Standard Room, 2 Double Beds
from $173
Grand InterContinental Seoul Parnas
5.0 out of 5.0
81% based on 1050 reviews
TripAdvisor Traveler Rating
Recent guest reviews
For business I need first a central location, second efficient use of my time, third great workout options and forth reliable internet. The Seoul GIC Parnas had all four. Most outstanding is that you are immediately adjacent to many kilometers of running and biking trails and they have a gorgeous full size pool in downtown Seoul. The second most awesome thing is being in walking distance of the city air terminal. This may be my most cost/time efficient international return flight ever. Oh, and, ya, it's an wonderful hotel with a very nice inclusive breakfast. To call it a buffet seems so provincial. VIP healthcare seekers--it is only 10 minutes to Asan MC
Honestly, I expected more from a Grand Intercontinental. The brand is strong enough to justify high expectations... Pros Large room Outstanding breakfast Cons Feel of a dated room Poor welcome (no help carrying suitcases from taxi to entrance, no inmediate reaction as I approached the check in counter even though there was an employee there working on some papers, etc)
One of my favorite hotel due to location is great the shopping mall is underneath the hotel where you can get everything you want also the City Terminal check-in for your flight is minute away by walk. For the room, I was booked the first room type, the size is spacious with comfortable bed, separate bathtub and shower. The hotel lobby where the reception and concierge located is quite small and a bit dark from the lighting design perspective but give you a cozy but I love their lobby lounge where you can have a good selection from drinks. All staffs are speaking good English level from the bellboy, reception and housekeeping. Overall, If you are looking for location cum business then this is one of great choice not to mention they have a good security system.
This hotel is a walking distance to the commercial center, a department store next door, a row of restaurants and a good distance to the duty free shop. Aside from the good location, the service is superb, breakfast has a good variety and the ambience is simply excellent.
Following extensive research, we opted to stay for 6 nights at the Grand Intercontinental Parnas located in Seoul’s world famous Gangnam district. We chose a Club King Room in order to take advantage of ample executive club lounge benefits accorded to guests. This included: breakfast; snacks and afternoon tea; and evening cocktails, accompanied by a wide assortment of hors d’oeuvres, enough to double for dinner in fact! Our room itself was very spacious – 431 square feet per the hotel website, but seemed larger! And featured beautiful, albeit old fashioned, dark wood themes. This included distinctive, but well used, hard wood floors with a huge permanently affixed alternating tan / reddish brown horizontally striped rug, with dark brown and olive fringe, occupying a majority of the floor space. There was also an attractive “business center” at the main entry with a darker wood oval shaped desk, cushioned chair and accompanying cabinetry. Not to mention the obligatory business phone and all manner of electrical outlets for computer hookup. The room additionally featured high recessed ceilings and a huge round mirror on the wall. Along with a very comfortable sofa / chair, floor lamp and mirrored round coffee table ensemble, with wide separation from the actual sleeping area itself. In between the living and bedroom areas sat a wide screen T.V., suspended above ground on a floor stand and swivel, which made it easy to re-position to whichever direction was most convenient for viewing. English language channels were in short supply, but did include major news stations and an occasional movie here or there. At the foot of the bed sat a large cushioned foot stool, which also flipped open to reveal a storage compartment! This was a nice perk. Also helpful to know was that one of the bed nightstands had sitting, on top, an electronic console which controlled all lighting and temperature settings for the entire room. This was good to learn as we initially couldn’t figure out how to turn on the table / floor lamps without illuminating the entire room. Now for the not so great…! First off – IMHO only! – the bed mattress was firm, to say the least, actually bordering on hard! Which is a good thing, I suppose, if you believe in the old adage that a “firm bed is good for your back.” In that case, your back will love you for it! LOL But being the “side sleeper” that I am, my shoulders, rib cage and hips had an entirely different story to tell? Else wise, the bathroom was fine and dandy! It had a bidet and all, huge bath sheet drying towels and one of those fancy Sanyo toilets with heated seat, and turbo washing / drying functions; potentially enabling one to have tremendous fun…while engaging in those activities which just come naturally for most people, if you know what I mean? LOL Walls and floors were of the speckled gray, marbled tile variety; while the vanity area reverted to brown marble counter tops with a darker streaks theme. Mirrors were surrounded by dark wood veneers with wooden pull out drawers. Not so stellar, though, was that the bathroom had no locking mechanism whatsoever! Alternatively, entry was gained via a sliding track wooden door – circa 1988 we were told by the concierge - with a narrow rectangular finger grip “cutout”, for use in horizontally sliding the door either open or shut. When fully opened the door was completely concealed behind the wall. Additionally, in stark contrast to the high bedroom ceilings, the bathroom itself had atypically low ceilings that I could literally touch with the palms of my hands while standing barefoot (I’m 5’10); which contributed to a slightly claustrophobic feel. In defense, though, in terms of overall floor space, I’d say the room was certainly adequately sized! More surprisingly, however, there were no wall hangers to be found anywhere to hang clothing or towels?! So that one had to be a bit inventive, after disrobing, to prevent items from falling on the floor and getting wet! I figured out workarounds for the greater part, but unfortunately wasn’t 100% successful in all instances either? LOL Otherwise, Grand Intercontinental earns an A+ for level of service! They were very accommodating in immediately providing and setting up a humidifier for our room, in addition to an electrical converter, among other. Just push the trusty “Instant Service” button on the room phones for speedy response. The concierge and Club Lounge staff were also very good! Last but not least, it’s very important to be mindful that the Grand IC is NOT a convenient “base of operations” for any of the main tourist sites. It’s South of the Han River, while most sites lie on the other side. Which is not to say there aren’t plenty of things to do in the swinging Gangnam district itself! But again, if your main priority is to visit the major attractions most often recommended in the tourist guides, then know up front that you will likely become intimately familiar with Seoul’s extensive subway system; in case the plan is to venture out to said sites on your own! LOL So even though the Parnas and COEX shopping malls – which are literally located within the basement level of the hotel! – provide easy access to the Samseong subway station, you’re still talking a MINIMUM of 40+ minutes and upwards of 20 stops – with transfer(s) sandwiched in between – to reach a majority of the major sites. Estimates for subway travel (taken directly from local travel websites) include: 42 minutes to Myeong-dong; 53 minutes to Gyeongbokgung Palace; 59 minutes to War Memorial. I think you get the idea! LOL Granted, once you’re in the general vicinity of one site, it’s not too onerous taking a subway to the next spot on your itinerary. But there’s only so much one can cover in a single day! And following several days in a row of spending 2+ hours on the subway, it can potentially become a lot less fun after awhile! That said, if public transit is still the “mode of choice” it is imperative that you purchase a rechargeable T-Money card for use on all public buses, subways and taxis. Cards cost 2500W apiece and can be loaded up to 90,000W. Your option! You can buy using cash only at subway ticket vending machines or cash/credit card at convenience stores. Better still, you can get money back (subject to a 500W service charge per card) for any unused amount. But best of all, you can purchase directly from the GS25 store on the Grand IC’s first level!
