We actually missed the parking lot entrance at first and drove all the way to the golf course
before turning back haha. 😂
🅿️ Once you see the resort building, there's a small parking entrance underneath.
Plenty of parking space here~
Unlike places like Hotel Topssten, it doesn't have an overwhelming number of rooms,
so it felt delightfully peaceful and uncrowded. 👍🏻
2. Check-in & Amenities
I heard the buffet is amazing,
but we ended up dining at Eco Garden for dinner.
Mostly because we were too lazy to go out haha. 🤭
I'll share more details at the end, but honestly,
every single dish was surprisingly delicious.
⸝⸝๑·̑◡･̑๑
As we walked into the lobby, the staff greeted us warmly.
They were so, so kind!
There was a lovely lounge area to relax in,
and an outdoor pool just outside (though it wasn't open during our visit).
I think these were Cell Fusion C products?
They were selling cosmetics and sheet masks, so I snapped a quick photo.
I almost bought some masks but managed to resist. ^^
I saw quite a few people out golfing. ⛳️
This place really reminded me of South Cape in Namhae, which I visited a while back.
3. Gangneung Ocean View Hotel
They assigned us a room at the very end of the 3rd floor.
The resort has various room types like Suites, Deluxes, and Family rooms,
but I highly recommend the 3rd floor because the ocean views are absolutely stunning.
The moment we walked in, this was our view...
Unbelievable!!! 🌊
It was literally nothing but endless blue ocean filling the entire window.
Our room was called the Corner Side View! ❗️
When we checked out, I noticed that the 1st floor might be a bit too low,
so it might not have the same sweeping ocean view.
It was a little bit cloudy, but... ☁️
Minus a few minor things, it was absolutely perfect.
With the ocean right in front and trees lining the side,
the view was completely open on both sides.
I patted myself on the back a million times for booking this place, haha.
If the weather is nice, I highly recommend catching the sunset or sunrise!
If you sit lightly on the edge, you can grab some seriously photogenic shots,
Even during the peak season of July and August, an ocean-view room was in the ~$130 range, which made me so happy. The earlier you book, the cheaper it is, so you should definitely check it out! ♡。·˚˚
🔻🔻🔻
Check out Gangneung Maple Beach Resort
4. Room Condition & Amenities
It was a corner room with a jacuzzi,
fully equipped with super convenient amenities like a microwave, refrigerator, and more.
It seems there are no restrictions on eating food inside the room.
However, since there isn't much around the resort, I highly recommend buying snacks beforehand.
(The convenience store inside is quite small, haha.)
There was also a large TV on the side wall,
and an electric kettle was provided too.
We spent most of our time at the pool so we didn't end up using the jacuzzi,
but soaking in it while looking out at the ocean would have felt amazing.
There was also a separate chair and a small table,
and compared to the hotel we stayed at the night before, the condition of the blankets and pillows was so much better—the bedding was incredibly cozy.
Well, considering it cost twice as much, I guess that's only natural! ( -.- ᐡ)
The beautiful ocean view right from where we were lying or sitting.
It's honestly amazing that all of these are different photos (just how many did I take? 📸)
5. Bathroom
The bathroom was also huge, and most importantly, super clean!
The toilet and shower area were separated into different stalls,
which made it feel so hygienic! Love it!
6. Maple Beach Swimming Pool
An unobstructed, wide-open ocean view—
this is a spot I'd highly recommend if you're looking for a hotel pool in Gangneung.
Since it wasn't the off-season, there were quite a few people enjoying a swim
🏊🏻♀️🏊🏻
(which is why I couldn't get a full wide shot).
It has an indoor pool vibe with a very long, wide layout,
making it great for swimming back and forth, but when it gets crowded, you might need a bit of
tactful timing to get your space.
For this trip, I didn't bother buying a new swimsuit.
I just grabbed whatever was in sight and packed it, haha! lol
We arrived late, and as we hung around, the crowd cleared out,
so we got to enjoy a nice, leisurely swim. 〰️
While we were swimming, whether it was because of the closing time
or the weather, they eventually closed the large windows.
