3 Reasons Why Four Seasons Hotel Seoul Should Top Your Summer Travel List

Summer may not officially kick off until June 21, but doesn’t it feel like it’s already here? The weather has at long last perked up, with longer stretches of warmth and daylight. And based on data on recent flight and hotel bookings, it’s evident that people are more eager than ever to get back to leisure trips and freely exploring the world.

One notable trend that’s emerged is how people are swapping out tried-and-true destinations for places less, well, obvious. This is when Seoul enters the picture. While the world has long been well aware of its cultural exports, from pop music to food, it wasn’t until more recently that people finally started spotlighting South Korea’s capital as a standout travel destination—a massive metropolis that’s endlessly thrilling with a compelling mix of old and new.

So if you have plans to visit Seoul in the upcoming months, and need a vetted place to stay, you should check into Four Seasons Hotel Seoul. Here are three reasons why.

Timeless Beauty Package

Offered through June 30, the Timeless Beauty Package is a special partnership with the prestigious Korean skincare brand The History of Whoo that offers unique ways to experience the best of Korean wellness and culture. Available for just 100 rooms and suites, the package includes an extravagant The History of Whoo Hwanyu Imperial Youth Discovery Kit—the set showcasing the brand’s proprietary stimulating Gongjinbidan complex is valued at $375 USD, and awaits in your accommodations—a firming and lifting 40-minute Whoo Hwanyu facial with access to the property’s Korean sauna, a globe-trotting daily breakfast buffet at The Market Kitchen, and a pair of passes to two of Seoul’s most iconic historic sites: Gyeongbokgung Palace and ChangDeokgung Palace, both of which are conveniently within walking distance.

When the sun has set, head to Oul, the lively lounge honoring Korea’s rich drinking culture, and order up one of three History of Whoo libations (Royal Spritz, Whoo’s Club, Wolfberry Mojito mocktail) to receive a complimentary set of travel-sized Hwanyu Imperial Youth First Serum and travel-friendly tote made from nobang, a silk organza traditionally used for hanboks.

Garden Terrace Reopens For Summer

Just reopened for the season, the property’s lively Garden Terrace is ready once again to welcome hotel guests and in-the-know locals. While the past two themes skewed more casual—the inaugural season, for example, focused on a burger and beer concept—this summer embraces unabashed luxury. Guests can pair flutes of Ruinart’s Rosé and Blanc de Blancs Champagnes and imaginative fruity cocktails with enormous footlong lobster rolls finished with an indulgent lobster bisque sauce, fragrant truffle burgers crafted with prized Hanwoo beef, and zippy ceviche. Plus, the expansive, glittering views of Seoul at night make for a picture-perfect backdrop.

The Best Fancy Bingsu In Seoul

One of the best ways to find relief from Seoul’s swelteringly hot summers is by eating bingsu. Though the everyday treat typically made with shaved ice, condensed milk, sweet red beans, fruit, and syrups has humble beginnings—it got its start during the Joseon dynasty as a way to cool off during intense heat—the versions dished out across the city’s luxury hotels nowadays are deliberately extravagant in what locals view as a friendly bingsu war. It’s tough to top the appeal (or the cost) of Four Seasons’ Jeju Apple Mango Bingsu at Maru. Costing 126,000 KRW (approximately $95 USD) and a feast for the eyes and the palate, this icy treat stars ripe apple mangoes from Jeju Island, and layers of sweet mango compote, tangy passion fruit pâte, and creamy vanilla marshmallow finished with tropical jellies. Even better? You can customize each bite with the accompanying mango sorbet, crispy white chocolate pearls, and edible flowers.