Barbie suites, chocolate exhibitions and crazy parties: Happy holidays at Seoul hotels
You can't buy happiness, but if you could, this would be one way to do it
After all, Christmas is about friendship, love, and family. And it can still be about all that -- in total luxury. As Seoulites, we are forced to admit that we don’t really have an authentic Christmas tradition. Most of it is borrowed, and much of it is, frankly and unashamedly, capitalist sales mongering.
Festoon that department store all you want with glittering Christmas lights and twee nativity scenes.
It’s still a house of shopping.
But tradition or no tradition, Seoul’s hotels are nonetheless great at building a mood, and the holiday season is admittedly a good excuse to pamper yourself at a hotel with one of their packages, parties, or other promotional deals.
Below are some of the holiday packages that look the most promising, intriguing, and likely to bring you the most fabulous holiday that money can buy (well, the trappings, at least).
The Traditionalist: Seoul Plaza
Overlooking the ice skate rink soon to open at the Seoul Plaza, with the delights of central Seoul's fairy light-lit finery, the charms of the Plaza Hotel and their holiday package, "Kissing Under the Mistletoe," are heavily dependent on the Plaza's proximity to central Seoul.
Then again, city living is all about location.
The Plaza keeps things romantic and traditional, and doesn't deviate much from Seoul's general tendency to view Christmas as a holiday for couples.
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"Kissing Under the Mistletoe" offers their "Deluxe Rooms" and "Premier Suites" at slightly discounted prices, with added bonuses like airplane mileage, restaurant discounts and either free CGV's "Gold Class Theater" movie tickets or cozy in-room dining.
"Kissing Under the Mistletoe" starts at ₩330,000. A bit pricey for a kiss, perhaps -- but a kiss, after all, is also all about location.
It is currently available on the December 25, December 30, and December 31, and it's open exclusively to domestic residents, whether Korean or non-Korean.
119 Sogong-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul (서울특별시 중구 소공로 119); +82 2 310 7710; www.hoteltheplaza.com
For the Single Ladies: Sheraton Grande Walkerhill
For the single ladies, and the married ladies, and those who are not ladies.
The Sheraton Grande Walkerhill's "Barbie Suite for Ladies" package is not strictly a Christmas package, unless you were once a little girl (or boy) that remembers begging for a Barbie doll at Christmas.
But if the Barbie package features more pink than red, the timing at least is impeccable: the package debuts in December and continues -- just like the present you never tire of.
The Sheraton Walkerhill is only one of several hotels that have begun to cater to groups of women as opposed to exclusively couples, but you'd be hard-pressed to find a room like the Barbie Suite.
Besides the overwhelmingly pink furniture or the Barbie doll decor, there is also a Barbie dress for playing grown-up dress-up.
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The Barbie Suite for Ladies package starts at ₩380,000 and also includes a buffet breakfast, cheese platter, wine, and a "special gift from Barbie."
Male, and jealous? Don't be. "Although the package is marketed towards women, we don't discriminate," says Kim Ji-sun, marketing associate.
"If there are men out there who want to spend a night in the Barbie Suite, we won't stop them."
21 San, Gwangjang-dong, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul (서울특별시 광진구 광장동 산21); +82 2 2022 000; www.sheratonwalkerhill.co.kr
Sweets in Suites: Grand InterContinental Seoul Parnas
"The image is supposed to convey the general theme of the package," says Nah. In other words: Cupcakes not included.
With the Grand InterContinental's "Sweet on Chocolate" package, you can spend the holidays unwinding in your suite with hot chocolate, chocolate cookies, and hand-made chocolates. And all that after a day of learning about the history of chocolate at "Chocolate: The Exhibition," currently on at the V-Gallery in the Seoul Arts Center.
"Sweet on Chocolate," which starts at ₩260,000, includes a "Chocolate Gift Pack" chocolate handmade and fresh from the hotel kitchens, and free entrance into the chocolate-themed exhibition at the V-Gallery.
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The package, which debuted on December 2, has already generated considerable interest, according to public relations representative Hyuna Nah. "Families tend to favor this package. The chocolate exhibition has a hands-on element -- making chocolate -- so it's especially popular with families with one or two children."
But it's not just a family affair. "The package is available until March, and also is a great way for couples to celebrate Valentine's day," says Nah.
Sure, there's no theological connection between chocolate and -- well, anything. But chocolate is so old it's orthodox.
Exclusively for domestic residents.
521 Teheran-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul (서울특별시 강남구 테헤란로 521); +82 2 559 7777; seoul.intercontinental.com
Contemporary: Grand Ambassador
Cake, wine, private suite. We wish it was Christmas every day.
Despite the uninteresting name, the Grand Ambassador's "Sweet Christmas Story" package series is well-rounded and offers a dizzying variety of options.
You can choose a "Romantic Christmas Dinner in the Sky," as they term their Christmas dinner, served on the topmost floor of the hotel, with a stunning view of Namsan and the surrounding cityscape, and accompanied by a live piano performance. Or you can go for a more private celebration with the "Christmas Dream," and have wine and cake delivered straight to your suite.
Guests can also party Christmas Eve away with DJ Koo in the the Grand Ambassador ballroom -- "Sweet Christmas Story Package" clients receive discounted entry to the party.
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All of the above are available for a very limited time frame: December 23 and December 24.
Packages start at ₩253,000, but a tempting variety of extra bonus options will add to the bill.
Or you can just forget that and enjoy yourself. "This package is less about discounted deals and more about creating a memorable experience," says public relations representative Im Ji-hae.
2 Ga, Jangcheong-dong, Jung-gu, Seoul (서울특별시 중구 장충동 2가); +82 2 2270 3111, 2, 3 ; grand.ambatel.com
The Philanthropic Materialist: Westin Chosun
Another way of staying warm: staying in bed
The Westin Chosun's two winter packages hit the extremes of charity and extravagance.
The theme of their "Warmy Warmy" package is -- surprise, surprise -- warmth.
While the little gifts they include with their package -- desk calendars and an environmentally-friendly board game, for example -- are lukewarm at best, the warmth of the package is really more emotional.
"We've joined hands with the charity Save the Children, and are participating in their hat-knitting campaign. As part of the "Warmy Warmy" package, guests receive a hat-knitting kit and can knit a hat for children in need," explains public relations coordinator Hyun Geun Joo.
And thus, supposedly, your heart is warmed. Doozy or dozy? Depends on how well you like to knit. And how much you are willing to pay to.
"Warmy Warmy" package starts at ₩235,000.
The Westin Chosun's "Winter Holiday" package is, alternatively, all about presents. Lots of them.
The priciest option in their package, at a whopping ₩2,500,000, includes a night in their Holiday Presidential Suite, and a goody bag of presents such as a nutcracker, a desk calendar, a makeup set, and a bag of sweets.
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With international flight prices, what's with the meager gift selection?
"It's not about the discount," says Joo. "But the prices are high because of the prices of the room. And there is a significant discount included. The Presidential Suite, for example, usually costs upwards ₩10,000,000."
The best part is that you can have both. "Warmy Warmy" is available until February 29, 2011, excluding Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve, and New Year's Day. "Winter Holiday" is available exclusively when "Warmy Warmy" is not.
Once again, this experience is unfortunately limited to domestic residents.
87 Sogong-dong, Jung-gu, Seoul (서울특별시 중구 소공동 87번지); +82 2 317 0404; www.echosunhotel.com
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