Sota Suite Granbay Yangyang Review: Beachfront Hotel & Pool

Day 2 of Our June Trip to Yangyang: Recommending Sotasuite's Rooftop Pool, Hotel, and Breakfast!

Naksan Beach

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If you're searching for a fantastic hotel in Yangyang that's perfect for a family trip with the kids,

I highly, highly recommend Sota Suite Grandbay!

When it comes to must-visit spots in Yangyang,

you know Naksansa Temple and Naksan Beach, right?

Well, the location here was absolutely amazing.

Imagine a hotel in Yangyang right on Naksan Beach, boasting a rooftop pool and even breakfast included!

We actually stayed there for around ~$51 per night (during a weekday in June).

Sotasuite Yangyang Grandbay

So, let me share my honest review of Sotasuite Yangyang Grandbay, straight from my own experience!

Basic Information

📍 Location: Near Naksan Beach, Yangyang-gun, Gangwon Province 8

🕐 Check-in: After 15:00 / Check-out: Before 11:00

Late Check-out: 1 hour ~$11

Front Desk: Open 24 hours, year-round / 1st floor kiosk check-in available

🅿️ Parking: 1 car per room available​

What I Immediately Realized Upon Arriving at Our Yangyang Hotel — That Location is Seriously Unbeatable!

Many people head to Naksan Beach as their go-to spot in Yangyang, and at Sotasuite Grandbay, it's literally so close you can just throw on your swimsuit and walk right out to the sand!

Having visited myself, I can tell you that everything you need is right there as soon as you step out the hotel door.

What's even better is that even on a rainy day, you don't have to step outside the hotel at all, with plenty to enjoy right inside the building!

On a cloudy day, we actually ordered some delicious chicken and tteokbokki for takeout from Boo-eo Chicken, and it hit the spot!

According to Trip.com, with a location score of 9.4,

it's actually the highest-rated aspect among 94 reviews.

Right in front, you'll find a raw fish restaurant and even a cozy cafe!

I really wanted to check it out... but we had to head over to Sokcho, so we missed it.

Just stroll through a small plaza, and voilà, you're right at Naksan Beach! 😉

The location is truly incredible.

There's an arcade on the 1st floor.

If you're traveling with kids, it's a perfect spot to spend some fun time!

Once you walk past the arcade on the first floor, you can pick up your mobile key from the kiosk and head right in!

Here's a little golden tip for you!

While checking in at the 1st-floor kiosk is super convenient, if you're planning to use the swimming pool, it's actually much more efficient to check in directly at the 2nd-floor front desk.

That way, you can grab your pool wristband right away!

We arrived early, planning to spend some time enjoying the beach before check-in, so

we asked for luggage storage before check-in. Free luggage storage is available.

After confirming our guest name, we happily left our suitcases there.

You'll even find vending machines available.

The breakfast restaurant is also conveniently located on the 2nd floor, right where the front desk is.

Inside Our Room

Stepping into the room, I immediately noticed how spotless it was, thanks to it being a brand-new building!

Since it only opened in 2024, the entire place was incredibly clean and fresh.

The room was delightfully spacious, and with plenty of storage, it was super easy to unpack my suitcase and settle right in without feeling cramped.

The terrace added a wonderful sense of openness to the room, and I even thought it would be a great spot to dry laundry (though I didn't spot a dedicated drying rack).

Thanks to the double-glazed windows, even being right in front of the beach,

the noise was surprisingly minimal!.

The AC is controlled by a sleek wall panel, not a remote, and I heard the cooling system runs centrally from May to September – good to know for summer trips!

Handy Tips to Know

Water purifiers are conveniently located on floors 4-19, offering both ice and hot water – perfect for filling up your bottle!

I actually discovered them while exploring the different floors, haha!

Microwaves are reportedly available on floors 4, 8, 12, and 18, which is great for quick meals.

We made good use of our water bottles, constantly refilling them!

Coin-operated laundry facilities are available on floors 9, 10, and 19 (for a fee), super handy for longer stays.

Just a heads-up: disposable amenities (like toothbrushes and toothpaste)

are not complimentary.

So remember to pack your own or grab them from a local convenience store.

For free parking exit, make sure to register your vehicle via the mobile key app. It’s easiest to get this done right when you check in!

So excited, heading into the room!

I loved having a spacious table, perfect for organizing all our belongings and keeping the room tidy.

Tea, a coffee maker, and bottled water in the mini-fridge – all the essentials!

(Note: bottled water is not complimentary)

The duvet felt wonderfully crisp and fresh,

and the room temperature was absolutely perfect.

The Bathroom

Compact yet sparkling clean.

They provided a shampoo & body wash combo, conditioner, and soap – all the essentials for a refreshing shower!

Towels and toilet paper were generously stocked.

Having a chatbot available was incredibly convenient!

