Park Hyatt Busan - REVIEW - MASTER THREAD
Oct 20, 2014, 10:07 am
#76
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: SFO
Programs: Hyatt: Diamond, HHonors: Diamond, SPG: Gold
Posts: 193
I'm more of a fan of the low-to-mid end ethnic restaurants that specialize in one or two items, so we ended up skipping dinner at the PHB.
We mostly ate at Korean BBQ joints in Busan. We ended up at a Korean restaurant called the "Blue Crab" for lunch one day - unfortunately, it ended up being literal. All of their seafood was raw. Normally not an issue since we're into sushi, but chilled raw crab, shrimp, and abalone are another thing altogether!
On the service side we *tend* to do alright since people seem to think my wife is Chinese (she's not, she's Viet-American). I'm half Chinese, so that tends to confuse everyone outside of the States, but they at least know I never speak their language.
We mostly ate at Korean BBQ joints in Busan. We ended up at a Korean restaurant called the "Blue Crab" for lunch one day - unfortunately, it ended up being literal. All of their seafood was raw. Normally not an issue since we're into sushi, but chilled raw crab, shrimp, and abalone are another thing altogether!
On the service side we *tend* to do alright since people seem to think my wife is Chinese (she's not, she's Viet-American). I'm half Chinese, so that tends to confuse everyone outside of the States, but they at least know I never speak their language.
Oct 20, 2014, 7:11 pm
#77
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Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Parts Unknown
Posts: 10,053
I'm more of a fan of the low-to-mid end ethnic restaurants that specialize in one or two items, so we ended up skipping dinner at the PHB.
We mostly ate at Korean BBQ joints in Busan. We ended up at a Korean restaurant called the "Blue Crab" for lunch one day - unfortunately, it ended up being literal. All of their seafood was raw. Normally not an issue since we're into sushi, but chilled raw crab, shrimp, and abalone are another thing altogether!
On the service side we *tend* to do alright since people seem to think my wife is Chinese (she's not, she's Viet-American). I'm half Chinese, so that tends to confuse everyone outside of the States, but they at least know I never speak their language.
We mostly ate at Korean BBQ joints in Busan. We ended up at a Korean restaurant called the "Blue Crab" for lunch one day - unfortunately, it ended up being literal. All of their seafood was raw. Normally not an issue since we're into sushi, but chilled raw crab, shrimp, and abalone are another thing altogether!
On the service side we *tend* to do alright since people seem to think my wife is Chinese (she's not, she's Viet-American). I'm half Chinese, so that tends to confuse everyone outside of the States, but they at least know I never speak their language.
Oct 25, 2014, 1:07 pm
#78
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 6,385
Is PH Busan planning to be in virtuoso/fhr/similar?
Also does DSU put you in the park suite twin? any chance of getting a suite with a king? (seems like there are no park suites king at this property)
Also does DSU put you in the park suite twin? any chance of getting a suite with a king? (seems like there are no park suites king at this property)
Last edited by yerffej201; Oct 25, 2014 at 1:24 pm
Oct 26, 2014, 4:57 am
#79
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Parts Unknown
Posts: 10,053
They are called Executive Marina or Executive Oceanview suites. Availability is pretty low with the ITU conference going on. The regular Park King rooms are quite spacious by themselves.
Oct 31, 2014, 10:19 am
#80
Join Date: May 2010
Location: SEA
Programs: Delta Plat IHG Dia, Hyatt Discoverist, Hilton Gold, Marriott Plat, Global Entry, TSA ✓
Posts: 110
They will ask you to pay extra ($55 per night or so) for Park Suite King room or something. :/
Oct 31, 2014, 9:22 pm
#81
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: East Coast
Posts: 1,018
Dec 1, 2014, 12:29 am
#82
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: AUH
Posts: 8,266
Just finished a 1-night stay here. Some thoughts:
- Booked MER at KRW 220,000+, competitive with Westin and Paradise.
- Arrived at 1pm - my assigned room was not ready yet so I was instead offered a slightly lower floor room which was immediately available, but I chose to leave my belongings and come back after lunch.
- Assigned Room 2203 which is an Ocean View King - a two-level upgrade from the standard King.
- The ocean view is really something - if there was one stand-out reason to stay here, this would be it. Great during the day, even better during the evening when the bridge is lit up. The hotel being very close to the water and the full height windows have the effect of making you feel slightly like you're floating.
- Being a new hotel, the room is of course nicely designed and fresh. Another significant advantage over the Westin.
- Room was all around very well designed and comfortable. Bed was good. Bathroom very nice, with spacious tub and separate shower (I really dislike the tub/shower combo at the Westin)
- Automatically offered 4pm check-out without asking.
- Didn't get to use the pool but looked very nice and relaxed. Men's sauna facilities were spotless and nicely designed.
- My only slight complaint was breakfast - a fairly small selection which I'm okay with (it's similar at PH Seoul), but disappointingly the items I did try just didn't taste that good. I hope they improve this.
Summary: Great room, fantastic view, good service, mediocre breakfast.
- Booked MER at KRW 220,000+, competitive with Westin and Paradise.
