Seoul, Korea is of course a major business destination, yet relatively few U.S. tourists visit on vacation, compared to other major Asian cities. That's a shame, because Seoul has plenty to discover, especially for foodies. From enticing banchan (complimentary appetizers) to hearty traditional fare such as dolsot bibimbap, bulgogi (Korean barbecue) and street stalls with all kinds of new tastes to try, Seoul is delicious culinary adventure. Just don't try to outdrink the Koreans (unless, perhaps, you're Russian)–you'll most likely lose. We'd recommend visiting in April or May to try to catch the cherry blossoms at their finest, and staying in one of these top Seoul luxury hotels:
The Park Hyatt Seoul is perfect if you prefer modern and sleek over traditional elegance, and also have a preference for being outside the heart of Seoul's downtown. The Park Hyatt is set in Gangnam, opposite COEX Convention Center and near plenty of luxury dining and shopping. There's also a metro station right underneath the hotel, so transportation isn't an issue Its position right next to a busy intersection does mean that many rooms are fairly noisy, so it may not be the best choice for light sleepers (or bring earplugs) but the hotel's clean design aesthetic, spacious rooms, and incredibly professional and caring service help make up for the inconvenience. We love that even entry-level Park King rooms are 450 square feet, with oak floors, an oversized granite soaking tub, rain shower that will accommodate basketball players, and Aesop bath amenities (which you also are treated to in Cathay Pacific first class). Enjoy the 24th floor infinity pool with its floor to ceiling glass windows, the luxurious Park Club Spa, or even an on request single malt whisky class at The Timber House. Even if you're not staying at The Park Hyatt Seoul, a drink or dessert at The Lounge, with its panoramic views of Seoul, is perfect beginning or end to an evening on the town. Don't forget that you could stay here 2 free nights with the Hyatt Visa.
Lotte Hotel Seoul is the flagship hotel of the upscale Lotte Department Store, which is right next to the hotel in the center of Seoul. The Airport shuttle stops right in front of the hotel, and avid foodies and shoppers will be thrilled to be within easy walking distance of Namdaemun Market and the fashionable Myeongdong shopping district, where the popular Myeongdong Festival and sales are held in March-April and September. As with the Shilla Seoul, entry-level Superior Rooms are modestly sized, at about 290 square feet, while Deluxe Rooms are nearly 390 square feet. Although you might think that rooms are in the new wing would be, well, newer and better equipped, many guests who have experienced both actually prefer the old wing, citing them as better appointed. If you dislike rooms that are too hot, you may want to forego the south side and stay on the north side, where you won't have issues with the sun overheating the room. Of course, a dip in the indoor swimming pool is another great way to cool off. The Club Lounge, with its complimentary breakfast, afternoon tea and evening cocktails makes a nice treat if you book a Club Level room, and one thing we really appreciate is that WiFi is now complimentary to all guests. It's also great that Lotte Hotel Seoul offers a Ladies Floor, specifically for the comfort and security of women travelling alone for business or for vacation.
The Shilla Seoul is a place where it pays to splash out on an Executive Room or Suite, or get an upgrade to one, for example with our VIP rates, to enjoy greater space and the included Executive Club Lounge benefits. The Club Lounge features complimentary breakfast, evening hors d'oeuvres and drinks, and dedicated Club Concierges. There's even a Bloomberg machine, for finance types needing access. Superior Rooms are rather compact, at 280 square feet, so we'd recommend at least a Deluxe Room, as these are 388 square feet and offer a separate bathtub and glass enclosed shower. Bath amenities are Molton Brown or L'Occitane (suites), power outlets conveniently offer both 220V and 110V, and beds are comfortable, with down comforters. The fitness center is excellent, with a full range of equipment, spacious locker rooms, a variety of pools, steam and dry saunas, and even a rooftop golf driving range. The swimming pools, however, can get somewhat crowded with families, so it might be worth timing your visit to avoid weekends and Korean school holidays. While the hotel isn't central, there's an airport shuttle and a nearby subway station giving you access to Seoul's excellent mass transit system, if you don't want to take taxis everywhere. Service is generally very good and attentive, so perhaps our main criticisms are that as an older luxury hotel, some parts are due for a refresh, we wish the hotel's WiFi were included in the price, and food and drink are overpriced even by hotel standards (another reason to book or upgrade to Executive Floor rooms and suites).