Both check-in and check-out are handled effortlessly through the mobile key,

and you can even make requests or inquiries through it.

It started out cloudy and then began to rain, so we decided to grab some delicious takeout from Booer Chicken, right across the street. We planned to check the weather in the morning and go for a swim then...

Oh, and the Tteokbokki was absolutely delicious too!

Song-i Dakgangjeong that my husband bought later

This spot is also famous as a must-try eatery in Yangyang,

and personally, more than Sokcho Mans Dakgangjeong,

I found this Song-i Dakgangjeong to be much more delicious!

Breakfast

Honestly, I didn't have high expectations for breakfast, but it ended up being the most satisfying part!

After looking around, considering nearby restaurants charge around ~$13 for Mulhoe (my kids really wanted to try it!) and over ~$11 for Haejangguk, having breakfast here totally takes care of your morning meal worries.

Even though the space is quite compact, there's a surprisingly wide variety of options available!

The main chef, or maybe the manager, was

so kind and helpful, and there were plenty of dishes that even the kids enjoyed.

From scrambled eggs, fish cake soup, seaweed soup, and dumplings to boiled eggs, chicken, udon, fried rice, pasta, sausages, and a variety of breads, there's a fantastic mix of Korean and Western dishes, so you can truly eat whatever you fancy!

You can even make your own croffles, and let me tell you, they are absolutely delicious!

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Highly Recommended from What I Tasted!

The croffles are truly amazing! Maybe it's because they're baked fresh right there, but they were so crispy and sweet, and the kids just devoured them.

I didn't have high hopes for the scrambled eggs either, but they were surprisingly tasty. I went back for seconds, and even thirds!

The Jeyuk-bokkeum (spicy stir-fried pork) is another must-try! My second child usually isn't a big breakfast eater, but he went for seconds of this Jeyuk-bokkeum. It was THAT good!

Breakfast Fees (On-site Payment)

Category	Fee
Ages 7 and under	Free
Ages 8-13	~$11
Ages 14-17	~$15
Adult	~$15
Operating Hours	07:00~10:30 Daily

When you compare these prices to nearby restaurants,

including breakfast is definitely a fantastic deal.

Especially since it can be tricky to find suitable food for the kids outside...

A truly satisfying breakfast experience!

Rooftop Pool

On our check-out day, we made sure to visit the pool,

and being a rooftop pool, the expansive views were even better than we'd imagined!

Even though it was cloudy when we went,

The pool's atmosphere itself was really nice.

The water temperature was lukewarm.

I asked the chatbot, and it said the temperature was 28-29 degrees Celsius, but it felt more 'not cold' than truly warm.

It was the perfect temperature for playing in the water during summer.

Things to Know Before Using the Pool

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Late checkout costs ~$11 per hour and is available until 13:00 (1 PM) at the latest.

However, you can only use it after pre-paying at the front desk on the 2nd floor. (We paid during breakfast)

We opted for late checkout, swam to our hearts' content, and left feeling refreshed. It was great to make the most of our last day.

There are no towels provided, so you need to bring your own.

You can use the sunbeds freely.

Lifeguards are always on duty.

Maybe it was because it was cloudy, or perhaps because it was still June,

but there weren't too many people around.

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Check the Lowest Price for SOTASUITE Yangyang Grand Bay

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With the constantly changing weather,

being on the rooftop means photos turn out great!

You can see the beach right from here!

Things to Note (Minor Downsides)

The elevator wait times can be long. There are only three elevators, which isn't enough for the number of rooms, so you might have to wait during check-in or in the evenings. Wait times could be even longer during peak season.

Regarding cleanliness, some reviews mentioned issues with floor cleaning or bedding condition, but our room was fine when we stayed.

It's always a good idea to check your room upon arrival and report any issues to the front desk right away.

When using the pool, you'll need to go down to the lower floor for the restrooms.

If I had to nitpick, the bathroom door is a sliding one.....

so some 'manners' (and perhaps a TV for background noise!) might be needed to maintain privacy.

Recommended for Travelers Who:

✔ Want to stay right in front of Naksan Beach

✔ Are family travelers looking for places to visit in Yangyang with kids

✔ Want to enjoy both a rooftop pool and the beach

✔ Are looking for things to enjoy indoors, even on rainy days

✔ Are seeking a good value-for-money hotel in Yangyang

If the weather had been better, it would have been even more amazing,

but either way, we decided to come back again next time.

If you're planning a trip to Yangyang among the must-visit places in Gangwon-do,

SOTASUITE Yangyang Grand Bay truly offered great value, with its prime location right in front of Naksan Beach, a fantastic rooftop pool, and even breakfast included – it had plenty of appeal.

With late checkout, you can even squeeze in a swim and make the most of your very last day.

Definitely check it out for your next summer vacation!

Check Live Prices for SOTASUITE Yangyang Grand Bay