Gangnam Style? Luxury Awaits at This Hilton Garden Inn!
Gangnam Style? More Like Garden Inn Style! (A Hilton Review - With a Side of Seoul Searching)
Okay, so forget the dancing horse. This review is about the Hilton Garden Inn, because well, I stayed there. And let me tell you, it was… an experience. Let's dive in, shall we? (And yes, I did hum the Gangnam Style chorus a few times while waiting for the elevator. Don't judge.)
Accessibility & The Great Elevator Quest:
First things first, accessibility. The website boasted about it, and honestly, that was a huge plus. I'm not wheelchair-bound, but my travel buddy has mobility issues, and a good accessible hotel is a godsend. Wheelchair accessible? Yep. The lobby was wide open, the paths to the rooms were clear. The elevators, however… let's just say they were busy. There were times when we ended up waiting for what felt like an eternity! Elevators: Not always accessible to patience. (This is where I'd love to be snarky, but honestly, I get it. Hotels are busy.)
On-site Accessible Restaurants/Lounges? Didn't have time to explore this. But I did see that they had a restaurant.
Internet – The Modern-Day Treasure Hunt:
Free Wi-Fi in all rooms? YES! Praise the internet gods! This is a HUGE win. This is important and I kept checking it. No one comes to my room and tells me to pay for the internet. This is the ultimate and an excellent thing for me! Internet, Internet [LAN], Internet services: I'm a sucker for a good old LAN cable. In theory, this is great, but I'm a wireless kinda gal. The Wi-Fi, bless its heart, was pretty solid throughout the property. We're talking streaming-without-the-buffer kind of stable. Wi-Fi in public areas was also decent, which was handy when I needed to check emails while strategically avoiding the gym (more on that later).
Things to Do & Ways to Relax (Or Pretend To):
Okay, here's where things get interesting. Fitness center? Yep, they had one. A rather intimidating one. I swear, the treadmills looked like they were judging me. I peeked inside. Too many people were serious. I didn’t do it. Pool with view? The website promised a view. I didn't see a view. I saw a pool. I didn't swim in it. Spa? I am so in favor of a spa. Okay, so a full spa thing I'm not super into. Some people love it. However I didn't check it out and didn't even know if they had one. This is a massive thing I forgot!
Cleanliness and Safety: The Post-Pandemic Rundown:
This is where the Hilton Garden Inn really shines. Anti-viral cleaning products? Check. Daily disinfection in common areas? Yep. Hand sanitizer everywhere? You betcha. Rooms sanitized between stays? Absolutely. They take this seriously. I felt safe. I have to give them major props for this. This is my jam.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking: A Foodie's (Mildly Disappointed) Tale:
Restaurants? Yes, plural! Asian Cuisine in restaurant? I was expecting some Korean. I was hoping for some Korean. What I got was… a bit generic. Not bad, mind you, just… not exactly soul-stirring. Western cuisine in restaurant? Okay, that's what I ate. The burger was acceptable. The fries were… fries.
Breakfast [buffet]? This was a mixed bag. Breakfast [buffet]: Buffet in restaurant: There were your usual suspects. Scrambled eggs, some sad-looking sausages, and the usual lukewarm coffee. I did manage to snag a perfectly ripe mango, so, silver linings, people. Breakfast takeaway service: Not the best.
Snack bar: I had a snack.
Services and Conveniences: So Many Options, So Little Time:
Concierge? Helpful. I think. Doorman? Yes. I think. Daily housekeeping? Always a win. This is my favorite ever, I might have to tip more next time.
For the Kids: I'm No Expert, But…:
Family/child friendly? Seemed friendly enough. Did not have a kid with me.
Available in all rooms: The Nitty-Gritty:
The room itself was… well, it was a Hilton Garden Inn room. Air conditioning? Essential. Blackout curtains? Bless them. Coffee/tea maker? Yes! Free bottled water? A small but much appreciated detail.
The Imperfections (Because Nothing's Perfect):
- The Air Conditioning Battle: Okay, this is my one real complaint. The AC felt like it was either full blast, creating a polar vortex, or barely on, leading to sweaty insomnia. No in-between.
- The "View": My room overlooked… another building. Not exactly postcard material. But hey, I wasn't there for the view.
- Room Decorations: Generic. It's not bad, just bland.
- The Staff: The staff were all doing their best.
Overall Impression: Worth a stay?
Yes. Would I go again? Absolutely. It's clean, safe, convenient, and the Wi-Fi is rock solid. It is what it is. It's a solid, reliable hotel. (And hey, if you're lucky, maybe you'll even catch someone humming Gangnam Style in the elevator with you.) Final Word: The Search for Seoul Soul Food Continues (But the Hilton Garden Inn Does the Job)
West Kelowna Getaway: TownePlace Suites Luxury Awaits!
