Enjoy cherry blossom season at hotels

Grand Hyatt Seoul is near Mt. Nam which is famous among cherry blossom enthusiasts. / Courtesy of Grand Hyatt Seoul

By Kim Se-jeong

Cherry blossom trees in Seoul are in full bloom this week and for the next 10 to 12 days, according to experts.

The Korea Times has chosen Yeouido, Mt. Nam and Mt. Acha as best spots to enjoy the shower of cherry blossoms from the capital. The annual Cherry Blossom Festival is currently under way in Yeouido until April 15. Meanwhile, Mt. Nam’s cherry blossom trees are attracting tourists who also enjoy mountain hikes and smelling other spring buds. Mt. Acha in the eastern part of the city is relatively unknown compared to Yeouido and Mt. Nam, but its natural beauty at this time of the year is nothing less than those of the other two, according to local residents. To cater to tourists and locals during this season, hotels close to these three places are offering room packages, take-out lunch boxes, restaurant promotion and a street festival.

Yeouido

Conrad Seoul’s “Luxury Moment” package includes a one-night stay in a room with views of the Han River and Yeouido Park where the cherry blossoms are in full bloom, and a Conrad card worth 35,000 won. The card can be used as cash anywhere within the hotel, including its restaurants and spa. It is given to clients who purchase the package, whichis available until June 14 for 260,000 won (excluding tax).

Marriott Executive Apartment’s “Refresh” package includes a one-night stay, an in-room body or face treatment, a bottle of wine and breakfast for two. With the facial treatment, the package costs 289,000 won, and with the body treatment, 324,000 won (excluding tax). The package is available until April 26. For more information and reservations, call (02)2090-8025.

Courtyard by Marriott’s “Spring Picnic” package includes a one-night stay, a picnic box, tickets to Sea World, a 3D movie theater and a sky art gallery inside 63 Square. The package costs 153,000 won (excluding tax) and is available until April 19. For more information and reservations, call (02) 2638- 3110

Mt. Nam

Grand Hyatt Hotel’s “Spring Blossom Weekend” package includes a one-night stay in a Grand room with a view of Mt. Nam, a picnic set for two, free Wi-Fi and access to the fitness center and the indoor swimming pool. The first 100 guests will also receive a Grand Hyatt tumbler. The package is available until June 30 and costs 220,000 won (excluding tax). For more information and reservations, call (02)799-8888.

The hotel is also throwing a lounge party on April 16 at its Japanese restaurant, Akasaka. The party includes a special fashion show by Park Yun-hee and prize draws for a room and restaurant voucher. The party starts at 10 p.m. and ends at 1 a.m. The entrance fee is 80,000 won (including tax). For more information and reservations, call (02)799-8164.

Millennium Hilton Seoul’s Cilantro Deli and Japanese restaurant Genji offer a variety of takeout lunch boxes for cherry blossom enthusiasts. Cilantro Deli’s sandwich lunch boxes, which includes club, vegetable and ham and cheese sandwiches, panini, champagne and Hanoi cost between 7,000 and 9,000 won. Its salad lunchboxes cost between 7,000 and 20,000 won.

Genji’s lunch box features fish cakes, grilled fish and shrimp and abalone, among others, and costs between 35,000 and 83,000 won. For more information or to place an order, call Cilantro Deli at (02)317-3064 and Genji at (02)317-3240.

Mt. Acha

Sheraton Grande Walkerhill is holding the Walkerhill Street Festival until May.

A wine festival will be held on April 11 and 12, during which more than 100 premium wines will be up for tasting and sale. In addition, a beer festival will be held on April 18 and 19. The hotel has also set up “Tasty Box,” a pop-up eco-friendly café, and “Hill Pub” inside the hotel property. The two pop-up establishments will stay open during the weekends until May 31.

The hotel is also offering two room packages, which include a one-night stay, breakfast for two and Walkerhill Street Festival coupons. The “Blooming Walkerhill” package costs 172,000 won with a stay in a Douglas room, while the “Festive Walkerhill” package costs 229,000 won with a stay in a Deluxe room. Tax is not included in the package prices. For more information and reservations, call (02) 2022-0000.

The W Seoul-Walkerhill’s “W Hot Spring” package includes a one-night stay in a Wonderful room, breakfast for two and access to Water Zone, which has different kinds of hot tubs with herbs and an outdoor Hinoki tub. The package also includes free access to the swimming pool and fitness center. It costs 300,000 won for two (excluding tax) and is available until May 31. Wi-Fi is free for Starwood Preferred Guest members ― membership is fee ― and for those who book the package online. For more information and reservations, call (02)2022-2000, or visit