Our hotel the Hyatt Regency Jeju (see also review) is located on a bluff, overlooking Jungmun Beach. There is also the famous golf club with the same name as the beach a very short stroll away.
The way to the beach was quite steep, but manageable and worth the effort. It was sandy and a sunny day. There were other people, who had fun, playing with the waves or collecting sea shells.
When walking towards the resort center up the hill, we passed the Korea House, a traditional Korean restaurant, serving horse meat beside more usual fare like beef or pork. The grounds were beautiful with cherry trees. Sitting on one of the benches and enjoying the sun without ordering wasn't a problem.
After a short walk on the right are the Shilla Hotel and the Le Suites Hotel. We didn't check out the Le Suites, but were twice at the Shilla. The hotel is like the Hyatt or the Lotte self contained. The hotel had a large outdoor swimming pool with cabanas, garden, access to a beach, a sculpture by Dali, a Chinese, Japanese and Western restaurant, a lobby lounge, a delicatessen, meeting rooms with plaques, describing which famous politician had used them (including Bill Clinton), a water feature, a gift shop with jewelry, clothing (Tommy Bahama), perfume and much more, a travel agent and the list goes on.
The lobby was much more modern than thought with huge flower paintings.
We used the Lobby Lounge and had Mount Halla Juice, exotic coffee like Colombia Supremo or Ethiopian coffee, tea, club sandwiches and cake. It tasted very good and we paid around 80.000 South Korean Won (KRW) to 90.000 KRW (ca. 55 Euros / 75 USD to 60 Euros / 85 USD). The staff was friendly, but sometimes English was a slight problem, nothing to worry about, though.
The Lotte Hotel is out of this world. It is a very large complex and starts with a water feature with deer sculptures and a wedding garden.
In the lobby was some renovation work going on. The reception is located there as well as the concierge. There is also staff, which is ready to help, if guests are looking for something specific.
The Lotte has its own duty free shop. The shop is very large and guests can find anything they might need.
The Lobby Lounge is not far off. Every time we were there Jazz musicians were playing, adding additional atmosphere with the very high ceilings and views over the outdoor pool, garden and the hotel's windmill. It's romantic.
Dining at the lounge was roughly the same price as at the Shilla.
The hotel has also an ATM.
Each hotel, including the Hyatt Regency, offered Tea/Coffee sets. It included a cup of your favorite brew and a selection of cakes. We used it at the Hyatt and the Lotte and have only good experiences.
Opposite the Lotte is a Seven Eleven. It also has an ATM at the entrance and offers ready meals, one can heat directly in the store and eat there, and other goods one might need for daily life. The staff is very friendly and packs the items for you. English is well spoken and credit cards are accepted.
If you have donut cravings a Dunkin Donut is just a few steps away.
When returning to the main street and going right, we found the Teddy Bear Museum. We visited it, and it was good fun.
Photography is generally allowed. The only place visitors can't take photographs is the gift shop. The building is very modern with a pyramid atrium. A bride and groom teddy bear couple in life size is greeting visitors in the lobby area.
The museum describes the history of teddy bears. They have a large collection of Steiff, American and British teddy bears from the very early stages, when the animals weren't cute and looked more like a real bear would. At the time teddies were a luxury and prestigious. In the early 20th century some kids were lucky and got instead of a rocking horse a bear.
In one room teddy bears replaced humans, and the scenes depicted historically important events, like the French Revolution, D-Day and much more.
In another exhibition was the most expensive bear in the world. It was a Louis Vuitton bear.
Across the street is the Ripley’s - Believe it or not. Unfortunately we couldn't visit it, nor the Botanical Gardens or waterfalls, because my fiancé was sick.
We had a great time in Jeju, even though, EW had to spend most of his time in bed, but I enjoyed walks alone, reading on a bench overlooking the bluff and the sun shining, meeting a school class and their teacher - I received a compliment, because one of the little boys thought I was Korean, but obviously I'm not - and writing in the club lounge.
The weather was good, but a bit windy, making it cooler than it really was. If we are returning to South Korea we would return again to Jeju, because there is so much still to see including the car museum.
Look out for the next part, our stay in Seoul.
©2011
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