Located one hour from the international airport and one hour from downtown Seoul made it difficult to manage the distances. The hotel staff are absolutely professional and are a stand out. I was particularly impressed with the gentleman who helped me change rooms when he agreed that the original room that I was appointed was a bit noisy. The king size rooms are generous in size though they lack in inspiration - the carpeting and wooden panelling simply absorb all of the energy and do nothing for the generous space. Room service was okay and the breakfast was a standout.
I was greeted at arrivals, within 3 seconds of coming through the customs doors, by a very well dressed man who knew my name, I was blown away. He was the guest co-ordinator for this amazing hotel. When I asked how he knew who I was, he said he'd googled me. That is the level of attention this hotel pays to its clients. I am not famous and was only there for a two-day business trip. The hotel room was lovely, the service and amenities were luxurious. They made my trip incredibly comfortable. They paid attention to every detail - I highly recommend it. Oh and the huge mall underneath the hotel is brilliant, including an amazing aquarium and cinema complex, huge food court and lots of shops - all the normal western stores (Zara, H&M etc.) but great value local brands too - I regret not buying any local clothing (very stylish modern stuff) - had intended to go back but then dropped my laptop on my toe, so that impaired my shopping, much to husband's (back in London) relief!
This is a beautiful and grand hotel that doesn't disappoint. I was here in April for over a week on a business trip. The service was spectacular! This was my first trip to Seoul and I couldn't have felt more welcomed in this city and more at home during my stay at this hotel. Pros: great location, steps away from shopping, restaurants and entertainment. They may have had a recent renovation because everything looked new and well maintained. Breakfast buffet is a must; one of the best selections I have seen in a long time. The food was high quality and the service was wonderful. The gym and fitness facilities were impressive for a hotel and it included a decent lap pool, a large and fully equipped gym, and other spa amenities. Cons: my only critique is the cocktails served at their bar lounge where they can use some improvement because wasn't done properly for the prices they charge.
I have tried the JW Marriott and Ritz several times. The Intercontinental has a diverse breakfast, decent rooms, and a great location. The JW has a better fitness center but much worse location. The Ritz is fancier with a good location but a mediocre breakfast and fitness center. 5 stars is a bit generous. More of a 4.5.
I stayed twice at this hotel in the past 5 years. The room has been upgraded since I last stay 5 years ago. Very grand entrance , nice deck rooms and good variety of breakfast to choose from. A bit pricy at USD225 with corporate rate but is a lovely hotel . Close to amenities, restaurants, casino, train, airport city check in and shopping mall .
Hotel highlights
- Steps from COEX Mall
- Free WiFi and wired Internet in rooms and public areas
- Free parking
- Onsite dining
Located in COEX, Grand InterContinental Seoul Parnas is adjacent to COEX Mall. This 5-star hotel welcomes guests with 516 rooms and conveniences like an indoor pool, free in-room WiFi, and free self parking. It's in central Seoul and also close to COEX Convention and Exhibition Center and Bongeunsa Temple.
Dining
Enjoy a drink at the lobby lounge or relish the French cuisine at Table 34, one of 5 onsite restaurants, which serves brunch, lunch, and dinner. Savor a meal from the comfort of your room with 24-hour room service, or get a quick energy boost at the coffee shop/café. For your convenience, breakfast is available for a fee.
Rooms
All 516 air-conditioned rooms provide refrigerators, minibars, and coffee makers. Guests can expect to find free WiFi and wired Internet, plus TVs with satellite channels and pay movies. Bathrooms offer deep soaking tubs and free toiletries. Free newspapers, free bottled water, and safes are also standard.
Property features
Guests staying at Grand InterContinental Seoul Parnas enjoy an indoor pool, a health club, and a spa tub. Onsite parking is available, both free self and paid valet parking (KRW 20000.00 per stay)—also useful is an airport shuttle. The front desk has multilingual staff on hand 24/7 to help with dry cleaning/laundry, concierge services, and luggage storage. Other amenities at this luxury hotel include a sauna, free WiFi in public areas, and 6 meeting rooms.
Reviews from Trip Advisor
81% of guests recommend this hotel
Total of 1050 reviews
