On Saturday I spent the night over the weekend in a junior suite at the Grand InterContinental Seoul Parnas. The junior suite costs about $700 (without breakfast) per night on the weekends.

Although this was my first time staying at the Grand InterContinental Seoul, I have been here several times before for Cardiology-related seminars. The Korean Society of Cardiology Seminar was held here last year, as well.

The Grand InterContinental Seoul Parnas includes an underground parking lot that is shared with COEX, making it convenient for guests to easily access the nearby shopping and dining options.

If you take the elevator to the first floor and turn left, you'll find a lobby similar to the one shown above, where you can check-in.

Check-in 15:00 / Check-out 11:00

Due to its proximity to COEX, the check-in counter is sometimes hard to find. Moreover, a K-drama was being filmed that day in the lobby. However, indicators are pointing in the right direction, so don't worry.

One of the hotel's best features is the selection of artworks on display in the lobby. Kim Chang-yeol, who is known for his waterdrop paintings, created the piece pictured above. In addition to these artworks, the lobby frequently hosts art fair shows that are well worth the visit.

The Lobby Lounge Bar is a well-known hangout for Seoul locals. This day also looked like it might have a lengthy wait.

Just beyond the lobby lounge bar is the elevator to guest rooms. My room was located on the 23rd floor.

The hallways and elevator lobby were spotless, creating a relaxing environment for guests.

 

Junior Suite (#2309)

The Junior Suite is 60 square meters, making it significantly larger than the standard rooms, and provides the added convenience of having a distinct separation between the sleeping area, the sitting area, and the bathroom.

Between the bathroom and the front door is a dressing area. Having a dedicated dressing area rather than a small closet was convenient.

Slippers similar to this can be found in a drawer beneath the safe. The used slippers were accompanied by a note saying it was fine to take them home.

A 55-inch TV is hung on the wall across from a two-seat sofa in the living area.

The 55-inch television seemed small in comparison to the spacious living area, but it was a new model and convenient because I could instantly access Netflix and YouTube by scanning a QR code with my phone.

The series "Doctor Cha" on Netflix is excellent; my wife and I have been watching it recently and love it. It was fun to watch, even for a medical professional like me.

The living area was furnished with a contemporary sofa for two and a round table.

A Nespresso machine and minibar were behind a wall that divides the area behind the sofa.

There was a desk with enough space for one person, and an air purifier was set up in front of it to create a relaxing atmosphere.

Luxurious leather covers the desk, making it ideal for laptop use.

 

Minibar

There were four bottles of water and three different kinds of coffee capsules to choose from.

 

Bedroom

There's a king-sized bed and a sofa by the window in the bedroom.

The bedroom has a great 55-inch TV and is separated from the living room by a partition. Unfortunately, you can't stream Netflix from your phone to the TV in your bedroom.

To the left of the bed is another door leading to the bathroom.

The bedroom had a king-size bed, and I found the room's decor to be both contemporary and comfortable.

To fully appreciate the benefits of this hotel's recent renovation, the temperature and light controller, electrical outlets, and USB ports are conveniently located on both sides of the bed.

In addition to the phone and remote, a Bluetooth speaker and a charger were also pre-set aside for the guests' convenience.

The pillows and blankets were as plush and luxurious as those seen in any five-star hotel.

A notice on the bed stated that the goose down had been washed and disinfected at high temperatures, putting my mind at ease. I didn't have any of the negative feelings I had at the Dongdaemun Marriott or the Jamsil Lotte Hotel, even though the rooms here are spacious and carpeted.

One sofa sits beside the window, making it a nice place to relax with a book and some tunes. The addition of a footrest increased my level of relaxation.

The room overlooks COEX.

 

Bathroom

In comparison to other hotels I've stayed at recently, this one has the largest bathroom. As was previously mentioned, the bathroom is accessible from both the main entry and one of the bedrooms.

We appreciated the availability of both hand soap and hand wash, as well as the provision of three towels for each of us, despite our occupancy being two.

You can use the complimentary toothbrush, toothpaste, and shaving kit. The hairdryer can be found in a cabinet below the sink.

Although the bathroom itself was spacious, the bathtub's size was smaller than ideal. ​The all-white bathroom with black accents felt contemporary. If you wish to take a bath, you can purchase bath salts from the minibar for 6,000 won.

You may have seen the handwash earlier, bathroom amenities are Byredo products. I enjoyed the pleasant aroma and thick consistency of Byredo body lotion.

