from their website.)

I reserved a room through their website and paid around 143,000 won.

The price for single room starts at 70,000 won. (So reasonable!)

What About the Facilities?

The hostel offered breakfast in the lobby at 14,900 won. (Oddly enough, the lobby was on level B4, but it was on the ground floor.) As the Grand Moment Youth Hostel is still very new and does not have enough guests, the staff said that the restaurant is only open during the weekend between 7 am and 9 am.

In the lobby, there was a water purifier and coffee machine. Free coffee was available 24/7.

There was also a laundry room located on the 2nd floor.

What Else Can You do in the Area?

Kyungsung University / Pukyoung National University: Because there are two large universities in the area, there are hundreds of cafes, restaurants, and pubs to check out.

Gwangalli Beach: By taxi, you can get to the Gwangalli Beach area in less than 10 minutes. Gwangalli is always bustling with people who are excited to try all the cafes, restaurants, and pubs nearby. Also, don’t miss out on the free drone light show which happens every Saturday.

Hwangnyeongsan Mountain: Many people go to Hwangnyeongsan Mountain to enjoy the view of Busan. You can either hike or drive to Hwangneongsan Moutain.

How do I Get to the Grand Moment Youth Hostel?

The Grand Moment Youth Hostel is only about a 10-minute walk from the Namcheon Station, Subway Line 2. But personally, I would recommend taking a taxi from Namcheon Station because it is right by the highway.

Conclusion

If you are looking for an affordable place to stay in Busan, I would recommend the Grand Moment Youth Hostel.

Even if you live in Busan, this would be a great place to have your next staycation!

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We had two long weekends earlier this month. One was because of Korea Foundation Day on October 3rd and the other one was because of Hangeul Day (aka Korean Alphabet Day) on October 9th.

My family and I decided to take advantage of the three day weekend and go on a staycation. We should have planned in advance, but we didn’t. Since it was a last minute decision, our options were pretty limited when if came to finding a hotel room. We ended up choosing to stay at the Grand Josun Busan which cost us 880,000 won (around US$800) per night. Was it worth $800? Well, I think so! Let me elaborate.

What is Grand Josun Busan Like?

Grand Josun Busan is a 5 star hotel located right next to Haeundae Beach. This 16 story hotel has been in the Haeundae area forever. When it first opened about 30 years ago, it was called Hyatt, then the name changed to Marriot, then Novotel. Shinsegae Group purchased it just before the pandemic hit, and after undergoing renovations, it became the new Grand Josun Busan.

Despite the recent renovations, some areas in the hotel still felt outdated. For example, the size of the parking lot and elevators seem unable to accomodate the average number of guests that use them. However, the hotel has redeeming qualities such as the ocean front view from the rooms.

What Are the Rooms Like?

I made a reservation for one of the Premium Twin Rooms with an Ocean View. As the name suggests, it was a little more spacious than a regular twin sized room and it even featured a separate living room. I loved having an extra living space, instead of just having a table next to the bed.

The room itself was clean and well decorated. The light wood furniture and black and white bathroom décor complimented the white walls very well.

The bedside area had a Balmuda air purifier, plus a pair of power outlets.

I loved my time at the Grand Josun Busan, but there were a couple of downsides to our stay there. First was the slow draining shower. Unfortunately, I didn’t notice it when we first checked in, so I was unable to request a room change. Also, a complimentary breakfast was not even included in the cost of my $800 room.

Instead of eating at the hotel we went to a nearby restaurant that was in a building called Pale De Cz. If you didn’t want to leave the property for breakfast, there was a Starbucks and convenience store located on the 4th floor.

What About the Hotel Facilities?

Let me begin with the indoor and outdoor swimming pools that were located on the 7th floor. The water in the outdoor swimming pool was the perfect temperature and life jackets were provided for kids who needed them.

There was also a fitness center and sauna on the 7th floor. Also, it is worth mentioning that anyone who does not stay in a premium room has to pay extra to use the sauna.

Along with the Starbucks and convenience store, there is also a gallery on the 4th floor.

What Else Can You do in the Area?

Beach: Haeundae Beach is right next to the hotel.