Okay, buckle up, buttercup. This isn't your sanitized, perfectly-curated Instagram travel itinerary. This is my life, unleashed on the unsuspecting streets of Gangnam, South Korea, all fueled by questionable sleep and a craving for kimchi. (And yes, I am staying at the Hilton Garden Inn – because, hello, points).
Hilton Garden Inn Seoul Gangnam: A Messy Diary of Seoul
Day 1: Arrival & Kimchi-Induced Panic
- 1:00 PM: Arrived at Incheon Airport! Oh. My. God. The sheer scale of this place. Honestly, it puts JFK to shame. The air is buzzing with a kind of organized chaos – elegant, efficient, and frankly, intimidating. Finding the airport bus to Gangnam was a minor victory. (I almost boarded the bus to Busan. Don't judge, jet lag is a beast.)
- 3:00 PM: Check-in at the Hilton Garden Inn. The room is… a room. Clean enough, which is the main thing. The view? Well, it's mostly other buildings. Welcome to the concrete jungle, baby!
- 4:00 PM: First Korean Food Disaster. I wandered out, emboldened by the travel blogs (they lie, people, they lie), and found a little hole-in-the-wall place. Ordered something that looked good. Turns out, it was some kind of spicy fermented… thing. I think it was mostly bean sprouts, but it tasted like a swamp monster's breath. My face turned beet red, tears welled. I downed about three glasses of water, and now I smell kimchi for hours.
- 7:00 PM: Recovery Phase (Sort of). Found a convenience store (CU! GS25! – the battle of the Korean convenience stores rages on!) and stocked up on snacks of the instant ramen kind. Maybe a banana milk. I’m planning for tomorrows meals… if I actually make it there.
Day 2: K-Pop Dreams & a Deep Dive into Bibimbap
- 9:00 AM: Breakfast at the Hotel. The breakfast buffet is… serviceable. Scrambled eggs, questionable sausage, and some kind of fried potato thing that’s actually quite addictive. Fueling up for the day!
- 10:00 AM: Exploring the Gangnam Streets. The shopping is… overwhelming. Chanel, Dior, everything. I feel like a peasant wandering through Versailles. But the people-watching is epic. So stylish! The clothes… it makes my jeans and t-shirts look like the uniform of a potato farmer.
- 12:00 PM: Lost in the Search for Entertainment: K-Pop auditioning. I'm not really sure there is one available in this area, but I'm also not sure. So I'm wandering around.
- 1:00 PM: Bibimbap Bliss. Okay, this is what I'm talking about. Found a place crammed with locals, always a good sign. The bibimbap arrived in a sizzling hot stone bowl. I mixed it with the chili paste, the rice crackling against the sides, and the explosion of flavors… it was glorious! One, I found the perfect Bibimbap place. Two, I added way too much Chili Paste, which I felt later, but I still keep going back!
- 4:00 PM: Coffee Shop Culture: Coffee shops. EVERYWHERE. I mean, it's a Korean national sport. Found a place with a robotic barista. A robot. My coffee was decent, but the existential dread of being served by a machine is real.
- 7:00 PM: The Return of the Kimchi. I was feeling brave, or maybe just foolhardy. Decided to try kimchi jjigae (kimchi stew). Success! Delicious. Lesson learned: start small, work your way up.
Day 3: The DMZ & A Taste of Tradition (and Potential Regret)
- 8:00 AM: The DMZ Tour. Wow. Just… wow. The sheer weight of history in the air is palpable. Standing on the border with North Korea is surreal. The tension, the paranoia – it's all there. Thought about the price of freedom. Very moving.
- 1:00 PM: Back to Civilization. Feeling emotionally drained but definitely more informed. Needed a snack. And preferably something that didn't remind me of Cold War politics.
- 3:00 PM: Insadong. Wandered through the traditional tea houses, hanok (traditional Korean houses), and art galleries. The calm felt good after the DMZ. I found a tea ceremony, which was very elegant. However, I'm not sure that I could have the same elegance.
- 6:00 PM: Dinner & The "So-ju" Incident. Went to a Korean BBQ place. The atmosphere was boisterous, the meat delicious. Someone (and it might have been me) suggested we try soju. Now, soju is deceptively smooth. It goes down like water. Until, wham! Suddenly, you're laughing inappropriately, singing off-key Korean pop songs, and making questionable small talk with your table. Remember my Bibimbap incident? It happened all over.
- 10:00 PM: Back to the Hilton Garden Inn. The world is spinning. Pretty sure I hugged the front desk clerk. He smiled. That's all I remember before I fell asleep.
Day 4: Retail Therapy & Farewell (Maybe)
- 10:00 AM: The Hangover. Dear God. The light. The sound. The regret. Needed caffeine.
- 11:00 AM: Retail Apocalypse. Back to the stores! Maybe something to take my mind off the previous night. Bought a super kawaii (cute) face mask. The world is a better place again.