 

 

Swimming pool and Fitness center

On the third level of the hotel is where you'll find the swimming pool and fitness center.

Metropolitan Fitness Club is the name for the fitness center and pool. Both the gym and the pool are available from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.

The locker area has free socks and clothing for use, as well as sneakers for rent. Since I already had sneakers, all I had to do in the locker room was change into my training outfit.

The locker room also features a shower area to clean yourself after a swim or workout.

 

Swimming pool

It has a total of 3 lanes and is 25m in length and 8m in width. The depth is 1.2 meters.

The two lanes are for experienced and beginners, while the third lane is reserved for members exclusively.

Unlike the pools at many modern hotels, this one was built with swimming in mind rather than Instagramming. I believe this is because the Metropolitan Fitness Club is also a membership facility. There aren't many people here, and even fewer kids, so it's a great atmosphere for swimmers.

 

Fitness Center

​The size of the gym exceeded my expectations. It appears to be one of the largest hotel gyms I've visited, on par with the Westin Chosun Hotel near City Hall.

There is a big and spacious area for stretching and several machines to the left of the entrance. Someone in a doctor's coat was taking blood pressure readings at the front door, which was out of the ordinary.

Treadmills were located on the gym's right side. Because of the gym's many senior visitors, cardio exercise equipment was used far more frequently.

According to what I've read on other blogs, there seems to be a large number of elderly CEO’s and wives. No of your age, you absolutely need to do some exercise. (As far as I know, the membership here is worth more than 50 million won.)

The fitness center was also recently renovated, with all new equipment that synced with various wearables.

When there are no scheduled courses, you are welcome to use the GX Room for stretching and full-body workouts. Members seemed to be the primary users of the pool and gym. But after recent upgrades, it's a lovely place to be and the facilities are cutting-edge, so I'd recommend it to visitors as well.

 

Lobby Lounge & Bar

On the ground floor of the Grand, InterContinental Seoul Parnas is where you'll find the Lobby Lounge & Bar.

The Lobby Lounge & Bar has this aesthetic, with its high ceilings, and vivid lighting. You can have a coffee there for about 20,000 won, and they serve small meals, champagne, wine, and cocktails. About 120,000 won is the price of an afternoon tea set.

 

Extra facilities (Grand Deli, Hakone, Weilu, and Club Loung)

Grand Deli

Hakone (Japanese restaurant)

On the ground floor, there was also a flower shop.

 

Room service (breakfast)

After eating too much at the hotel's Grand Kitchen buffet the night before, I opted for room service the following morning instead of returning to the restaurant for breakfast.

Simply dial 0 to reach the room service. It's best to avoid the morning rush and place your room service order before 10 a.m. to avoid a significant wait.

The above is how your breakfast table will look when you order room service.

 

White Omelet 28,000 won

 

Bread Basket  18,000 won

4 kinds of jam are served in a bread basket.

 

Fruit yogurt  15,000 won

When I was done eating, I dialed zero again to have the table cleared, and they came in and did it without me having to move a single plate. It had been a while since I had ordered room service for breakfast instead of visiting the hotel's breakfast buffet, but everything about the experience was pleasant.

 

Conclusion

From the price, it's clear that the Grand InterContinental Seoul Parnas is among the city's most highly regarded 5-star hotels.

Large-scale renovations were completed in 2020, and the hotel now appears to be a cleaner, more modern version of its former self. Nonetheless, it is not even close to being the kind of boutique or posh hotel where young people like to take pictures.

Banquets, conferences, and symposiums, as well as huge family gatherings, all find this to be an ideal location. COEX Mall, Trade Center, and Convention Center can all be reached from here with ease. There are several hotels near Samseong Station, including the InterContinental COEX and the Oakwood Hotel, however, this one is the finest.

Those attending a relevant event and desiring a luxurious place to stay are strongly advised to consider this establishment. If you're looking for a luxurious hotel, book your stay here.

I appreciate you taking the time to read this extensive post and I do hope it will be of some assistance to you while you enjoy your stay.

 

Address : 521 Teheran-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul  OPEN GOOGLE MAP

Tel : +82-2-555-5656

Instagram : Click for more images

Reservation : book here

 

Source : https://blog.naver.com/francel/223097012231

Writer : francel

Special thanks to francel

 

grand inter continental seoul parnas samseong-dong 5star hotel

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