Originally Posted by
cmhsieh54
OK peoples (and
Aventine , hehe!)... I'm headed to this hotel next month for a 3-day weekend. I'm a measly Discoverist with Hyatt, and I booked my room with points (25k, 25k, 29k). Also, I'll be driving in with a car, there with my wife.
Went through the past year's comments about PHB in this thread. But I still have a small handful of questions:
- Is it possible to try to score an upgrade somehow? Maybe by paying an extra upcharge at the front desk?
- I'm assuming that breakfast buffet is not free for Discoverists. I also read more reviews that said the buffet is sad (rather than great). Are there decent breakfast options nearby?
- The hotel currently has an Amex Travel price of $274/nt for 3 nights, due to a "get 3rd nt free" deal. Any thoughts whether paying cash via Amex Travel is better than using points, in terms of how the hotel hands our benefits?
- Anybody with any other inside tips to maximize my enjoyment there? :-)
1. The only free upgrade would be a high floor (possibly). You should definitely book what you can live with on weekends. They're probably at 95% occupancy on those days.
2. Not free and not worth paying for. There's Poongwonjang ggomak (풍원장꼬막정찬) right around the corner and the same franchise with miyeokguk at the end of the boardwalk. There's also 이래옥 that serves beef ggomtang al fresco. Any truly authentic Busan food requires a bus or cab to Seomyeon.
3. It's a fair price compared to what Hyatt wants in KRW but using points on the weekend is always great value too. Up to you.
4. Happy Hour at Living Room bar is 20% off from 6-7pm. Awesome sunset views and discounted drinks (very few exemptions). If you can swing it, book the Executive Marina suite straight up. Not sure the price difference on AMEX from a base room but that is the suite you want to be in.