Hotels With Pools in Gangwon State, South Korea

SkyBay Hotel was great! It's changed it a lot over the past couple years. They have automated check-in now and the selection of cafes and shops in the lobby are very convenient and and open till late. The arcade is tons of fun! Visitors have the option of using the Infiniti pool and sauna for an additional fee. The staff is helpful, and the room is clean and comfortable. However, in winter you are unable to adjust the temperature of your room. The views are incredible from skyBay Hotel. No wonder they pick this location for the drama business proposal! We had a great time!

The room was new, very clean, and spacious, with a small private terrace. Overall, it was great, but the room didn't have universal power outlets, which was quite inconvenient as I didn't bring an adapter. The bathroom was nice, but the lights were under the mirror, making it less convenient to use. Also, the hotel is located on a hillside. It's easy to walk down, but going back up, it's best to take a taxi as it's quite a distance, and carrying luggage would be a real test of stamina. The lobby on the first floor is very upscale, with decor similar to a high-star hotel. There's also a convenience store on the first floor, which makes it easy to buy things.

Overall, it was a fairly standard stay, saved by the brand reputation and great location, but the value for money was low. 2400 a night for a five-star hotel was indeed a bit pricey. I chose it because it's under the Banyan Tree brand, and there's a lot of hype about it on Xiao Hong Shu (Redbook), but the actual stay wasn't great. The front desk is on the second floor, and check-in was smooth. The staff's English was decent, and they spoke a little Chinese, though there weren't many Chinese guests there anyway. The room wasn't very big. The mattress firmness and size were reasonable, and the windows were floor-to-ceiling. The downside was that they couldn't be opened, so ventilation relied entirely on the air conditioning. Upon entering, there was a noticeable smell of fresh paint. Room service ended at 9 PM. The infinity pool is on the 21st floor, which seems to be the hotel's main selling point. Hmm... the good thing is the water quality is excellent, but the water temperature was too high. It would probably be great in winter. The pool isn't very large, and there's also a warm pool next to it. The lounge chairs were packed very tightly, probably mostly for sunbathing, and the flow of traffic felt a bit congested. Usage hours were from 8 AM to 12 PM. According to Korean law, children are not allowed in after 8 PM, which is pretty standard across Korea. Next, the worst part of the experience: the soundproofing was terrible. I could clearly hear guests walking and talking in the next room. We were woken up in the middle of the night after falling asleep, and it took two calls to the front desk and about 30 minutes for someone to come and speak to them. The room environment and service level truly don't match the brand and price! I hope they can improve, which is why I've offered these suggestions.

I had a very comfortable stay for three nights in Gangneung, thanks to how clean and well-maintained the accommodation was. The breakfast was fairly simple, but more than enough to start the day, and I especially appreciated the sense of space, which made the whole experience feel relaxed and comfortable. Getting around was easy whether by bus or taxi, and the location made it convenient to visit nearby attractions like Ojukheon and Jungang Market. For those travelling by car, the spacious parking area is definitely a big plus. There’s also a lovely pine forest path just behind the property, perfect for a quiet stroll. The ocean view from the room really added to the holiday atmosphere, and being able to enjoy both the sunrise and sunset was one of the highlights of staying at Shilla Monogram.

The breakfast was absolutely wonderful. The vegetable salads were diverse and flavorful. My mom and I had a lovely, relaxing trip. The comfortable bed made for a great staycation at the hotel. Everything was satisfying: the bathroom, sink, bathtub, bed, TV, the fountain and relaxation area in front of the accommodation, and the staff service. I'd come back to Gangneung just for this place! 😊🍳🥑🥩🥘🍝🍕🥙🌭🧀🍖

The hotel's location is great, right outside by the Ferris wheel beach, and very close to that sashimi restaurant. The room was a bit small, but the mattress was super comfortable. Check-in is self-service; they send a password to your email after you provide your information, and it's a keyless entry. Luggage storage is also self-service, but it's unattended, just in a room with a keypad lock.

The view was incredible. You can see a beautiful Sokcho sea in the room. Highly recommend this place.

Pros: The room was spacious and comfortable. As it's a newly built place, I was very satisfied with the clean bedding, towels, and all the facilities. There were a total of three large TVs – one in each of the two bedrooms and one in the living room – and the air conditioning worked perfectly, keeping the rooms cool. Most importantly, the refrigerator was large and kept things very cold. The beach was close by, the parking lot was spacious, and having convenience stores and restaurants nearby was a big plus. Cons: Although there's an electric vehicle charging station, it wasn't operational, so I had to use a fast charger elsewhere. It wasn't too far, but it might be difficult to use during peak season. We had a king-size bed room, but the bed was smaller than expected. While there might be a standard, it felt a bit cramped for a family of three with a child. Both key cards frequently malfunctioned. Swapping between the cards usually solved the issue, but it's not quite up to 5-star service. While towel and water replenishment, and room tidying were good, coffee and tea were not refilled. Due to what seemed like a staff shortage, it was difficult to reach the front desk. If you needed service, you had to either go down to the first floor or call multiple times. However, the friendliness and service of all the staff were definitely 5-star worthy (and satisfying).

The room's cleanliness was generally good, but the hotel's location is quite far from the city center, which is really inconvenient without a car. It was hard to get an Uber, but thankfully the front desk staff were great; they helped me call taxis a few times and were very patient, which I appreciate! The hotel is part of a resort. I had fried chicken downstairs, but for other meals, I took a taxi to the city, which cost nearly 100 RMB per trip. If you're staying at the hotel, you get a 10% discount at Ocean Play; remember to mention your room number when buying tickets at the front desk. It's divided into a sauna and a swimming pool. I mistakenly went to the outdoor area of the sauna, thinking it was the famous Instagrammable pool, but there are still outdoor hot tubs there.

The stay was absolutely fantastic! From the sea-view room, I could watch the sunrise right from my balcony in the morning. It's a pet-friendly hotel, and I loved seeing so many adorable pets around. It's super convenient for dining and coffee shops nearby, and just walking along the beach was incredibly relaxing. Definitely worth another visit!