- Arrived at 1pm - my assigned room was not ready yet so I was instead offered a slightly lower floor room which was immediately available, but I chose to leave my belongings and come back after lunch.
- Assigned Room 2203 which is an Ocean View King - a two-level upgrade from the standard King.
- The ocean view is really something - if there was one stand-out reason to stay here, this would be it. Great during the day, even better during the evening when the bridge is lit up. The hotel being very close to the water and the full height windows have the effect of making you feel slightly like you're floating.
- Being a new hotel, the room is of course nicely designed and fresh. Another significant advantage over the Westin.
- Room was all around very well designed and comfortable. Bed was good. Bathroom very nice, with spacious tub and separate shower (I really dislike the tub/shower combo at the Westin)
- Automatically offered 4pm check-out without asking.
- Didn't get to use the pool but looked very nice and relaxed. Men's sauna facilities were spotless and nicely designed.
- My only slight complaint was breakfast - a fairly small selection which I'm okay with (it's similar at PH Seoul), but disappointingly the items I did try just didn't taste that good. I hope they improve this.
Summary: Great room, fantastic view, good service, mediocre breakfast.
Dec 4, 2014, 9:57 pm
#83
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Parts Unknown
Posts: 10,053
Just finished a 1-night stay here. Some thoughts:
- Booked MER at KRW 220,000+, competitive with Westin and Paradise.
- Arrived at 1pm - my assigned room was not ready yet so I was instead offered a slightly lower floor room which was immediately available, but I chose to leave my belongings and come back after lunch.
- Assigned Room 2203 which is an Ocean View King - a two-level upgrade from the standard King.
- The ocean view is really something - if there was one stand-out reason to stay here, this would be it. Great during the day, even better during the evening when the bridge is lit up. The hotel being very close to the water and the full height windows have the effect of making you feel slightly like you're floating.
- Being a new hotel, the room is of course nicely designed and fresh. Another significant advantage over the Westin.
- Room was all around very well designed and comfortable. Bed was good. Bathroom very nice, with spacious tub and separate shower (I really dislike the tub/shower combo at the Westin)
- Automatically offered 4pm check-out without asking.
- Didn't get to use the pool but looked very nice and relaxed. Men's sauna facilities were spotless and nicely designed.
- My only slight complaint was breakfast - a fairly small selection which I'm okay with (it's similar at PH Seoul), but disappointingly the items I did try just didn't taste that good. I hope they improve this.
Summary: Great room, fantastic view, good service, mediocre breakfast.
- Booked MER at KRW 220,000+, competitive with Westin and Paradise.
- Arrived at 1pm - my assigned room was not ready yet so I was instead offered a slightly lower floor room which was immediately available, but I chose to leave my belongings and come back after lunch.
- Assigned Room 2203 which is an Ocean View King - a two-level upgrade from the standard King.
- The ocean view is really something - if there was one stand-out reason to stay here, this would be it. Great during the day, even better during the evening when the bridge is lit up. The hotel being very close to the water and the full height windows have the effect of making you feel slightly like you're floating.
- Being a new hotel, the room is of course nicely designed and fresh. Another significant advantage over the Westin.
- Room was all around very well designed and comfortable. Bed was good. Bathroom very nice, with spacious tub and separate shower (I really dislike the tub/shower combo at the Westin)
- Automatically offered 4pm check-out without asking.
- Didn't get to use the pool but looked very nice and relaxed. Men's sauna facilities were spotless and nicely designed.
- My only slight complaint was breakfast - a fairly small selection which I'm okay with (it's similar at PH Seoul), but disappointingly the items I did try just didn't taste that good. I hope they improve this.
Summary: Great room, fantastic view, good service, mediocre breakfast.
Dec 8, 2014, 9:16 am
#84
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: SFO
Programs: Hyatt: Diamond, HHonors: Diamond, SPG: Gold
Posts: 193
Review of October stay
Finally got around to writing this thing...
Mrs. Selfish and I stayed here for 4 nights in mid-October, right after the film festival. I booked the stay on cash & points and used a suite certificate.
Unfortunately, they only had twin suites at the time, so I pinged the good people on this forum for help and was hooked up with the GM's email from Aventine. After a very polite exchange, I was told we could upgrade to a King if there were any available on arrival.
Upon check-in the wife and I were escorted to an Executive Marina Suite!
PROS
+ Hotel is brand new and awesomely decorated
+ Best room I've had in a hotel, bar none including 6 other PH's, some Hilton top properties (Conrad KS, Conrad Rangali, Hilton BB) , a RC, etc. etc.
+ Concierge team was excellent. Sue at the concierge desk speaks excellent English and helped us plan our entire time in Busan, also arranging for a 5am room service breakfast on the day of our departure.
+ Concierge team has papers for attractions/restaurants with directions, numbers, and information on what to order - I hadn't really seen that before at other hotels.
+ Nice spa/gym facilities
+ Elevators in the back of the lobby go directly to/from your room floor unlike the PHS.