Gunam-ro (Gunam Boulevard): Gunam Street is packed with restaurants, pubs, and street artists. We happened to see a fire show performed by Jongwon Park when we were there.

Haeundae Street Market: It’s an old traditional street market located in Gunam-ro.

Busan X Sky Observatory: Busan X Sky Observatory is located in the Haeundae LCT Complex, which is the tallest building in Busan and the second tallest in Korea. When the sky is clear you can even see parts of Japan’s Tsushima Island from the top of the building.

How Do I Get to Grand Josun Busan?

The hotel is quite accessible via public transport. If you want to use public transportation, I would recommend taking subway line #2 and getting off at Haeundae Train Station.

Take the 3rd exit and keep down on Gunam-ro. The hotel is about a 5-10 minute walk from the station.

Conclusion

I had a pleasant time at the Grand Josun Busan and I would recommend it to anyone who may be looking for a hotel in that area. One thing to keep in mind is that If you don’t mind about the view, I would also recommend the room with the city view, since the price between the room with the ocean view and the city view quite differs. I also learned recently that there are rooms for kids on the 8th floor. I booked a kids themed room for next month. I will let you know my reviews after our next stay.

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I love Gwangalli! I would sometimes hang out with my friends in Gwangalli, but I had never stayed in one of the hotels in the area.

During this visit, I wanted to watch the special Chuseok themed “Gwangalli M Drone Light Show,” so I made a last minute reservation. Luckily, I found an available room.

So, let me share a little bit about this place with you.

1. What is the Aqua Palace Hotel Like?

The Aqua Palace Hotel has a 3.5 star rating with around 110 rooms.

Surprisingly, there are no major brand hotels in Gwangalli. I think the Aqua Palace Hotel is one of the most popular hotels in the area.

The beach-front location is just unbeatable.

It is probably just me, but Gwangalli feels younger. It is always packed with young and stylish people. There are tons of restaurants, cafes, pubs and stores to check out.

The check in time is at 3 pm and the check-out is at 11 am.

2. What Are the Rooms Like?

I stayed in the royal suite located on the 18^th floor. The suite had a spacious living room, a dining area, two bedrooms and two bathrooms.

The hotel itself is old and outdated, but it looked like the room had been recently renovated.

The view was just the BEST. The floor to ceiling window presented a view of the whole Gwangalli Beach and Gwangan Bridge.

Trust me, the Drone Light Show happened right in front of my eyes.

3. What About the Hotel Facilities?

There is a spa, a water park, and an infinity pool.

However, the price of the room doesn’t come with access to the hotel facilities. According to their policy, even guests at the hotel must pay to use these facilities.

The spa and water park are open to non-guests while the infinity pool is for hotel guests only.

The lobby along with a bakery café is located on the first floor.

The hotel parking is very limited, so I recommend leaving your car at home.

4. What Else Can You do in the Area?

• Beach – Take a walk by the beach when the weather is good.
• Gwangalli M Drone Light Show – Don’t miss this FREE Drone Light Show which happens every Saturday.
• Pub Hopping / Café Hopping – There are hundreds of cafes, restaurants and pubs to try.

• Self Photo Studio – There are a few self photo studios in Gwangalli. You can simply take a photo and develop it for 4,000 won. There are wigs, sun glasses, hats and costumes to help you personalize your pictures.

5. How Can I get to Aqua Palace Hotel?

Use the subway. Gwangan Station (Busan Subway Line 2), Exit 3 or Exit 5

6. Conclusion

If you are looking for a hotel in the Gwangalli area with the best view, you should check out the Aqua Palace Hotel.

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Are you planning on taking a trip to Busan with your friends, partner or just alone? If so, I recommend checking out the stylish but affordable ‘La Valse Hotel’.

1. What is the La Valse Hotel Like?

The La Valse Hotel is a 4 star hotel located in the Yeongdo-gu district, Busan.

Yeongdo has played an important role in Busan’s historical and economical growth.

But Yeongdo has not yet been fully developed. So here in Yeongdo, you can still see a little bit of Busan’s original appearance.

The check in time is 3:00 pm and the check out is at 11 am.

It feels like La Valse is perfect for young couples and business travelers alike.