Award Flights to Seoul Using Miles and Points
Cathay Pacific First or Business Class using American AAdvantage Miles via Hong Kong
Having recently flown Cathay Pacific Business Class and Cathay First Class, this would be one of my top recommendations. Using American miles, First Class on Cathay is 67,500 miles each way, 135,000 miles round trip, and first class is worth the premium.
The Hong Kong-Seoul flight is about 3 hours 30 minutes, so you could either buy a cheap economy ticket or even get the Hong Kong-Seoul leg included in your Cathay award if you're not stopping over in Hong Kong. Note that with American miles, you aren't allowed an international stopover of over 24 hours. Or if you are stopping over, you could use British Airways Avios to get to Seoul.
See our post on BankDirect to earn American AAdvantage Miles.
Asiana First or Business Class to Seoul using United Miles
Asiana offers nonstop first class flights to Seoul from NYC JFK and from LAX, and there are business class awards available out of Asiana's three West Coast gateways (LA, San Francisco, Seattle).
Korean Air using Delta Skymiles
Korean offers nonstop service from several U.S. cities, but of course there are a few problems. First, booking with Delta Skymiles, is that you can't redeem for first class–only for business class. Second, there's no way to search Korean award space online, so you're stuck calling Delta's call center and playing the hangup, call again game to find a helpful agent. Third, Korean has the following blackout dates (in 2012); expect similar timeframes in 2013:
January 1-8
January 20-25
March 1-4
May 4-6
May 18-July 1
July 14-August 26
September 28-October 3
December 7-31
Needless to say, even with Korean Air's new fully flat business class product, I can't get too excited by these awards, even if you transfer AMEX Membership Rewards to Delta using a transfer bonus, given the blackout dates, the hassle involved in calling, and no first class awards. And no, I don't recommend transferring Ultimate Rewards points to Korean due to fuel surcharges when redeeming using Korean miles, although that would at least reduce some of the blackout dates, since Delta's are more onerous than Korean's own blackout dates because they're applied systemwide and not by region, as Korean does.
Lufthansa Business or First Class via Frankfurt or Munich using United Miles
As you probably know, for first class you'll need to have the flexibility to book or switch your flight a few days in advance of departure, since Lufthansa only releases first class awards to United and other Star Alliance partners about 14 days in advance. This will be a lot more tolerable once Lufthansa finishes rolling out its new business class.
You can earn United miles from either 2 credit card applications plus credit card spend, or from 3 credit card applications. Apply for the Ink Bold or Ink Plus plus either the United MileagePlus Explorer or the Sapphire Preferred, then either earn the additional United miles through spend or by, in about 3 months, applying for the third card (the United MileagePlus Explorer if you already applied for the Sapphire Preferred, or the Sapphire Preferred if you already applied for the MileagePlus Explorer).
Singapore Airlines First Class or Business Class using KrisFlyer Miles via Singapore
You can transfer AMEX Membership Rewards points 1:1 to Singapore KrisFlyer, enabling you to see all award space and book first class or business class at a discount online. Singapore to Seoul is about 6 hours, and you should get it included in your Singapore award or get an award on Korean Air or Asiana, as flights even in economy aren't that cheap.
If you don't yet have an AMEX card, you may be targeted for a 75,000 signup bonus for the AMEX Premier Rewards Gold Card.
Related Posts
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Asiana First Class Suite Review
Asiana First Class Lounge, Seoul Review
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