Recently in South Korea Category

Of all the new developments in Asia, few rival South Korea's New Songdo City, an international business and lifestyle center located on the Incheon Waterfront. With some of the world's largest companies setting up offices and a burgeoning cultural scene, Songdo is rapidly becoming a nexus of people and ideas. Now there's a new hotel for travelers who are drawn to it for business, pleasure, or some combination of both. The new Sheraton Incheon Hotel is the perfect base for exploring Songdo City, with 319 modern rooms and suites and all the amenities you need to make the most of your time in Incheon. You'll have no trouble staying connected with business colleagues and loved ones with Link@Sheraton Experienced with Microsoft, an exclusive internet lounge located adjacent to the lobby. If you crave some physical activity, you can take a dip in the indoor pool or visit the Sheraton Fitness Center, which has all the latest equipment to help you with strength, cardio, and flexibility. Dining is a pleasure at any of six different eateries, from authentic Italian cuisine at Bene to expertly prepared Cantonese dishes at Yue, which boasts seven private rooms for groups of six to 20. Book a stay now and experience this exciting new city on the sea.

There's a lot to be said about planning your travels well in advance, but impulsive getaways are an awful lot of fun, and sometimes, they save you money as well. Such is the case with Starpicks, which offers last-minute rates of at least 20% off regular rates for stays at some of Starwood's finest properties around the world. The only catch is that stays must be during the next two weekends for hotels, and the next six weeks for resorts. Say, for example, you've always wanted to visit the South Korean capital of Seoul. Since the Sheraton Grande Walkerhill is one of this week's participating Starpicks properties, impulsive travelers can save big on weekend stays in one of South Korea's finest hotels. The Sheraton Grande Walkerhill is located in northeastern Seoul on the site of the ancient A-Cha fortress, and it boasts a range of amenities to keep guests relaxed, well-fed, and happy throughout their stays. Indoor and outdoor pools, fitness center, tennis court, scenic outdoor jogging path, and sauna are sure to keep you fit as a fiddle and feeling fine. And as far as dining is concerned, more than a dozen restaurants and lounges will cater to your every dietary whim, from fine Japanese cuisine at Kiyomizu to Royal Korean dishes at Ondal. And those who appreciate a good view will want to savor an after-dinner cocktail at the Sky Lounge and Bar (pictured), where an expansive vista of the river, cityscape, and blue sky seems to go on forever. New Starpicks properties are posted every Tuesday, so bookmark the Starpicks site and keep checking back for the latest destinations.

Seoul, South Korea is a pretty cutting-edge place, with futuristic architecture and modern technology at every turn, so it's easy to forget that the city has a history that dates back more than 2,000 years. Fortunately, you can get in touch with Seoul's past at places like Gyeongbok Palace, which was originally built by King Taejo of the Chosun Dynasty in 1395. Though it was destroyed and rebuilt several times over the generations, it remains today one of the best places to experience Seoul as it was centuries ago. If this sounds intriguing to you, why not plan to visit some time in the next couple of weeks? Gyeongbok Palace is just eight kilometers away from the W Seoul - Walkerhill, which happens to be one of this week's participating Starpicks properties. With last-minute rates of at least 20% off regular rates for stays during the next two weekends, there's no better way to appreciate the very best of this city of contrasts. The W Seoul - Walkerhill is located on 180 acres of parkland on the slope of scenic Mount Acha, and with sweeping views overlooking the Han River, it's hard to believe that it's just minutes away from the bustling city center. So after you've visited the palace and shopped to your heart's content in the Myeongdong shopping district, rest and revive your body with a treatment in the the W's Away Spa. With a mix of eastern and western influences, it'll have you relaxed and reinvigorated in no time. As evening rolls in, enjoy a beverage in the Living Room lounge, which features a live DJ and comfortable cabanas where you can dream up your own wish list of Starpicks destinations.