2. What are the Rooms Like?

I stayed in the ‘Standard Ocean View Twin Bed Room’ with my husband and two kids.

While the rooms with a view of Busan Bridge (aka Ocean Corner View) are most preferred, mine didn’t have one, but I didn’t mind.

I had another issue, which was the size of the room. More specifically, the size of the room was okay, but the size of each bed was the problem. Two of the beds that were supposed to be shared by four people were way too small. Sleeping next to my little girl (who is only three), I couldn’t help tossing and turning around all night, because of the lack of space.

I’d seen some guests with families, but it felt like this hotel seemed more suitable for young couples and friends on vacation. 

3. What About the Hotel Facilities?

There’s a convenient store, café, and reception desk all located on the first floor. A fitness center and laundry room are located on the 4^th floor. There is another café on the 28^th floor, which offers you complimentary breakfast. You can always check out the beautiful view from the rooftop while eating your food.

4. What Else can You do in the Area?

*Gukje Market: It used to be one of the biggest street markets in Busan back in the day. It was formed after the Korean War when refugees who fled to Busan began selling imported goods for non-Korean military members. Many Korean movies have been filmed in Gukje Market.

*Taejongdae: Located at the end of Yeongdo Island is a beautiful hiking path. ‘Pachinko’, a drama TV series on Apple TV also featured scenes filmed on Taejongdae.

*Jagalchi Market: It’s an old fish market. From raw fish to dried fish, they’ve got it all. Even if you are not a big fan of fish, this place is unique for tourists.

*Gwangbok Lotte Department Store: Just crossing the Busan Bridge, you can check out the Gwangbok Lotte Department. So handy!

*Kkangkkangee Art Village [깡깡이 예술 마을]: Did you know that Korea makes the most ships worldwide? Indeed! The shipbuilding industry began here at Yeongdo. They run a special tour program every weekend so you should take a look and experience it here at Kkangkkangee Art Village.

5. How Can I Get to the La Valse Hotel?

The La Valse Hotel is only 3 kilometers away from the Busan Train Station. So close! If you take a taxi from there, you can get to the hotel in about 10 mins. This might cost between 5,000 won – 7,000 won.

Or if you take the subway, get off at the Nampo Subway Station. Here you will find the hotel is in 10-15 mins walk.

6. Conclusion

Whether you are a solo traveler or a couple looking to adventure in Busan, the La Valse Hotel can accommodate all of your instagrammable moments and history lessons all for affordable price.

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I am back with another hotel review, and this time around in Marine City. Marine City is definitely one of my favorite places. It’s a busy area and there’s so much to do in this beautiful location. So let’s get started.

What is Park Hyatt Busan Like?

Park Hyatt Busan is one and only 5-star hotels located in Marine City, with 269 rooms and 69 suites.

Its location is slightly out of the way from Haeundae Beach. But depending on your preference, you may enjoy staying at Park Hyatt Busan more than the other hotels on the beach, because of too many tourists there.

Marine City is a rather residential area, so there are tons of stores, cafes and restaurants to walk to.

The check in time is at 3 pm and the check-out is at 11 am. The view from the hotel is breathtaking. The floor to ceiling window captures the view of the whole Gwangan Bridge. All the rooms are mostly decorated in light cream and beige with a pop of pale wood. You can never go wrong with this color combination, right?

What are the Rooms Like?

The room I stayed in at Park Hyatt Busan was the Park Family Suite. My first impression of the room was that it was luxurious and spacious. The room was large enough to accommodate two adults and two children. It featured a living room, a master bedroom, a shower room, bathtub and a toilet. We were able to see both the Suyeong Bay Yachting Center and the Centum area at the same time, which was very special.

What About the Hotel Facilities?

This hotel is well-equipped with various facilities and the staff is very friendly.

There is a fitness center that is open 24/7 along with an indoor swimming pool.

There is also a spa where you can get a massage.

I wish I had not fallen asleep during my one-hour massage. I was so relaxed by the time I woke up that I couldn’t even tell if I had a massage or not!

There is also a bakery on the first floor. However, the reception desk is located on the 30th floor, which is a little confusing.

