It was summer. I went to Busan.
My holiday began in Jirisan.
The second leg was Busan. My only aim was to eat, sleep, and rest. No other plans. I booked two well-known hotels in Haeundae.
The Westin Chosun. And Paradise. My first day was spent at The Westin Chosun Busan, in an Executive Room with a city view. The next, I was at the Paradise Hotel Busan, also in an Executive Room, this time with an ocean view. Different rooms, different scenes. A chance to experience both hotels.
1. The Westin Chosun Busan
Executive Room. City view. Outside the window lay Dongbaek Park.
Green trees. Beyond them, a sliver of the sea. Far off, the Gwangan Bridge was a faint line.
Not a bad view. Besides, Haeundae Beach was right outside the door; the room didn’t also need to offer a sea view.
The hotel’s location was special, nestled between Dongbaek Park and Haeundae. The front door opened onto Dongbaek Park’s walking trails. A low, hilly island, perfect for a night walk. The sea at night was different from the sea by day. At night, there were only sounds. Waves hitting rocks. The city lights in the distance seemed like another world. Sometimes, the sound of trot music brought me back to reality. The trail ended back at the hotel’s rear entrance.
Out the rear entrance, and I was straight onto Haeundae’s sands. A few steps to the water. Other hotels required a walk on concrete or asphalt. The Westin Chosun was different. You could feel the sand practically up to the hotel door. For frequent beach-goers, no place could be better. People were always at the rear entrance, brushing sand from their feet.
The bed was called the ‘Heavenly Bed.’ I slept well anywhere, usually asleep within five minutes of lying down. So I didn’t experience its special qualities myself. But my companion, a sensitive sleeper, described it as an experience unlike any before. Many others seemed to agree. Plain-looking bedding. A different ratio of goose down, perhaps? I could only guess. But seeing my companion sleep later than I did, despite having fallen asleep earlier, convinced me that good bedding truly made a difference.
Location Info
- Name: The Westin Chosun Busan
- Type: Luxury Hotel
- Known for: Prime Haeundae beachfront location next to Dongbaek Island, “Heavenly Bed,” ocean and park views.
- Address: 67 Dongbaek-ro, Haeundae-gu, Busan, South Korea
2. Paradise Hotel Busan
New wing, Executive Room. Ocean view. The room felt a bit dated. But the view from the window was something else. A wide sea. Haeundae spread out below. The feeling of ‘vacation’ finally hit me.
Sitting with the air conditioner on, watching the sea, was better than television. It was summer, so sitting on the terrace for long periods was difficult. Haeundae, full of people. The view was good. An empty Haeundae might be less charming. I wondered what it would be like in autumn or winter. I heard the main wing’s ocean view was different. Perhaps another time.
If The Westin Chosun stood quietly at Haeundae’s edge, Paradise was right in the middle. The area around the hotel was always buzzing with activity. At night, Haeundae from the terrace took on a different character. The smell of barbecue drifted up from downstairs. Music played continuously. Laughter, shouts. At The Westin Chosun, I could focus on a book. Not here. I felt compelled to join the excitement. Beer from a convenience store, a simple snack. But it tasted good. As good as the Hanyang Jokbal I’d ordered at The Westin Chosun.
I’d ordered it back then because Hanyang Jokbal was famous. That single piece of kebab became as memorable as the jokbal.
The executive lounge, ‘Le Sommet.’
Worth a visit even outside happy hour (6 PM – 10 PM). Comfortable sofas. Simple refreshments and tea. The view outside was still impressive. We talked about work there. Brainstorming against such a stunning backdrop wasn’t bad at all. Wider than The Westin Chosun’s lounge, and the food more substantial. The happy hour spread was diverse and filling. Enough for a dinner. But in a city like Busan, with its abundance of local eateries, this felt somewhat redundant. A few bites and I was full. I should have gone to a nearby dwaeji gukbap (pork soup rice) place.
I used the facilities too. The executive package included ‘Cimer’ or the pool.
I chose Cimer. I enjoy soaking in water. But Cimer during peak season was half people, half water. Each pool was rather small, and their themes weren’t particularly distinct. Still, an open-air bath with an ocean view. Worth a visit once.
The sauna might have been a better choice. Cimer and the men’s sauna were separated by a glass wall. From the sauna, you could see Cimer and the Haeundae sea beyond. You could enjoy the same view quietly while bathing. The ‘PlayStation Zone’ in the main wing’s basement was also decent.
It had many game titles and was spacious. I first saw motion-capture controllers there.
Location Info
- Name: Paradise Hotel Busan
- Type: Luxury Hotel
- Known for: Haeundae beachfront, Cimer ocean spa, casino, diverse dining options.
- Address: 296 Haeundaehaebyeon-ro, Haeundae-gu, Busan, South Korea
There were a few letdowns, however, particularly with the service, which didn’t quite meet the standards of a luxury hotel.
I wanted to have my breakfast at the ‘Escoffier’ buffet instead of in the lounge. This had been possible at The Westin Chosun. Here, they simply said no, offering no clear reason other than I would have to pay the full price. It was disappointing. At check-in, I didn’t receive the PlayStation Zone coupon, though it was part of the package. When I went to use it, I was refused because I didn’t have a coupon. I had to go back to the front desk. Small things, perhaps, but they stick in your memory. Excellent facilities should be matched by equally good service.
Two hotels. Different charms. Haeundae’s summer nights passed like that.