The Grand Hyatt Seoul offers Lunar New Year package featuring accommodation, ice rink admission, a shuttle bus service to a folk village and a stuffed dragon doll. / Courtesy of Grand Hyatt Seoul

By Kim Rahn

The Lunar New Year, or “Seollal” holiday starts tomorrow. While many will spend the time visiting their hometowns, others will stay at home to relax.

Hotel packages can be a good choice for both groups, as they offer relaxation for retreat-seekers as well as those who are exhausted from family gatherings and traffic jams. Some also provide guests with a chance to experience Korea’s Seollal traditions.

The Lotte Hotel Seoul’s package, available through Jan. 24 combines accommodation, shopping and entertainment.

It includes a one-night stay in a superior room, breakfast buffet for two, a dessert plate at The Lounge, and a Lotte Special Card worth 50,000 won that can be used at Lotte Department Store, Lotte Mart, Lotte Cinema and other Lotte affiliates.

It is priced at 250,000 won, and an additional 50,000 won will allow an upgrade to a deluxe room. A stay at a club deluxe room, the use of the club lounge and other benefits above is available at 350,000 won.



Another package, named All About Lotte, features a one-night stay in a superior room and a Lotte Special Card worth 100,000 won. It is available for 200,000 won.

All guests will also be entered into a lucky draw with a 100-percent chance of winning something, with prizes including a three-day travel voucher to Jeju Island, an accommodation voucher at the hotel, meal coupon at buffet restaurant La Seine and 5,000-won gift vouchers for Delica-Hans. For more information, call 02-759-7311.

The Westin Chosun Seoul offers three packages through Jan. 25 ― Happy New Year, Healthy New Year, and Sweet New Year.

The Happy New Year package features a one-night stay in a business deluxe room, a herbal medicinal cosmetics travel kit and two packs of sliced honey-marinated red ginseng.

The Healthy New Year offer includes a one-night stay in an executive deluxe room having a separate living room and bedroom, the hotel’s 2012 diary, free use of the executive lounge and breakfast for two there, free access to the sauna, plus the benefits of the Happy New Year package.



The Sweet New Year package offers a one-night stay in a junior suite and all the benefits of the Healthy New Year package, as well as red ginseng extract and dinner for two at Chinese restaurant Hong Yuan.

Prices are between 200,000 and 330,000 won. For more information, call 02-317-0404.

The Sheraton Incheon Hotel presents a New Year Escape on Jan. 23 and 24.

The package includes a one-night stay in a deluxe room, breakfast for two, admission to a traditional Korean culture class to be held at the grand ballroom and free access to Sheraton Fitness, the swimming pool and sauna.

The class will be given by the Incheon Cultural Center, and participants can learn a Korean deep bow, rice cake making, tea ceremony and folk games. The price of the package starts from 160,000 won, with additional charges for room upgrades. For more information, call 032-835-1004.

The Grand Hyatt Seoul’s package, available from Jan. 20 to 24, offers a one-night stay at a grand room, 50-percent discount on ice rink admission and skate rental for two, and a free shuttle bus service to Namsangol Hanok Village at the foot of Mt. Nam.

Complimentary use of the swimming pool and gym, 50-percent discount on the sauna, and a stuffed dragon doll will also be offered. Prices start from 150,000 won. For more information, call 02-799-8888.

The package offered by the Imperial Palace Seoul includes a one-night stay in a deluxe room, breakfast for two at Cafe Amiga, a fortune cookie set, a homemade chocolate set, and a bath gift set by Molton Brown.

It is available between Jan. 20 and 24 at 245,000 won. For more information, call 02-3440-8000.

The Hyatt Regency Incheon offers a chance to experience traditional Korean culture.

In the package available from Jan. 22 to 26, guests can enjoy a traditional craft class where they can make various craftworks with free entrance. It also includes a one-night stay, free access to the swimming pool, gym and sauna, and a Hyatt logo-labeled blanket.

The Kids Room is prepared for children on the second floor of the hotel until the end of January. The package is priced at 170,000 won. For more information, call 032-745-1234.

The Novotel Ambassador Gangnam presents two types of packages between Jan. 20 and 24: the Best Value and Double Dragon package.

Best Value (149,000 won) offers a one-night stay at a standard room and free access to the fitness club and sauna, while breakfast for two at the Square is added to the Double Dragon package (179,000 won).

These guests can also enjoy various folk games at the lobby and 10-percent discount for restaurants.

On Jan. 23, a dumpling making class is offered at the Square, led by a hotel chef for 20 participants in 10 groups. Reservations are highly recommended due to limited places. For more information, call 02-567-1101.

The Grand Hilton Seoul presents four types of Very Sweet Holiday packages from Jan. 20 to 24.

All four include tickets to the Sweet Museum (worth 18,000 won), which is held at the hotel’s convention center until Feb. 5. It is Korea’s first food and art exhibition staged by food artists using cookies, sugar and chocolate.

The Cookie Package (120,000 won) features a one-night stay in a deluxe room. The Sugar Package (150,000 won) adds breakfast for two and two bottles of Kooksoondang makgeolli.

The Chocolate Package (190,000 won) offers a one-night stay in an executive room and free use of the executive floor lounge and sauna. The Sweet Family Package (165,000 won) provides a one night stay in a grand suite room with two bedrooms. For more information, call 02-2287-8400.