The GH Grand suite is abysmal. Personally, I would not use a SUA on it because it's not even a true suite. Cash at Andaz is better (than PH) and the suite is liveable, albeit, a little torn up after the many staycations it sees on weekends. I like the area around Andaz more than COEX and PH. Much more hip and trendy.

Thank, I mistyped and have ruled out the GH.

Will book the Andaz and apply TSU.

Thinking of booking an airport transfer to this hotel specifically to see if it'll allow me to check in super early ( like the four seasons where it's protocol to try to have the room ready on arrival) anyone have any experience with something similar at this hotel? Tia

Nothing guaranteed. Will depend on occupancy rates from the night before.

Recently completed a very pleasant 2 night stay at the PH Seoul. Received a upgrade to a Park Suite on the 9th floor and found the room quite pleasant, I had no issues sleeping but there was a bit of street noise that could be heard, earplugs were provided on the nightstand.
Breakfast at Cornerstone was great with a Korean area, a Western area and a fruit and pastries area as well as a small to order menu. I really enjoyed the fried chicken off of the menu as well as the different bulgogi each day and the wonderful dumplings.
We were able to go through the station underground to get to coex for dinner while avoiding the cold. It was well signed in English which made navigating our way easy.
Aesop facial products In the spa were very pleasant to use and the gym was well equipped with free weights allowing me to maintain my routine.
Hotel paid for our taxi to the airport bus terminal on the way out which was a pleasant surprise. I was very pleased with the PH Seoul and will return if going to Gangnam again.

Looking at options for an insanely pricey weekend & would appreciate thoughts of the Seoul regulars. Arrive GMP Friday 1:30pm, depart ICN Sunday 9:00am. GH Seoul priced at 847,000 KRW per night all-in (or 20k points), PH at 994,000 KRW per night (or 29k points), Andaz 1,700,000 KRW per night (no awards available), GH ICN 220,000 KRW per night (or 12k points). Not paying those cash rates, and obviously not spending both nights at GH ICN, so I think my Hyatt options are (1) two nights at GH on points or (2) one night at PH on a Cat 1-7 cert, 4PM late check-out, then move to GH ICN? Marriott pricing is similarly nuts (even Moxy and aloft Myeongdong run around 500,000 KRW a night, lmao). I don't love the locations of GH and PH, and upgrades are likely to be minimal and lounge/breakfast a zoo, so maybe the best bet is falling back on a mediocre IHG alternative (voco Myeongdong), where Diamond should at least get breakfast and apparently lounge access -- spending ~$170 worth of IHG points there and going in with very low expectations might be the best option?

For Hyatt: I would probably do this one because it's a good use of a 1-7 cert. PH will probably give you an 05xx suite and some welcome amenities. The Cornerstone breakfast will probably be the most civilized out of GH Seoul's Grand Club and ICN's Grand Cafe.

The voco has the best location for sightseeing and going out in downtown Seoul.

Thank you, Aventine, always appreciate your insights about Korea! Agree that even though PH Seoul is only a Cat 6, it's a strong redemption of a Cat 1-7 cert when taking into account revenue rates. Getting to the PH from GMP is easy enough, but the transfer to GH ICN doesn't sound straightforward -- limousine bus to the airport, then shuttle bus to the hotel? I guess a taxi would likely save an hour, but not sure of cost. Is staying at GH ICN a good idea on a Saturday night? I assume upgrades are hard to come by and the club (Grand Cafe?) will be overcrowded and require waits and/or signing up for a time slot?

As for the voco, agree that it probably has the best location for exploring (I spent a few months in Seoul years ago, but my travel companion has never been), and it would be a decent compromise that doesn't involve moving hotels. For a 9am departure, would probably have to leave the voco around 6am, so GH ICN would mean an extra hour of sleep -- although the hassle of moving hotels the prior night pretty much negates that benefit.

GH Incheon almost always will give Globalists the 1 bedroom residence. Grand Cafe will be a zoo on weekends and I would expect the same with VOCO.
Although, I think Voco's lounge is nicer with Namsan views and better food quality. The cutbacks haven't started there yet. Voco's rooms are tiny and poorly refurbished.

From PH: Just catch the Airport Limousine bus at the City Air Terminal, go to Incheon Terminal 1 and then find the hotel shuttle bus at the arrivals doors.

I would really try to get to the airport 3 hours before your flight. The wait to get into the security check line can be pretty bad these days.

Get to the airport early, I took an AirAsia flight where I have no status, so waited in line to check in and the line to just get your passport checked was a zoo, it took 1 hour, then you get past that there's the line for security, then there's still a line for immigration. That line to just get to security was crazy busy lately on 2 recent flights out of ICN. My flight was taking off from the annex terminal where I have to take the tram, so the only way I made it was I just cut. I'm not proud but there was a gap in the security line and I saw this one lady jump the line and I joined and didn't look back, if I didn't do that, I would have missed my flight cause they closed the doors about 5 min after I got there.

I Took a limo bus that got to ICN 3 hours before my flight, took a full 90 minutes to get through passport and security. Was very glad I gave myself lots of time as many people in line were worried about making their flights. Only had 2 security lanes open.

I see I'm not the only one that noticed ICN times getting longer. Terminal 2 was packed late last month. (hoping the expansion will help). We had a 0915 flight last month and security etc took over an hour. Used to be 10-15 minutes max. Definitely 3 hours or more if you can.

In that regard, GH Incheon gives more sleep time for morning flights than coming in from PH Seoul. I always stay near ICN when I have a morning flight because buses can get stuck in traffic and lots of luggage on the Airport train sucks. GMP, I would probably just use a cab.

Thanks for the advice, especially on arriving at the airport early! I had some dreadful arrival immigration lines at ICN post-Covid, and have thus avoided overnight/landside connections when possible. I've been somewhat lucky on departure with waits of 20-30 minutes at T2, but the crowds throughout the airport were pretty significant and ICN doesn't seem to be too eager to expedite business/status passengers through security and immigration.

If I have to be at ICN around 6am for a 9am flight, that would mean departing from central Seoul around 4:30am. My airline (AF) doesn't participate in City Airport Terminal check-in (where one can complete immigration formalities at the station and then use the diplomat lane at ICN), otherwise I'd check in there and take the first train (arriving ICN T2 at 7am).

If I transfer to GH ICN the night before, gotta budget 2 hours for that, and then still have the 20ish minutes shuttle to T2 on the departure morning. Doesn't sound that tempting either. I'm gonna lock in the PH/GH ICN option for now -- would like to see the PH again (I think it might have been Cat 4 when I last stayed there), and at ~$700/night it certainly is a decent way to blow a Cat 1-7 cert.

I think the CAT went down with COVID and they never bothered to restore it in the post pandemic era.

Park Hyatt has also been newly renovated. Much more comfortable than when it was a Cat. 4.