- 1:00 PM: Last Supper. Found a dumpling place. The dumplings were juicy, delicious, and a perfect antidote to the previous night's culinary adventures.
- 3:00 PM: Packing. Always the hardest part. Wishing I had bought more from the store.
- 4:00 PM: Reflection. Seoul is a whirlwind. The beauty, the chaos, the food (good and bad)… It's a city that gets under your skin.
- 8:00 PM: Back to the Hilton Garden Inn. (One last time) Realizing the final time, Seoul.
- 9:00 PM: Depart from Seoul. Bye bye. Until next time, hopefully.
Final Thoughts:
Seoul, you were a wild ride. Thanks for the kimchi-fueled adventures, the culinary triumphs and disasters, the endless walking, and the robot-made coffee. I'll be back. Eventually. Just need to recover first. And maybe learn how to handle soju.
Escape to Paradise: Stunning Cape Town Ocean View Studio (Dolphin Bay)
So... What *IS* Gangnam Style, Anyway? (Seriously, I'm Still Confused!)
Okay, buckle up. This is like trying to explain the color blue. It's... a song? By a South Korean guy named Psy. And it involved a horse-riding dance. More accurately, it *made* a horse-riding dance. You know, the one that conquered the world? It's like, one minute it was on YouTube, and the next, *everybody* was doing it. Think of an ear worm, but in dance form.
I still remember the first time I saw it – during a family trip, which was one of those Hilton Garden Inn, where it was playing on the TV in the lobby. My dad was watching golf, and then this wild video came on, and we all just stared. My little brother started mimicking the dance immediately, which was either amazing or terrifying, and it became this shared experience. I think.
The song? Catchy. The dance? Ridiculous. The cultural impact? Unquestionable. The whole thing is a glorious, beautiful mess.
What's the Deal with the Horse Dance? Is it Actually... Good?
"Good" is a loaded word, my friend. Is a rollercoaster 'good'? Does a pizza with pineapple 'good'? It depends on your taste.
The dance? It's… accessible. Easy to learn, easy to imitate, even if you look like a total doofus. (Which, let's be honest, I do. I was doing a conference in a Hilton Garden Inn, so I had to find some way to release stress. I found out about an open-mic night at the hotel, after taking a long rest. This was right before my presentation, and they were dancing Gangnam style. After the presentation, I was asked if they wanted me to do the dance, and I said "Why not?" What was I even thinking? I have no idea, but that’s the point isn't it? The dance wasn't good, but it was entertaining.
It's pure, unadulterated fun. Or, at least, that's what everyone *else* in the room seemed to be having.
Why Did It Blow Up So Big? And Why at *That* Moment?
Timing, like fine wine aging. And the internet. Mostly the Internet. Before that, the Hilton Garden Inn with TVs playing this on repeat, I think. It perfectly captured the zeitgeist… wait, I'm getting pretentious; let's rewind.
It hit at a time when the internet was itching for something shareable, something… different. And it was. It was also well-produced, easy to watch, and a complete departure from the usual pop music fare. Plus, the dance was stupidly easy to mimic, and it was this global phenomenon. It was what it was. I'm still not sure I have a good explanation. I am still thinking about this at the Hilton Garden Inn right now.
People loved the absurdity, the silliness, the fact you could do it with a group of friends, even if you were at a party at Hilton Garden Inn.
Is it Still Relevant? Do People *Still* Do the Dance?!
Relevant? Hmm. It's like asking if the Macarena is relevant. It's a pop culture fossil, a reminder of a time when the world was slightly more innocent, or, at least, before we all knew the exact definition of 'meme'. So, yes. No. Maybe? It's out there.
I can't say it's *everywhere* anymore. But from time to time, you'll see it. Weddings? Sure. Sporting events? Probably. Flash mobs? Definitely. I saw it at the Hilton Garden Inn on my way out. When I was returning to my room, I did the dance one last time.
Don't be surprised if, at some point, you hear those opening bars and feel a slight, uncontrollable urge to do the horse-riding dance. It's the law of the universe.
So, About This Hilton Garden Inn…
Okay, okay, I'll address the elephant in the room. The Hilton Garden Inn. I'm not going to lie. They're...comfortable. They have complimentary coffee in the lobby. The front desk staff is always super nice. And the TVs? I swear to god, they're programmed to play that video. Maybe that's an exaggeration, But the image remains.
It's not the Ritz-Carlton, but it's clean, the beds are comfy, and you get a decent free breakfast. Perfect after a night of Gangnam Style dancing.
Final Thoughts?
Gangnam Style changed everything a little bit. It shattered cultural barriers. It proved that a catchy tune and some ridiculous moves could conquer the world. It united us for a brief, glorious moment under the banner of silliness.
And honestly? It's still a pretty awesome song. I might even play it at my next Hilton Garden Inn visit. Maybe I'll even see the horse dance again. It's all right.
