Under the Sky by the Sea: A Perfect Weekend at Granbay SOTA Suite in Yangyang
Hello everyone! Today, I'm excited to share my travel experience from a weekend getaway to Yangyang in Gangwon Province with my boyfriend. After being swamped with work, I suddenly felt the urge to see the ocean and hastily booked this trip, which turned out to be beyond my expectations! The 'Granbay SOTA Suite' hotel where we stayed offered the most spectacular views I've ever experienced. As a UX designer sensitive to spatial experiences and design, I was truly impressed by this place. So, let me start my Yangyang travel diary!
🏨 Granbay SOTA Suite, A Hotel with an Extraordinary First Impression
Located on Ilchul-ro in Ganghyeon-myeon, Yangyang, Granbay SOTA Suite is just a minute's walk from Naksan Beach. I fell in love at first sight with its impressive exterior. The modern design of the building stretching up into the sky was truly remarkable.
The self-check-in system using kiosks allowed us to enter our room quickly without any cumbersome procedures. While unmanned systems are becoming more common these days, this one was exceptionally well-designed. As a UX designer, I particularly notice these aspects, and this system showed excellent consideration for user experience.
🛏️ Ocean View Room, A Space Embracing the Sea
Our room was an ocean view room on the 11th floor. As soon as we opened the door, the blue sea visible through the wide windows took our breath away. The clean white-toned interior, modern furniture, and abstract artwork on the wall all harmonized beautifully.
The ocean view directly from the bed was absolutely amazing. The sunrise I saw when I opened my eyes in the morning was indescribably beautiful. The bedding was also so soft and fluffy that I could sleep deeply.
The room had a separate bedroom and living room structure, with a spacious sofa and table where we could relax comfortably. It also had a mini kitchen, allowing us to prepare simple meals.
🍜 A Special Dinner in Our Room
We decided to spend our first evening in the room. We bought sashimi and soju from a nearby market and enjoyed them in our room. The taste of sashimi while looking at the ocean through the window was absolutely divine! My boyfriend loves sashimi, so we prepared fresh flounder and salmon sashimi, which were incredibly fresh, probably because we were right by the sea.
It tasted even better with instant noodles. I don't know why instant noodles always taste so good when you're traveling. Especially when eating while looking at the sea, the taste seemed to be enhanced.
The hotel also specially prepared a beer and snack set for us. The cold beer in a red bucket and various snacks - it was a truly thoughtful service!
🏊♀️ Infinity Pool Where Sky Meets Sea
The highlight of this hotel was definitely the infinity pool on the rooftop! Located on the 21st floor, this swimming pool offered a fantastic experience as if becoming one with the sea. The blue sky and sea meeting the pool was truly a spectacular sight.
The scenery at sunset was especially indescribably beautiful. Of course, I tried to capture it in photos, but it couldn't compare to seeing it with my own eyes. The time spent watching the sunset with my boyfriend in the pool was the most romantic moment of this trip.
The pool operates in different time slots, and we used it during the third period (18:00-22:00). Perhaps because it was evening, there weren't many people, so we could enjoy it leisurely. Of course, don't forget to bring your swimwear!
🏃♀️ Starting a Fresh Day with Morning Running
I mentioned that I recently started running with my boyfriend, right? Our running routine continued during our trip. We woke up early and chose a course along Naksan Beach in front of the hotel.
We headed straight to the beach after leaving the hotel. The feeling of sand beneath our feet, the sound of waves brushing our ears, and the fresh sea scent! It was a special running experience that you can never have in the city.
I especially want to recommend the course from Namdaecheon Sports Park to Naksan Beach. This approximately 5km course has beautiful scenery throughout, so there's never a dull moment. If you enjoy running, I highly recommend trying this course!
🍽️ Exploring Yangyang's Culinary Delights
Another joy of travel is definitely exploring local cuisine! Yangyang has many delicious restaurants. Especially the seafood dishes were absolutely fantastic.
The first place we visited was 'Baramkkot Haenyeo Village Naksan Branch'. Located about a 10-minute walk from the hotel, this restaurant is famous for its fresh seafood dishes. We ordered abalone porridge and seafood pancake, which were delicious! The abalone porridge, in particular, had large pieces of abalone, giving it a great texture and a rich sea flavor.
The second place we visited was 'Heungbu's Table'. This is a Korean restaurant that even locals in Yangyang frequently visit, and it offered generous portions and clean, delicious flavors. Especially the doenjang jjigae (soybean paste stew) and various side dishes were really tasty. It's a great place to visit when you miss home-cooked meals!
🏛️ Naksansa Temple, A Sanctuary Embracing History and the Sea
We also visited Naksansa Temple, which is close to the hotel. Perched on a cliff overlooking the East Sea, Naksansa Temple was a special place just for its location. Especially the view of the East Sea from Uisangdae Pavilion was indescribably beautiful.
This place, where the serene atmosphere of the temple coexists with the refreshing sea, was the perfect spot to find peace of mind. The time spent slowly walking with my boyfriend felt truly precious.
🌊 The Last Day, A Check-out Filled with Regret
As our short 2-night, 3-day trip ended and we checked out, I felt a great sense of regret. Especially the ocean view from our room and the experience at the infinity pool will remain in my memory for a long time.
The check-out process was also conveniently done via kiosk. We took one last commemorative photo in the lobby and returned to Seoul with a heart full of fond memories.
💭 Concluding the Journey
This Yangyang trip was truly beyond my expectations. Granbay SOTA Suite Hotel was satisfying in all aspects - facilities, location, and service. The infinity pool overlooking the sea, the clean and modern room, and the convenient unmanned system!
I mentioned that I've been receiving review offers from hotels recently, and through this experience, I've seriously considered activities as a hotel reviewer. I hope my review helps with your travel plans!
Look forward to which travel destination I'll introduce next! That's all for now. Thank you for reading! 💕