Park Hyatt Seoul

So successful and so focused are the Park Hyatt hotels that once you’ve said the name, there’s very little left to add. The Park Hyatt in Tokyo, world famous thanks to its starring role in the film Lost in Translation, sets out the formula: modern high-rise architecture, sweeping views, sober contemporary interiors, ultra-plush amenities, and gold-standard service. To this one we’d simply add one word: Gangnam. Unless you spent 2012 shipwrecked on some desert island, you’ve no doubt heard of the upscale residential enclave that the Park Hyatt Seoul calls home.

Forty-two square meters is the minimum room size, which will leave nobody feeling cramped. Rich oak and stone surfaces supply some texture as a counterpoint to the crisp clean lines, and every last detail has been thoughtfully prepared, from the swivel-mounted flat-screen televisions to the Aēsop products beside the granite-hewn bathtubs.

With its striking lobby, by the Japanese firm Super Potato, it’s clear that this Park Hyatt means to compete in the big leagues when it comes to design. But what it’s got, and the design boutiques don’t, is a massive industrial hospitality machine, grinding away behind the scenes. It’s the best of both worlds: a stylish atmosphere to rival the top boutiques, backed up with the kind of service the luxury chains do best.

How to get there:
Park Hyatt Seoul is approximately 44 miles (70 km) from Incheon International Airport and 25 miles (40 km) from Gimpo International Airport.