One thing that I didn’t like about the hotel was that the breakfast buffet area was not large enough to accommodate all the guests in the morning. I admit that I stayed in Park Hyatt Busan during one of the busiest times of the year, but I still had to wait way too long to get a table.

What Else Can You do in the Area?

-Yachting

It only takes about 5-10 minutes to walk to the Suyeong Bay Yachting Center from Park Hyatt Busan. I recommend booking a private yacht tour that will take you all the way to Gwangalii, passing under the Gwangan Bridge. Whether you enjoy yachting in the middle of the day, or as the sun sets, it will be a fantastic experience.

-Take a stroll

Take a walk by the seaside along Marine City. On Cinema Street, you can find some K-movie related sculptures and posters. The view is just everything.

-Check out Dongbaek Island

It takes about 15 minutes to walk to Dongbaek Island from Park Hyatt Busan. The island has easy hiking paths that will take you all over the beautiful terrane. Some of the more difficult hiking paths will lead you to the statue of Choi Chiwon on the top of Dongbaek Island.

-The flea market in front of Hanhwa Resort, Marine City

The flea market is open every weekend outside of the Hanhwa Resort. This open-air market is always packed with people and unique items.

How Can I Get to Park Hyatt Busan?

Bus No. 307 will take you to 요트경기장/ 경남마리나 아파트 stop (the Yachting Center/ Kyoungnam Marina Apartment stop). Once you get off, you will easily spot the large hotel which is about a five minute walk from the station.

If you take the subway, get off at DongBaek Station and use exit number two. If you walk to Park Hyatt Busan from there, it will take you about 15 minutes. So, my suggestion is to grab a taxi from the station to the hotel.

Conclusion

The room itself was luxurious, spacious and had a breathtaking view.

I would recommend this hotel to those who are looking for the best hotel experience in Busan. I paid $850 for the room per night, but the prices fluctuate depending on when you plan your trip.

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The Centum Premier Hotel is a 4-star hotel located in the middle of Centum City, Haeundae, full of very chic suites. Here’s a detailed review of the Centum Premier Hotel.

Where is Centum Premier Hotel located?

This hotel is in Centum – right across from the Shinsegae Department Store. It’s only a 3-minute walk from the exit 13 at the Centum City subway station.

Trust me, it is an ideal location for business travelers who need to be in the city as much as any tourists.

How was the Hotel Room?

I stayed in the Premier Suite, which was a super spacious two-story accommodation.

The first floor featured a beautiful living room and bathroom.

One thing that I liked about the bathroom was that the toilet and huge bathtub were in two separate areas.

The second floor was where the bedroom was located.

The bed was so comfy and was big enough to allow me to sleep with my kids.

The view of the Suyeong River from the living room was spectacular, both during the day and the night. I could even see the Gwangan Bridge from the corner of the window.

What about the Hotel Facilities?

This hotel was well-equipped with various facilities.

There were two convenience stores, a fitness center that was open 24/7, an indoor swimming pool, and a laundry room.

Although, the swimming pool was a little smaller than I expected, the view from the deck made up for the size.

I don’t know about you, but I always love when hotels offer a laundry facility.

Before I checked out, I washed my clothes in the laundry room, which was very helpful for when I unpacked back at home.

What else can you do in the area?

Centum City is full of things to do and see.

– You can shop at the Shinsegae Department Store. This store was registered in the Guinness World Record Book for being the largest shopping complex in the world. You can spend almost all day in there. In addition to shopping, you can go to the spa, movie theater, ice rink, etc.

– Visit the Busan Museum of Art.

– Check out the Busan Cinema Center. BCC is always packed with excited bikers and skaters as well as movie lovers, especially on the weekends.

– Hop on a fun sightseeing cruise around the Suyeong River and see all the famous landmarks.

– Check out the Bexco to see if there’s any interesting exhibitions happening.

Conclusion

The hotel room itself was comfortable, stylish, and had a lovely view. Plus, the location was just unbeatable.

I would recommend the Centum Premier Hotel’s Premier Suite to anyone looking for a hotel in Busan.

The prices for the rooms do fluctuate depending on when you book your stay, so keep that in mind when you are making your travel plans!

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