Swiss Grand Hotel Executive Twin Room (King Room, Breakfast, Happy Hour)
Five-star hotels in Seoul tend to have higher prices on Fridays and Saturdays, making weekday or Sunday stays more feasible for a staycation. Since I had a rare Saturday off, I decided to look for a Friday night stay. As expected, the prices were higher.
I came across the Swiss Grand Hotel. The name felt unfamiliar, but the word 'Swiss' immediately reminded me of the Swissôtel I stayed at in Osaka. As it turns out, this hotel is somewhat related to that one.
Additionally, it was formerly known as the Grand Hilton Hotel. Regardless, I booked a Friday night stay with club lounge access for 150,000 KRW.
The location is a bit tricky. Administratively, it’s in Hong-eun-dong, Seodaemun-gu, and the nearest subway station is Hongje Station on Line 3. However, there’s a bus stop named after the hotel, so it wasn’t too hard to find.
I arrived at the hotel as dusk settled. Walking into the lobby, I was greeted by an aura that’s rare in modern hotels. The hotel opened in 1988, the year of the Seoul Olympics.
The design has a European vibe, but it also exudes an old-school charm reminiscent of the 80s and 90s. It reminded me of the regional tourist hotels I’ve seen during trips to small cities in Japan, which are said to be remnants of the bubble era.
After checking in, I received my room key and headed to my room. Initially, I was given an Executive King Room. The view outside showcased the elevated inner ring road with its glowing red lights.
When I tried to take a photo of the bathroom, I noticed that while the restroom was spacious, it only had a shower booth and no bathtub. I called the front desk to request a room with a bathtub.
I was informed that only twin rooms have bathtubs, so I switched rooms. The new view featured the lights of villas nestled in the mountains. The room had a bathtub, and while the layout was similar, the interior design was slightly different.
The room condition was clean, possibly due to a recent renovation, and the amenities were small-sized products from the same brand used at the Millennium Hilton. The room was also quite spacious.
Happy Hour wasn’t buffet-style but offered a selection: unlimited draft beer, red wine, or white wine, paired with a choice of a cheese platter, assorted fruits, or a chicken box. I opted for draft beer and chicken, indulging in a classic beer-and-chicken combo.
The lobby was bustling with foreign airline crew members and pilots. There’s a CU convenience store within the hotel, and the staff there spoke fluent English.
The hotel’s location on the slopes of Baekryeonsan Mountain made it quiet and serene, almost like a forest retreat. Outside the hotel, there’s virtually nothing, giving it a resort-like feel.
The next morning, I had breakfast with my aunt who lives near Dongnimmun. I had lived with her for about a year during my childhood, but this was the first time we had a meal together, just the two of us.
We had also partially traveled together during my trip to Busan earlier this year, so I felt close to her. She’s a tsundere-like figure who even brought flowers to my graduation ceremony in place of my mom.
The breakfast quality was underwhelming for its price of 43,000 KRW per person. However, chatting with my aunt for an hour made it an enjoyable experience.
I took photos at various photo spots around the hotel, including posing by the large Christmas tree. It felt like being with my mom.
There’s a hidden walking trail exclusively for hotel guests. Although the weather was cold and cloudy, I briefly explored the entrance area. Being surrounded by nature was refreshing. Thank you.