An Urban Resort In Korea: Banyan Tree Club & Spa Seoul
Seoul is the idea location for a city break due to the limitless shopping locations, endless eateries and awesome partying. Whilst in Seoul, it would be crazy not to indulge in the luxury of Banyan Tree Club and Spa located just ten minutes from exciting downtown Seoul. This winter, why not relax at the Banyan Tree whilst spoiling yourself with a new wardrobe, warming Korean bbq and a hearty pour of soju!
Relax At The Banyan Tree Club And Spa Seoul
Although the hustle and bustle of Seoul is enjoyable, on every holiday you expect a change of pace, something slightly difference to life in Shanghai, and this urban resort offers guests a welcome chance to escape the hectic city. The sprawling 70,000 square-metre property is nestled in the heart of Seoul in Mount Namsan, just opposite Seoul tower, providing easy access from downtown Seoul and spectacular views across the city, particularly in winter when snow covers the mountains. Guests of the hotel and are allowed exclusive access to facilities such as outdoor and indoor swimming pools, sauna, indoor and rooftop gym (complete with an impressive climbing wall), golf range and tennis court.
The exclusive hotel caters to guest privacy with just 16 rooms and 18 suites equipped with large, inviting relaxation pools, great for families, in every unit. There are also 16 Club Rooms and Suites located in The Club building. The Club Room offers guests a spacious bathroom with a tub as well as a King size bed. For guests staying in the Club Deluxe Room, a brilliant city view awaits as they dip into the in-room relaxation pool.
Relaxing
Of course, when talking about the Banyan Tree, the renowned spa naturally must get a mention. Banyan Tree Spa offers a range of services to hotel guests, Club members, as well as the general public. The Spa features 11 treatment rooms, including five deluxe single rooms, four deluxe double rooms and two spa suites. All treatment rooms include bathrooms and relaxation areas and the spa suites are equipped with Rainmist rooms for the unique Tropical Rainmist experiences.
Finally, the hotel also has great dining and drinking options; Granum Dining Lounge with an extensive menu of Pan-Asian a la carte dishes, The Festa Bistro & Bar which serves European modern bistro classics cuisine alongside a menu that features light, healthy cuisine along with various whiskeys and live music and The Club Member’s Restaurant which prides itself on using good quality ingredients and healthy recipes.
Shopping
Seoul is in a league of its own when it comes to shopping. Whether you are looking for low cost luxury goods, due to a favourable exchange rate and a convenient tax refund system, or fashionable bargains, Seoul has got it covered.
The best indication of how impressive Seoul’s luxury goods offering is the line of tai tais queuing at the duty free counter waiting to pick up their LV, Prada and Dior purchases, which have been transported directly from mall to the airport departure lounge, before boarding the flight back to Shanghai. The best place to visit, if you are looking to do some designer shopping, is The Shilla Duty Free. This large shopping mall, located a five minute car journey from the Banyan Tree, is filled to the brim with over 500 world-famous luxury brands. The ultimate duty free shopping experience, just remember to bring your passport!
If you are looking for more bang for your buck, head over to Dongdaemun, in downtown Seoul, to visit Doota shopping centre in Doosan Tower. The complex has over 600 stores across eight floors with a mind-blowing array of chic and fashionable clothing and accessories from up-and-coming designers as well as more established Korean brands. What’s more, this mall is open until 5am (except on Sundays) and has an in-house tax refund office. It couldn't get any easier!
Eating
There is such a variety of food in Seoul and not enough time to try it all, but you can certainly give it your best shot. Shoot over to Meyendong after 4pm everyday to experience the bustle of a busy high street crammed full of food stalls. The winter season is quite possibly the best time to visit for the grilled chestnuts, sizzling hotteok (a sweet Korean, fried pancake), warming tteokbokki (think rice cakes and fish cakes in a unique chilli sauce), dried cuttlefish, squid and octopus along with our favourite, gyeran bbang, a sweet egg bread best eaten hot of the stove. Alternatively, Itaewon, also known as western town, has a wide array of eateries and some great Korean bbq restaurants with top quality beef. Make sure you order the Korean signature bibimbap, a mixed rice dish served in a searing hot bowl with a raw egg, meat, sautéed vegetables and a vibrant red chilli pepper paste.
Drinking
There are so many great ways to spend your evening in Seoul. We suggest partying it up in Hongdae, where you are surrounded by cheap and cheerful dive bars, with exotic drinks, reasonable prices and interesting clientele. Nestled in the heart of a university zone, this area is always buzzing so you can be sure to find a bit of mischief to get up to. If you fancy something more refined, you should definitely take this opportunity to get your Gangnam Style on. Head over to Ellui to see and be seen. As one of the largest clubs in Asia, it regularly attracts international acts making it one of the most popular spots in town. You may even bump into a K-Pop star or two.
