Holiday Inn Alpensia Pyeongchang Suites by IHG

Breakfast was fine, with a wide Western and Asian selection, and the staff were helpful. I also appreciated the padded hanger for my knits. The rooms are spacious and thoughtfully equipped, with a desk as well as a couch, though a few details were frustrating. There are no USB or USC ports, so tourists will need an adaptor. The French press had no ground coffee, and it took a long time to fill the separate bathtub. I love the Byredo Bal dAfrique toiletries, but the scent may feel too feminine to some. The fixed bottles also made body wash awkward to use in the tub. The central light controls were on the digital alarm clock and weren't intuitive, and guests can't really control the air conditioning.

The staff were warm and incredibly kind, and breakfast was delicious. We had a great stay at what was clearly the best hotel in the area. The room was clean and modern, and downstairs they even had a small classical concert at the bar, which felt very wholesome. We went skiing in Yongpyeong, though there are slopes right in front of the hotel as well. The staff suggested Yongpyeong Mona was popular, so we went there instead.

We stayed in a King Junior Suite with three adults and one child. The room was very spacious, with a huge, comfortable king bed, a long sofa, two TVs with Netflix, and one large bathroom. It was quiet, clean, and we slept really well. The toilet was clean too. Being able to pull the car right up to the lobby made check-in easy with a child and luggage. Staff helped with our bags at 3pm, giving it a proper five-star lobby feel. The restaurant made vegan bibimbap specially for us when we arrived, although it wasn't on the menu. It cost ₩24,000 per set and was very good and worth it. The sauce can't be made allium-free. For breakfast, the chef prepared vegan fried rice and fried udon, and the avocado and quinoa salad was excellent. Non-allium breakfast dishes can be requested. The buffet itself isn't very vegan-friendly since the white bread contains milk and egg, but the porridge and tofu were delicious. For nearby vegan food, CU sells steamed rice, seaweed, fresh vegetables, and mushrooms for simple cooking. Starbucks at the ski area has no alternative milk, but Angel Coffee offers oat milk. LOCAL SHOP has very nice Korean biscuits for ₩6,000. A few things could be improved: the towels looked old and a little dirty, the sofa needs a deep clean or refresh, and the rooms could use more international plug points. Compared with Holiday Inn, InterContinental is much more convenient and comfortable. Holiday Inn is spread out, lacks a proper lobby, and has bumpy public paths that are difficult with luggage. Excellent service and a comfortable stay. I'd recommend it 100%.

We hadn't expected much, but it turned out to be a great place for our anniversary. Snowfall during our visit made the stay feel perfect, and the ski track is just a few minutes' walk behind the hotel.