Hotel de forRe

I was in town for a wedding, so the location worked out conveniently. What caught me off guard was realizing from the website that this place is basically inside an amusement park of sorts, not merely nearby. The room was just what I expected. It would've been nice to have coffee or tea, since the room had service items for it.

Nature Park is free to enter, and there are alpacas right beside it. For getting to the hotel, you park and take a dedicated cart, and the same cart setup applies when checking out. I came at the end of the year after hearing Spa Valley had reopened after closing because of COVID-19. I'd stayed in an Ondol room before, but this time the bedroom was spacious and comfortable too. There was a little draft through the living room window, which uses traditional paper, but the heating worked well enough that it wasn't a big problem. The Ondol room had the same draft issue. Downstairs in the first floor lobby, they sell simple snacks and cup noodles, and there's a microwave. Since the selection is small, it’s probably best to bring or prepare what you need ahead of time.

The traditional Korean house bedroom has a lovely feel, but the futon was too thin for me as a Japanese traveler. My body ached, and it was hard to turn over. The bathroom was my biggest concern. There's no shower curtain or bath mat, so the floor gets soaked after a shower, and I had to wipe it up with my drying towel. The plastic shower head and hooks don't let you adjust the spray direction. Hair clogged things easily, so I had to clean them myself. The shampoo and conditioner were brands I'd never heard of, and the hair dryer wasn't very good. The refrigerator also didn't keep drinks cold enough. That was disappointing given the beautiful exterior and surroundings.

The staff were so friendly and made me feel great, and I slept well in the relatively clean, cozy hotel. Nature Park was a fun visit for adults as well as kids, and breakfast was delicious too, haha. I'd love to come back.