My Favorite Hyatt Category 4 Hotel

As soon as I saw your title, that hotel was the first one I thought of. It was pretty great! The fitness center had to have had the best view I have seen at most hotels. Definitely a great place to stay (very near Olympic park as well, which is a great place to visit).

Haven't stayed there, but thanks for telling me that is category 4.

Wow! Are there other Park Hyatts out there that is category 4?

Stayed there for 3 nights last year. I think their breakfast at Cornerstone is one of the best. Just my opinion, but better than even the Park Hyatt Tokyo and Andaz Maui.

Ben, your photos are getting better and better, great work.

It does seem like a great value and property, but boy is it far and expensive to get to for those of us without hefty miles balances or much time off.

This was my first Park Hyatt- great introduction to all the brand has to offer.

@Joey the Park Hyatt Toronto is a category 4, but really not in the same class as the PH Seoul.

Stayed here for two nights last December and loved it. The fact that it's located right above the metro station was a definite plus - easy commute from/to ICN.

I am staying here next month!

Note: there is limited inventory for Points + Cash. I couldn't do a Points + Cash booking for my dates.

@joey @charlie

Although not the first destination to come to your mind when thinking about Korea, but PH Busan is Cat. 4 and is just as good as PH Seoul. The fitness center/infinity pool has a great view of the marina/harbor view of Busan, and the hotel is literally within a minute of Haeundae Beach (think Waikiki beach).

@ Joey -- Yep, Park Hyatts in Canberra, Goa, Siem Reap, Busan, Saigon, and Hamburg come to mind.

Ben - how do you commute to Gangnam or the downtown area from the ICN airport? Do you take that 30$ bus ride? Just checking if there is any better way...

Maybe it's just me, but it looks more like a glorified Hyatt Place though the pool and restaurant look gorgeous.

I just returned from a 3-night stay at the Grand Hyatt - Seoul. Ben - after reading your review, I think I made the wrong decision! I was torn between the Park Hyatt and the Grand Hyatt but chose the Grand Hyatt based on location and things I was wanting to do and see while in Seoul. The Grand Hyatt is a cat. 4 also and I used my free Hyatt Visa credit for 1 night and used points for the additional 2 nights. While the Grand Hyatt is located in a beautiful area with beautiful grounds, pool area, and a gorgeous lobby area - the rooms are a joke!! The rooms are nothing close to Grand Hyatt standards. The rooms are shot-gun style and you seriously feel like you're staying in a cheap Carnival cruiseship dungeon room. You actually step up into the tiny bathroom and literally, there is no place to even hang a towel. I found myself hanging wet towels in the closet for them to dry!

Avoid the Grand Hyatt Seoul and opt for the Park Hyatt instead - even if the location of the Grand Hyatt is better! Don't let the beautiful on-line pictures fool you, it's a very dated hotel.

I loved when I first stayed there back in 2010, but pretty disappointed last year - basic house keeping issue, rude bell boys, and etc. I thought service at D Cube was much better than Park. Due to its convenient location for me, I have another stay coming up in December. I will see how they do with the new GM.

@Rick A - I found that the closer to the stay, the more availability exists for Points + Cash reservations there.

Have stayed at the Park Hyatt several times and I agree, it's probably the best Cat 4 out there, and just a fantastic value for using the annual free night from the Chase Hyatt card. I'm Korean American and visit Korea quite a lot and this is my favorite hotel in the Hermit Kingdom by far.

@ Apu -- Yep, I take the bus. Can't beat being dropped off right in front of your hotel

@ CLP -- Hah, ouch!

This hotel also pays for your cab ride to the bus terminal where you catch the airport bus. You can also walk bc it's not that far but that's a nice touch.

I was less than impressed with Park Hyatt Canberra. Great location, but felt more like a regular Hyatt.

Have you thought about staying at the Grand Hyatt Seoul instead? The Park Hyatt is located in what is an oversized office park. The Grand Hyatt Seoul is located in a very picturesque and hilly part of Seoul, and the surroundings feel much more cosmopolitan.

Anyways, it's too bad that Seoul isn't on the list of your favorite cities. I find that for short-term visitors, the likability of the city depends on which parts of the city you spend most of your time in. If I centered my activities around the Gangnam/Coex area, I wouldn't have a positive idea of the city either. Kind of like staying at La Defense in Paris or London Docklands.

I am not sure of even limited availability of cash and points. Last time i spoke with hyatt agents, they said that points and cash is not available in general for the ph seoul...

Instead, used points and one night in cash here as my points were running low.

@ Mochi -- That's a good point, I'll stay at the Grand Hyatt next time.

@ Lucky : what was your favorite hotel in Hong Kong? If I'm not mistaken, I remember I ever read your post about your most favorite hotel in Hong Kong, that allows you to see the view of Hong Kong city and skyline from your room when you woke up......I cannot remember the hotel's name and unable to locate your post on that.....please kindly point me to the link to the post and the hotel's name.

@ Megan -- If price isn't an issue, the Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong is spectacular:
https://onemileatatime.com/the-last-aeroplan-hurrah-ritz-carlton-hong-kong/

@Lucky: how about intercontinental and Hyatt?? Can see the hongjong skyline view from the room when wake up?

@ Megan -- Yes, the InterContinental Hong Kong and both Hyatts do have great views of the harbour/skyline from some rooms.

[…] of the main tourist areas but the Samseong subway stop is at the front door. It is definitely the best category 4 Hyatt, a great place to use the Chase Hyatt Visa annual free night certificate, and a great place to […]

This hotel is now Category 5

How about a Park Hyatt closer to the US?
The two free nights are burning a hole in my pocket and about to expire in June.
We are just ordinary travelers looking to enjoy the nights possibly some where tropical.
What about something in the Caribbean .

Was looking at the new property on St. Kitts but am afraid of going that far.