By Kwon Mee-yoo
Staff Reporter
``Seollal,’’ or Lunar New Year’s Day, is just around the corner. Most Koreans go back to their hometown for joyful family reunions on the biggest holiday of the year. For those who cannot visit home or want to spend the holiday in a relaxed mood, local hotels offer special packages.
Grand Hyatt Seoul presents a package at an affordable price from Jan. 22 to 28, offering one night’s deluxe accommodation, complimentary ice rink admission and skate rentals for two, a free shuttle bus service to Namsangol Traditional Folk Village to enjoy Korean traditional New Year festivities and complimentary use of the indoor swimming pool and gym, a discount on sauna entry and more. The package costs 140,000 won.
JW Marriott Seoul offers a perfect Lunar New Year’s package including a fun and relaxing getaway that lets guests try to see what’s in the cards for the future, offering a Tarot Package for those who want to know now what the year 2009 holds for them. For 159,000 won, guests will receive one night in a superior room, a pack of 78 Tarot cards, a tarot book to decode their meaning and free access to the hotel’s fitness club and swimming pool. A breakfast buffet for two is available for an additional 30,000 won. The package runs from Jan. 23 to 27.
Novotel Ambassador Gangnam’s Lunar New Year Package, for 75,000 won from Jan. 23 to 29, features one night in a superior room and free access to the swimming pool and fitness club. ``My Dear Package,’’ for 355,000 won, is the perfect choice for housewives who work hard during the holidays and includes one night in an executive floor room, complimentary breakfast at the bistro and free access to the hotel’s swimming pool and fitness club in addition to a woman’s check-up at the hospital. The package is available from Jan. 23 through the end of February.
Seoul Plaza Hotel’s package, running from Jan. 23 to 29, is for people who plan to spend their New Year’s Day vacation in the city. The hotel provides a movie package, targeting family guests, providing them with free movie tickets and skating at the Seoul Plaza ice link. The art package provide two free tickets to ``Rubens, Baroque Masterpiece.’’ The dining package provides dinner for two at Chinese restaurant Tao Yuen or Italian restaurant Tuscany.
Millennium Seoul Hilton’s New Year package, ranging in price from 125,000 won to 180,000 won, includes a trial gift set of Lirikos beauty products and other basic services. A one night’s stay at Lotte Hotel World provides two one-day pass tickets to the Lotte World Adventure theme park and two movie tickets. The Grand Hilton Seoul offers four kinds of packages with special services or gifts.