HEART AND SEOUL
Add a little spice to your life with a trip to South Korea
- by Michael Curren
Looking for a getaway? Need to add a little flavor in your life without spending half of your vacation and budget on an airplane? In approximately 2 hours from the time you depart Haneda Airport and for the cost comparable to the bullet train between Tokyo and Osaka, you can be arriving in the heart of Seoul - a city filled with excitement, shopping, nightlife, and a whole lot more. Although the differences in culture between Korea and Japan may seem subtle at first glance, a couple of days in Seoul can be stimulating and refreshing. Whether you are after the spicy food, the warm culture, the hot nightlife or an invigorating esthetic scrub down, a visit to Seoul is sure to stimulate your senses.
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Where to Stay
The following are two of the top hotels in Seoul ideal for both business and leisure travelers. Both hotels feature English and Japanese speaking staff.
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Grand Hyatt Seoul
747-7 Hannam 2-Dong, Yongsan-Ku
Seoul, South Korea 140-738
Tel: +82 2 797 1234 Fax: +82 2 798 6953
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The Grand Hyatt Seoul is the hot spot for foreign travelers to Korea. The Hyatt is home to Seoul's hippest night club, the renowned JJ Mahoney's. Originally built in 1978 and since fully renovated, the hotel's location is on a beautiful hilltop overlooking the Hahn River in Seoul's famed shopping district Itaewon, where you can have custom-tailored clothing made for you in as little as one day. The only problem with the Hyatt is once you arrive, you never want to leave. The restaurant's bars, live entertainment, gym, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, and sauna can fill up your weekend schedule quickly. The Grand Hyatt Seoul has accommodated Queen Elizabeth, the Prince and Princess of Wales, George Bush Sr., and Bill Clinton
 Rooms & Amenities
- 601 rooms & suites, Grand Club, all rooms with mountain or river views and high-speed Internet
Guest Services
- Business Center, Hotel shops, barber shop, and beauty salon
Dining & Entertainment
- 6 Restaurants, J. J. Mahoney's Entertainment Centre, Helicon Song Bar and The Deli Shop
Activities
- Club Olympus Fitness Centre, indoor & outdoor swimming pools, ice rink and squash courts
Local Attractions
- Namsan Park and walking trails, Gyeongbok Palace, Biwon Secret Garden and Duksu Palace
Meetings & Events
- Ballroom divisible into 3 Meeting Rooms, 7 Meetings Rooms, 10 Boardrooms, and Pre-Function & Social Function Space
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 The Westin Chosun Seoul
87 Sogong-Dong, Jung-gu
Seoul, South Korea 100-070
Tel: +82 2 771 0500 Fax: +82 2 752 1443
The Westin Chosun is Korea’s first international hotel originally built in 1914 featuring the first running water, elevator and ice cream in Korea and has had such celebrities as Marilyn Monroe and Bob Hope grace its rooms. Rebuilt in the 1960s and since fully renovated, the Westin Chosun Seoul is within walking distance of several major international banks' headquarters and local government offices, renowned historic landmarks and thriving shopping districts.
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Rooms & Amenities
- 453 rooms & suites, anti-allergy carpets, self-serve espresso coffee machines, mobile phones with personal numbers, and high-speed Internet
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Guest Services
- Business Center, drug store, barber shop, beauty salon, souvenir shop
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Dining & Entertainment<
- Coffee shop & Lounge, 8 international restaurants, O’Kim’s Irish Pub & Sports Bar and Deli
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Activities
- City Athletic Club, swimming pool, sauna,
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Local Attractions
- Lotte Department Store, Sogong Underground Shopping center, Myeongdong (Banks and Shopping), City Hall Park, Deoksu Palace, Shinsegae Department Stores, Namdeamun Open-Air Market, National Museum, The Blue House (The Korean White House)
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Meetings & Events
- Grant Banquet Hall, 6 mid-sized banquet halls, Conference rooms
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What to See
- Panmunjom / DMZ Tour (Book Ahead. Tuesday to Friday except national holidays or military drill days 7:40 am to 4:30 pm)
- Seoul & Namsan Towers
- Seoul Plaza (City Hall Park)
- Deoksu & Gyeongbok Palaces
- The Blue House (the Korean White House)
- Myeongdong Cathedral & Jogyesa Temple
- National Museum
- National, Chongdong and Nanta Theaters
- Sejong Cultural Center
- National Souvenir Center
- War Memorial of Korea
- Olympic & World Cup Stadiums
What to Do
- Shopping in Itaewan International Market: have a custom suit tailored for you for the price of buying one off the rack back home
- Shopping in Lotte Department Store, Sogong Underground Shopping Center, Myeongdong, Shinsegae Department Stores, Namdeamun Open-air Market, Insadong (Antique and Folk Items), Shinchong, Coex Mall
- Take the kids to Lotte World Theme Park
- See a Taekwondo exhibition
- Take a cruise down the Hahn River
- Hiking on Mount Pukhansan
- Get an esthetic scrub down
- Have a cup of coffee at Lotte Hotel’s coffee shop
- See a Korean play in Daehangno
- Gambling at Sheraton Walker Hill Hotel and Casino
- Dance the night away at Seoul’s #1 hot spot J.J. Mahoney’s
- If you go to a hip hop club – no suits so dress casual
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