From Forest Staycations to Namsan Walks: Hotels Welcome Autumn [Weekend Hotels]

[Financial News] As the cooler weather ushers in the autumn season, hotels and resorts are rolling out a series of packages linked to outdoor experiences. Rather than focusing solely on rooms, dining and the traditional “hotel staycation,” these packages stand out by combining nearby natural environments and local tourism resources with accommodations. ■Feed animals with your children and camp in the forest According to the hotel industry on the 10th, major hotels and resorts are introducing autumn experience packages that make use of each property’s location, from animal-feeding programs and forest trains to forests and walking trails in central Seoul and on Namsan.
E-Land Park Kensington Hotel & Resorts has launched the “Yes! Kids” promotion for families with children, featuring experience-based content for the autumn season. The promotion is available at 10 properties in total, including two Kensington hotels and eight Kensington resorts. Each package includes activities that make use of the natural surroundings near the hotels and resorts, such as feeding animals, riding a forest train and visiting museums.
The “Yes! Kids” package at Kensington Hotel Pyeongchang includes one night in a guest room, breakfast for three, a kids’ welcome gift, passes for three to the indoor pool and sauna, admission for three to Kids World, and one pack of animal feed for Animal Farm. Guests can also use the 67,000-square-meter Kensington French Garden and Animal Farm on the property. Kensington Resort Seorak Valley is offering the “Forest Staycation with Kids” package. Guests can take the included Montreux Forest Train to view the resort’s natural scenery and participate in a deer-feeding experience.
WALKERHILL HOTELS & RESORTS has also introduced its autumn-season “Camping Picnic” packages, allowing guests to enjoy the atmosphere of camping and a relaxing break amid nature in central Seoul. The six packages are designed to offer different ways to enjoy an autumn forest staycation according to guests’ preferences and lifestyles.
Guests can enjoy a forest retreat and camping atmosphere through “Camping Picnic in the Forest” at Grand Walkerhill Seoul, “Autumn Camping Picnic” at VISTA WALKERHILL SEOUL, and “Check-in Bonfire” at Douglas House. Depending on the package, options include wine and s’mores experiences at Forest Park or a “Camping Picnic Gift” package offering a travel pouch created in collaboration with lifestyle brand LIGHTREE. The newly created “Forest Caravan—Forest Bookstore” has about 80 books curated by independent bookstore Thanks Books, allowing guests to relax while reading in the autumn forest.

■Walk on Namsan and visit fall foliage destinations: Linking local tourism with accommodationsPackages linking autumn outdoor activities with local tourism are also being introduced one after another. Banyan Tree Club & Spa Seoul has launched the “Urban Wellness” package, designed for guests to walk or run along Namsan’s forest trails. The package includes a running vest rental, a Namsan trail map and a hydration-care set. Guests can choose from routes including the “Namsan Tower-ro” course connecting the hotel to N Seoul Tower, a walking course leading to a hanok village, and the Hanyangdoseong-gil course along the Namsan fortress wall.
Sono International is also offering the “Early Autumn Break” package through the 13th, allowing guests to enjoy autumn attractions and festivals near Sono Hotels & Resorts. The package combines accommodations with breakfast and access to facilities such as the sauna. Alongside the package, Sono International has released the “Sono Autumn Travel Map,” which highlights autumn attractions and festivals near Sono Hotels & Resorts nationwide. The map features major tourist destinations near hotels and resorts across the country where visitors can see fall foliage, silver grass and coastal scenery.
There are also packages tailored to the autumn hotel-staycation season. Sheraton Jeju Hotel has launched the “YES! You Enjoy Sheraton” package ahead of its grand opening on the 14th. The recently remodeled hotel features ocean-view rooms and a 100-meter-long infinity pool. The package includes one night in a guest room, breakfast for two and unlimited access to the infinity pool. Guests also receive a hotel mascot key ring inspired by Jeju Province’s basalt.
A hotel industry official said, “Recently, demand has been growing for experience-based content, with travelers placing more importance on what they experienced rather than simply resting at a destination.” The official added, “As autumn arrives and brings favorable conditions for outdoor activities, hotel and resort offerings are also expanding to connect with the surrounding natural environment and local tourism resources.”


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