Just occasionally I discover fine wines, great restaurants and lovely places to stay that I feel I just have to write about! On my latest trip to Korea I have found just such a hotel, the Park Hyatt in Busan. On my last visit to Seoul, I remember above all else the hospitality and generosity of our hosts, but coming to Busan I have discovered a whole new side to the country and its people.
The Park Hyatt is without doubt one of the nicest hotels I have stayed in for a long time. The decor is sophisticated and functional; the rooms are beautifully appointed and decorated in pale oak colours – mine looks over the yachting harbour used in the 1988 Seoul Olympics; the staff are all amazingly helpful, friendly and oh, so courteous; there are several different lounges with varying styles and colours, but all very comfortable; the food is delicious (albeit at a price); and the swimming pool is amazing. And, having spent so much time in hotels that charge ridiculous prices for Internet access, it is so nice to stay somewhere that offers free and fast connectivity! On arrival, one is whisked up to the 30th floor where the reception is located, and the rooms are then on the floors beneath. This gives the lounges and dining rooms on floors 30-33 amazing views over the coast and harbour. I hope that the images below convey something of the lovely character of the hotel. Oh yes, and I really got a taste for Dry Finnish!
Nowhere, though, not event the Park Hyatt, Busan is perfect! So may I finish with just a few pleas:
- It would be great to have some chocolate and/or cinnamon on the capuccinos in the restaurant – especially at breakfast!
- The wine list ought to have some reasonably priced ‘house wines’ on it – fine to have the expensive classics, but a really good restaurant also has stunning reasonably priced house wines.
- The menus look delicious, but much of the food is available only for two people, which makes life rather difficult for solitary travellers 😉 !
- Finally, I could not decide whether or not to post a picture, but for those of us from northern Europe who are unused to multi-functional loos, and were brought up having to urinate on the ice in the pan of the outside netty on a frozen winter morning, these devices are really threatening, and it would be great to have some instructions! How is one meant to know which button to push: rear cleansing; soft rear cleansing; front cleansing; dryer; oscillating; pulsating; rhythm; stop? I was too scared even to experiment!
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