Right next to it is a hot tub, perfect for a nice, warm soak to finish off your swim! ♨️
There's really nothing like a dip in a pool! 🏊
They had sunbeds to lounge on,
as well as cute slippers, life vests, and towels all ready to go.
There’s no lifeguard on duty, which means you can enjoy a relatively free and relaxed swim!
While the pool itself isn't massive,
if you're looking for a budget-friendly Gangneung hotel with a stunning ocean-view pool,
this place is definitely worth recommending! 🏊🏻♀️
7. Dining at Maple Beach Eco Garden
Wondering what to have for dinner,
we decided to keep it easy and dine right here at the Eco Garden. 🍽️
With so many options on the menu,
us two foodies took forever to finally make up our minds! 🐷🐷
I tried to snap a picture of the ocean view,
but all I could see were spiders—seriously, spider heaven! 🕷️ lol
I wanted to see the sea, but ended up asking Jeyoung to swap seats with me. What a nice partner I am! ^^
The entrance has this lovely vibe :)
The atmosphere was so nice, and it looked like quite a few hotel guests were dining here.
8. Menu & Taste Review
Some drinks and dishes might be unavailable depending on the day,
so it's best to check and choose once you arrive.
We ordered the Ugly Handmade King Pork Cutlet (Donkatsu) and the Spicy Seafood Pilaf.
I can't quite remember, but one of the drinks we wanted wasn't available,
so we went with a lemonade instead. 🍋
And oh my, they make amazing ades here. It was absolutely delicious!!
And our order is served! -
The pork cutlet looked absolutely mouthwatering even in photos, haha.
You might think, "Why order pork cutlet all the way out here?"
But with its delicious sauce and thick, juicy meat, it was the perfect comforting meal.
It's called the "Ugly King Pork Cutlet,"
but honestly, there's nothing ugly about it! ʕᵔᴥᵔʔ
We also ordered the seafood pilaf
because it was labeled spicy, and it turned out to be exactly the flavor profile I was craving!
My only tiny wish was that they had loaded it with just a little more seafood.
Jeyoung even ordered a draft beer, and it was so icy-cold
and refreshing. 🍺
Looking around, people at other tables were ordering all sorts of things,
from highballs to spicy fish stew (maeuntang).
Since everything from the drinks to the main dishes was so delicious,
I'm absolutely convinced that everything else on the menu is amazing too! 😋
The prices were pretty reasonable, too!
I wanted to grab a cup of decaf coffee if they had any,
but since they didn't, I skipped it and went for a light stroll instead ~
The pool at night has such a vibe, absolutely love it ✨
I could see some guests playing golf even on this rainy night.
9. Convenience Store
They also have a tiny convenience store on-site,
but since it was so super small, I didn't actually buy anything haha.
It's perfect if you just need to grab some quick snacks or drinks.
These massage chairs had three tipsy guys sitting in them earlier!
It was ~$2 for 15 minutes, so I snapped a quick photo lol.
10. Summary
Gangneung Hotel Recommendation: Maple Beach Resort (Pool, Ocean View)
1. Just relaxing in bed gives you a wide-open view of the sea!
Highly recommend this Gangneung ocean view stay! 👍🏻
2. Rates vary depending on the date, but I got a great value deal for around ~$128 for a peak-season weekend night (Sunday).
(It'll be cheaper in the off-season, and probably pricier on Fridays and Saturdays 😿)
3. The pool also overlooks the sea, giving it a super refreshing vibe where you can splash around and have fun. (There's also a small hot spring pool!)
4. The room condition is excellent, and the bed is incredibly comfortable.
5. The Jacuzzi Corner Room lets you enjoy a private jacuzzi inside the room, and with the ocean right in front and lush green trees to the side, I was absolutely thrilled. 🌿🍀🌱
🔻 Click the image below to check the lowest prices 🔻
I would absolutely stay here again the next time I'm looking for a Gangneung ocean view hotel! ⭐️
