A Luxury Resort Town with Stunning Coastal View
If you have followed my blog closely, you might have wondered where I have been lately. I traveled to my home country of South Korea for five weeks! Although I am exhausted and probably can use more rest, I could not wait to share with you everything about beautiful destinations and hot trends in Korea. So stay tuned for more!
As for the first of my #TravelKorea series, I want to write about a luxury resort town, Ananti Cove Busan. I had the pleasure of spending a night at Hilton Busan, which was so much more than a hotel. I will tell you all about it below.
Just so you know, this is an unsponsored post, meaning I was not compensated for my stay or writing this review. It is an honest review based on my personal experience.
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Before visiting Korea, read my other articles about Busan:
Ananti Cove Busan
Ananti Cove Busan is a secluded resort town in Gijang-gun on the outskirts of Busan. It is away from most of Busan attractions, nestled in a remote location along the Northeast coast of Busan. It faces the stunning coastline and is surrounded by 600 acres of forest. This setting provides the utmost privacy and uninterrupted get-away from the city’s hustle and bustle.
This seaside resort consists of Ananti Penthouse, Hilton Busan, Ananti Town, and Water House.
Ananti Penthouse is an exclusive ultra-luxury hotel, open to its members and private residences only. From what I hear, its 90 penthouses and 128 private vacation homes all face the sea and have a terrace with the killer view. Too bad, a commoner like me cannot book a room here.
My visit coincided with the ASEAN summit in Busan. I saw a row of police-escorted black sedans leaving Ananti Cove. The rumor has it, the President of Korea and/or high-level government officials have stayed here a night before.
Hilton Busan (compare rates to book: Booking, Agoda) is a five-star luxury hotel at Ananti Cove. We stayed at this hotel. More photos and a detailed review to follow below.
Ananti Town is a multipurpose complex with 15 lifestyle shops and restaurants that are open to the public. Even if you don’t stay at the hotels here, you can pay to use an infinity outdoor pool, dine at a restaurant or cafe, or shop at lifestyle brand stores. Scroll down for more details.
The Osiria Coastal Walk wraps around Ananti Town. This seashore promenades (and from your hotel rooms) is where you can catch the earliest sunrise in Busan. And both sunrise and sunset here boast a breathtaking view! While anyone can access this 2km path and enjoy the stunning view, it was not crowded at all on the day I stayed there.
Water House is an indoor/outdoor hot spring at Ananti Cove that cater to family vacationers. The modern chic spa combines the Eastern and Western spa culture. We enjoyed Water House very much; however, using this spa comes at a hefty price. I have a detailed review below that includes money-saving tips.
Who would love Ananti Cove?
- Luxury travelers who want to relax in pristine nature without the crowd
- City dwellers who long for a weekend getaway from the city’s hustle and bustle
- Family vacationers who wish to stay in a resort town to accommodate and entertain all ages from children to parents to senior adults
- Resort-goers who enjoy an all-in-one holiday destination without the need to ever get out of the resort
- Couples who want a romantic getaway to celebrate their love and companionship
- Local and international travelers who covet a day trip from Busan
Hilton Busan Review
As we arrived at Hilton Busan (compare rates to book: Booking, Agoda), two gentlemen in cream white uniform welcomed us outside of the hotel. The concierge checked our reservation and received luggage. Then, he escorted us into the ground floor lobby behind a giant door.
From the moment that door opened, I felt like I was walking into the Men In Black Headquarters, except that everyone was in a white suit. I walked past the curvy white tunnel (pretty dope!) to reach the elevator.
Interestingly, the reception is on the 10th floor (i.e. top-level) while guest rooms are below the reception. I experienced a similar layout at Park Hyatt Shanghai. Perhaps this is a popular floor plan for luxury hotels?
Premium Room with King Bed
We stayed in the Premium Room with King Bed (compare rates to book: Booking, Agoda). It is a spacious 70-square-meter room featuring a balcony with outdoor furniture, 50-inch TV, two seating areas, and a spacious bathroom.
Before entering the room, I was intrigued by the wooden panels I first saw as I open the door. It doubled as a screen for more privacy in the room and created a bit of room to rest shoes. Perhaps it paid homage to the Korean culture. In a typical Korean high-rise condo, a middle door separates the living space from the entrance. You first pass through an area to take off/store shoes before entering into a home.
The room featured a king bed and a plush blanket. I felt so comfortable in it that I had a great night’s sleep. The older I get, the more critical the bed became when traveling. I used to do okay with guest houses in my 20’s. But my aging body desperately needs more comfort and a night of good sleep to get up the next morning for more walking and exploring. Having a good comfy bed is no longer a luxury but a necessity for me.
Also, I want to mention that the king size is not the Asian standard. (Did you know an Asian king bed is smaller than American king?) It was long enough that there were no dangling feet. And it was wide enough that we probably could have fit in another person between us. As both the Big O and I are tall, we often face tall people’s problem in Asian countries. It was such a nice break in Korea and the first since our stay at this Amsterdam hotel.