Busan, South Korea’s major port city and the country’s second largest metropolis, is known for its sweeping beaches, dramatic mountains, historic temples, and the largest fish market in Korea. It’s an easy train ride from Seoul and well worth a 2–3 day visit. Finding the right hotel, however, proved more challenging.
We chose the Park Hyatt Busan in the Haeundae District, the newer, more upscale area of the city with easy access to the beach, the Diamond Bridge, and high-end shopping. On paper, the Park Hyatt is a 5-star luxury hotel, and from the outside—with its sleek high-rise tower overlooking the marina—it certainly looks the part. There are 269 rooms and 69 suites, with the lobby on the 30th floor and guest rooms below on floors 6–29. Although it officially opened in 2013, the lobby décor felt dated, with an unmistakable 1980s vibe: lots of black marble, dark corridors, and heavy interiors showing noticeable wear.
The location is also quite isolated. You can’t walk to any restaurants or shops, and reaching the historic center takes nearly an hour thanks to relentless traffic. Service was another weak point. The staff seemed inexperienced and struggled to resolve maintenance issues in our room. We were even advised to keep the blinds down during the day because the room “gets too hot.” When we arrived, a large portable fan had been placed directly in front of the bed. I was told I had requested it—which I hadn’t. In reality, the air conditioning wasn’t functioning, and the room was unbearably warm. Multiple attempts to fix it failed. On top of that, they didn’t have a simple blanket to replace the heavy duvet I requested removed.
Late in the evening, they finally agreed to move us, meaning we had to repack everything we had already unpacked. The upside: we were upgraded to a huge suite. Unfortunately, it was still dark and dated, though at least the air conditioning worked.
A quirky South Korean design norm: many hotels separate the toilet from the shower and sinks, which means switching rooms often means navigating an unusual layout.
Rooms do come with amenities like flat-screen TVs, Nespresso machines, floor-to-ceiling windows, granite bathrooms, and rainforest showers with automated controls. There’s also 24-hour room service. The food, however, was disappointing. The breakfast buffet on the 31st floor was large but lackluster—especially when compared to the outstanding Four Seasons buffet in Seoul. It was also not included in our Amex-booked rate and cost approximately $60 per person. With no cafés or restaurants nearby, we were forced to eat there daily. The Italian restaurant we tried for dinner wasn’t much better.
On the positive side, the gym is well-equipped, and the 75-foot pool is lovely. The concierge desk felt inexperienced and slightly provincial, but the doorman was excellent—by far the most capable staff member we encountered. Elevator waits were also surprisingly long.
Overall, this property feels misbranded. It should really be a Hyatt, not a Park Hyatt, as it doesn’t meet the expectations of that luxury tier. If you beach access and sweeping marina views are top of the list, it may work for you. Otherwise, I would look elsewhere.
Happy travelling,
Shanea
01/15/2026
