Benikea hotels offer warm welcome for winter travelers

By Lee Hyo-sik

It is a must for travelers to secure an affordable and comfortable place to stay before setting out on a trip. It is more so for those who plan to take a trip during the winter season.

For those who plan to go skiing in the mountainous Gangwon Province, fly to Jeju Island to climb up the snow-covered Mt. Halla and eat fresh seafood, or go anywhere else in the country, 45 Benikea hotels offer high-quality accommodation at affordable rates.

These budget hotel chains certificated by the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO), the state-run promoter of tourism at home and abroad, have made all the necessary preparations to serve winter travelers and meet their diverse needs.

``Benikea stands for `best night in Korea.’ This new-concept hotel chain has brought the best and most comfortable hotels in Korea to provide quality services at lower rates for those who cannot afford to stay at Lotte, Shilla or other high-end hotels,’’ said Kim Jung-hee, manager at KTO’s Benikea Business Department.

Korea has been struggling with a chronic shortage of affordable lodging facilities not only in Seoul, but also in other major tourist destinations, to accommodate the surging number of foreign tourists.

``To ease the accommodation shortage, we have brought dozens of hotels across the country together to create Benikea. To pass our rigorous screening process, the 45 participating hotels made an all-out effort to improve their facilities and customer services,’’ Kim said. ``KTO guarantees travelers a comfortable and pleasurable stay in any of Benikea hotels.’’

These hotels offer room rates mostly below $100 per night for two, meaning they are perfect for budget-conscious travelers who also seek a relatively high-level of comfort.

``Benikea hotels are located in all major tourist spots across the country. Those who plan to go on a trip this winter, whether to go skiing or see the winter sea, they should check out our participating hotels and get the best value out of them,’’ Kim stressed.

Benikea hotels

The Jeju Crystal Hotel in Seoguipo is the perfect place to stay for vacationers seeking to walk on ``Olle’’ trails built along Jeju’s coastline and experience what the southern part of the island offers. In particular, the hotel has been popular as guests can view the snow-covered Mt. Halla from their rooms.

For those who want to see the winter sea and visit a range of famous tourist spots along the East Sea, Gyungpo Beach hotel in Gangneung, Gangwon Province, is a great place to stay.

The Dragon Valley Hotel located in the Yongpyeong Resort in Gangwon Province is a paradise for skiers and snowboarders for its proximity to ski slopes and other tourists spots in the area.

The Songjung Hotel and Hotel Press in Busan are popular with travelers seeking to see the sunrise over Songjung Beach and enjoy a range of seafood at hundreds of restaurants along the seashore.

The Songdo Bridge Hotel, which opened its doors in 2009, has been popular with newly-weds as a stopover before they go on honeymoon to foreign countries from Incheon International Airport. The hotel located in downtown Songdo City is also crowded with foreign travelers as it only takes 15 minutes to reach Incheon airport by car.

For more information on these and other Benikea hotels, visit www.benikea.com.