Review: Grand Hyatt Incheon Airport (ICN)

lol, imagine not only staying in an airport hotel, but choosing a big box American brand in Korea

@ Kimberley -- Pray tell, which culturally enriching hotel do you recommend at Incheon Airport?

lol could check out the ibis. I’m sure they put a lot of effort into being inspired by the local culture

I’m pretty sure he visited for transit purposes for the new Korean Air business class review, not because he was actually visiting Korea. This is probably one of the most convenient options for transit given how far ICN is from the city center.

I'm sure there is a hanok guest house somewhere. However, the obvious issue is that this blog is all about staying at high-end US chain hotels for the points angle, while Korea is an absolutely terrible place to rely on high-end US chain hotels. If the goal is to stay at ICN, the pickings are slim. Personally, I would have taken the subway into Hongdae, but the only US chain hotel I can think of there is a hix -- a very nice hix, but not somewhere OMAAT is likely to review.

Surprised to see only a shuttle option... I thought there was the Incheon Airport Maglev between Terminal 1 and a station nearby to the hotel?

So where would this hotel rank on your list of best/favorite airport hotels?

That kind of defeats the purpose of this blog and specific review trip Ben is on, Kimberley.

That kind of defeats the purpose of this blog and specific review trip Ben is on, Kimberley.

One of the more impressive airport hotels I've seen. Well done.

After a long flight, I don't mind a 20-30 min walk weather permitting (like walking to Hyatt Regency LAX). I contacted this hotel before staying there and they said it wasn't safe to walk on the road to the hotel. Of course I just missed the bus and had to wait 30 minutes. After looking out the window from the hotel back to the terminal, I think one could walk from the terminal to the hotel safely through the parking lot.

Also, I thought the breakfast buffet was fantastic. Ditto for Grand Hyatt Seoul.

I’m getting into pools. There’s 3 Cs. Chemistry , circulation , and cleaning.

Not much to go on with your photo in this article. It’s an indoor pool and there’s a lot of light reflecting. A good pool shot would look into the water and be able to see the bottom so we could judge the pools clarity. I’m sure a Hyatt pool is fine in terms of safety. Showering/rinsing off before and after is good etiquette

Ben, I think everyone would agree with "the convenience of staying directly at a hotel" 🙂

Unfortunately the maglev was permanently closed years ago now.

I typically stay at this hotel every month or two and have done for the last few years.

It’s well priced, consistent and the restaurant buffet is great for all 3 meals of the day as required and a west tower airport view room typically gets great views of aircraft movements on Runway 34R and associated taxi ways.

If arriving into T1 then this hotel is actually an easy walk, simply walk through the terminal train station building, out the front door, and follow that road for probably 5-10 minutes until you turn right over the pedestrian crossing and straight into the east tower driveway.

Easy walk, not sure why the hotel said it's not safe? Breakfast buffet was so so to me, GH is better but wouldn't say fantastic (GH KL IS fantastic)

Thanks for the tip about walking. Did you have the regular breakfast buffet at GH Seoul? They let me choose that or lounge breakfast as I was on a Prive reservation. I enjoyed both, but the regular restaurant breakfast buffet is fantastic.

So Ben you were in Korea for the martial law or the impeachment vote? Please tell

"On account of my Globalist status, there was also a welcome gift of a bottle of red wine, plus a box of chocolates." That's not really accurate, is it? Welcome amenities as a top-tier benefit disappeared years ago. While it certainly happens, it's definitely not guaranteed and therefore not something I would consider part of Globalist status.

Korea was using the East tower as one of their quarantine hotels during the pandemic. I was confined to one of those rooms for 2 weeks, on two separate occasions. I swore I'd never go back, but I wasn't even aware there was a better West tower. May be worth considering again...

Does anyone else hate the Balmain amenities at grand Hyatt and think it’s embarrassing for the brand that they exist? They’re just such poor quality and of mediocre scent. Everytime I use them I wonder who at Balmain greenlit the licensing - I’d take the renaissance Aveda ones 10 times out of 10 over them

I have typically received some sort of welcome gift as a Globalist - YMMV

I have typically received some sort of welcome gift as a Globalist - YMMV

In Asia

You can join the line of billions of hypocrite who won't stay at .... or fly .... ever again.

This is Ben not Matthew who consistently put himself and his family in the front lines as costs of making content.

He even tortured his sick son to earn a million miles.

actually Paradise resort is just across the street from the Grand Hyatt…

Imagine someone who knows nothing about the modern Korean culture and how it relates to these big box american hotels. Lady, this site is called One Mile at Time, not eat pray love.

@Ben - keep doing your thing. Those of us in game appreciate it very much.

"The hotel offers a complimentary shuttle service to and from both terminals every 30 minutes"

Well, maybe, but the airport's free inter-terminal shuttle bus (up to 6 an hour) also stops at this hotel - Terminal 2, 3rd floor, Door 7 and Terminal 1, 3rd floor, Door 8.