CONS
- Service in the "Dining Room" is definitely not on par with the PHS - the wait staff were considerably fewer and their English was not as good.
- Breakfast similar to PHS offerings, but not as good. No juice bar, baked items not as good, etc.
- Bathroom products not as good as some other PH's (i.e. not Aesop).
This hotel exceeded all my expectations. I still wish I was there.
Full review with pictures on the ol' blog if anyone is interested.
Mrs. Selfish and I stayed here for 4 nights in mid-October, right after the film festival. I booked the stay on cash & points and used a suite certificate.
Unfortunately, they only had twin suites at the time, so I pinged the good people on this forum for help and was hooked up with the GM's email from Aventine. After a very polite exchange, I was told we could upgrade to a King if there were any available on arrival.
Upon check-in the wife and I were escorted to an Executive Marina Suite!
PROS
+ Hotel is brand new and awesomely decorated
+ Best room I've had in a hotel, bar none including 6 other PH's, some Hilton top properties (Conrad KS, Conrad Rangali, Hilton BB) , a RC, etc. etc.
+ Concierge team was excellent. Sue at the concierge desk speaks excellent English and helped us plan our entire time in Busan, also arranging for a 5am room service breakfast on the day of our departure.
+ Concierge team has papers for attractions/restaurants with directions, numbers, and information on what to order - I hadn't really seen that before at other hotels.
+ Nice spa/gym facilities
+ Elevators in the back of the lobby go directly to/from your room floor unlike the PHS.
CONS
- Service in the "Dining Room" is definitely not on par with the PHS - the wait staff were considerably fewer and their English was not as good.
- Breakfast similar to PHS offerings, but not as good. No juice bar, baked items not as good, etc.
- Bathroom products not as good as some other PH's (i.e. not Aesop).
This hotel exceeded all my expectations. I still wish I was there.
Full review with pictures on the ol' blog if anyone is interested.
Dec 8, 2014, 9:25 am
#85
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: AUH
Posts: 8,266
Dec 27, 2014, 7:28 am
#86
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Parts Unknown
Posts: 10,053
Dec 27, 2014, 11:54 pm
#87
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Parts Unknown
Posts: 10,053
I had it at the Living Room. It was dry, overly crisp for a French toast and had them re-do it.
Just a word to the wise: they offer breakfast at both Dining and Living rooms now because of the sheer numbers of family packages they sell with breakfast included. I suggest waiting for the Dining Room.
Living Room this morning was awful. Seemed like a makeshift breakfast arrangement and very, very slow to refill items such as the sausages and baked goods. I ended up walking up the stairs to get sausages from Dining room.
Just a word to the wise: they offer breakfast at both Dining and Living rooms now because of the sheer numbers of family packages they sell with breakfast included. I suggest waiting for the Dining Room.
Living Room this morning was awful. Seemed like a makeshift breakfast arrangement and very, very slow to refill items such as the sausages and baked goods. I ended up walking up the stairs to get sausages from Dining room.
Feb 16, 2015, 1:27 am
#88
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Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Parts Unknown
Posts: 10,053
http://koreandriver.blogspot.kr/2015...att-busan.html
Exciting changes at Busan are coming. We saw a definite improvement in the quality of food from Chef Keenan with the new Brassiere at Living Room. Finally, a chef who can cook and the restaurant gets some direction!
Exciting changes at Busan are coming. We saw a definite improvement in the quality of food from Chef Keenan with the new Brassiere at Living Room. Finally, a chef who can cook and the restaurant gets some direction!
Mar 1, 2015, 12:23 am
#89
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Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Parts Unknown
Posts: 10,053
Updates from this weekend's stay.
Brunch is now at the Dining Room from 11:30am on Sundays
Check your 110v room outlets if you need them for your electrical devices. They may have been deactivated and non-functional as they had been during our 2 previous stays. The hotel can fix them while you're at breakfast or out for the day.
Room service will now provide an iced or room temperature water with any meals ordered. I spoke with the F&B manager that other Hyatts do this and he agreed to make the changes. More classy than cracking up the room's bottled water with the meal.
Brunch is now at the Dining Room from 11:30am on Sundays
Check your 110v room outlets if you need them for your electrical devices. They may have been deactivated and non-functional as they had been during our 2 previous stays. The hotel can fix them while you're at breakfast or out for the day.
Room service will now provide an iced or room temperature water with any meals ordered. I spoke with the F&B manager that other Hyatts do this and he agreed to make the changes. More classy than cracking up the room's bottled water with the meal.
Mar 1, 2015, 3:14 pm
#90
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Switzerland; South Korea
Posts: 346
Thank you Aventine for the regular updates! 
Do you usually get upgraded to the Ocean View rooms?
I'll stay there for 7 to 12 nights this summer: with DSUs, do they only offer the Twin Suites? I heard on this forum there is a possibility to get king beds (on availability), what is the best person to get in contact with?
Do you usually get upgraded to the Ocean View rooms?
I'll stay there for 7 to 12 nights this summer: with DSUs, do they only offer the Twin Suites? I heard on this forum there is a possibility to get king beds (on availability), what is the best person to get in contact with?