We are currently on a 3 nights stay here, so any questions you have ask away.
We were fortunate enough to find points availability for around 49-50k for back to back nights to burn our 50k FNC, and also dates that fall on my birthday.
I'm gonna share our first impressions and bullet points highlights, will probably do a detailed review later after we fly out of Korea.
- We wrote to the hotel weeks in advance to coordinate about my birthday celebration, and enquire about possible upgrades, transportation, dinner reservations at flying hog, and merging our separate the reservations together.
- Hotel does not provide transportation, you have to do a Taxi from the airport, ride takes about 50mins - 1hr, so prepare yourself. Cost about 50-60k KWR. We weren't able to rent a car, we forgot to apply for an international driver license, the car rentals wouldn't allow bookings without it.
- Arrived with high expectations, but service from front desk fell short. Reservations team probably didn't coordinate with the front desk for our check in, so our desk agent got confused when we mentioned our stay was for 3 nights. None of our request we wrote through the email was communicated, so we had to repeat everything again through check in.
- We're both Platinum elite, upgrade only to Ocean View in West Tower. Suites were "sold out".
- Platinum welcome amenity offered between choice of 1k points, drink&snack option, or breakfast for two at Island Kitchen. Breakfast was a no brainer option here.
- The lobby design was very unique and grand, especially with view overlooking the ocean.
- The hotel and room designs spared no expense, however at a cost of a non-intuitive room layout, at least operationally. Just to hear me out, the toilet is located in front by the foyer, facing the walk in closet that shares the mini bar cabinet. The double vanity sink is situated in front of the bed, and to shower you have to walk across the room to the bathroom that is filled by a Japanese soaking tub. It's a very poor segregation of space, where you can't shower, use the toilet and the vanity, as they are all spread out across the room.
- Island Kitchen breakfast isn't your usual buffet breakfast set up, it's a set menu, consisting of yoghurt and salad, breadbox, and you order your choice of entree and tea/coffee, with a choice of juice of the day. Expect 0 flexibility to switch items from the set menu, as when I try asking for sparkling water instead of juice, additional charges applies.
- You can pay 100k for the brunch buffet which starts after the breakfast at 10:30am-2:30pm, 120k dinner buffet from 6pm - 9:30pm.
- In korea, the government is enforcing the reduction use of one-time amenities, so yes, additional charges applies if you take home the toothbrush kits, which the hotels tries to make them look nicer so they can charge you for them. Ironically, the hotel uses plastic water bottles instead of water refilling stations. Really counter the whole environmental friendly movement.
- It's our last day tomorrow, and this is one of the first time I'm getting so much push back for a late checkout as my flight is 5pm out of Jeju. Front desk insists on a 11am checkout, and begrudgingly gave us 1pm.
- Overall impression, the luxury in the resort felt forced. And every time we hear the phrase additional charge applies, it really cheapens the experience, like the hotel is nickel and diming. I can't imagine pay rack rates at 700-1k usd/night for such experience.
Originally Posted by
puchong
It would be interesting to know what kind of occupancy this hotel enjoys...
The hotel feels like its at capacity. It almost felt like there was a Korean public holiday that we didn't know about. The target demographic is definitely geared towards families with kids, and mainland Chinese. I would say among all the guests we encountered, westerners are on the minority side.
Originally Posted by
stevololpb18
Hi, is this hotel not bookable with points more than a month out?
I think the hotel controls and limits availability for the base rooms. So you have to keep periodically checking the rates to find space. I personally checked everyday, and was lucky to find availability 3 weeks close in to check in. Also be careful, the hotel has a 2 week minimum cancellation penalty for points booking.
Originally Posted by
stevololpb18
Hi, does anyone know if breakfast is included on a points stay as a gold member?
Breakfast only included for Plat and above if you choose daily breakfast as an option for Platinum welcome amenity choice.
Originally Posted by
jlee132132
Do they have a sauna and is it free for Platinums? TIa
There's an indoor heated pool, a 40 degree Celsius jacuzzi, Wet and Dry Sauna available for all guests use. If you fancy the real hot spring stuff, there's one next door, it's called O'reve, I think they charged 40k KWR to use the faciltities.
Originally Posted by
jlee132132
can anyone recommend cheap places to eat near the hotel? is anything walking distance? thank you!
The resort is built along the Olle Trail 7, if you walk along it, there's a 60 beans cafe, and if you walk out through the cafe, there's a Korean BBQ place where we saw plenty of tour buses that stops there for there meal. If you walk further out about 10-15mins, there's a Jeju Island Grill BBQ that is quite popular and busy. We ate at a local no frills Korean Hangover soup restaurant across the street. 10k for soups that included banchan and rice.
Originally Posted by
lowkeyflyer
What can Titanium reasonably expect for upgrade here?
Likely Ocean view rooms. Unless you have NUA to burn, I suggest you book the suites if you really want them.
Originally Posted by
Jc0942
The website says the outdoor pool is heated - can anyone comment on whether it’s heated enough to swim in late October / early November?
also, is there a sauna?
Both outdoor and indoor pool are heated. I suggest to swim in the indoor pool, the wind can get chilly at night, even for us here now in late May. And yes, the hotel has sauna facilities. See above.