Looking for the best hotel in Jeju? I've been there several times and stayed at the Shilla near Seogwipo (most recently in 2023.) Here's my The Shilla Hotel Review for you to decide if it is the right place to stay in Jeju for you!
Situated on the island of Jeju, South Korea's Hawaii, the Shilla Hotel Jeju 신라호텔, part of the prestigious Shilla Hotels & Resorts chain, is known as a beacon of luxury and serenity, offering an unparalleled experience for travelers.
BUT Is it true? Read on to see if my experience staying there (unsponsored, paid for by myself) holds true to its reputation for "breathtaking views, exquisite culinary offerings, and impeccable service."
My last stay at The Shilla Jeju was in April 2023 for 2 nights: we occupied 2 Standard Twin Rooms (Garden View) near each other on the same floor. (I have also stayed at The Shilla Seoul. All stays were paid for by myself so the review is unsponsored and honest.)
Note: not to be confused with Shilla Stay Jeju, a lower-range hotel by the Shilla group. Also note some links here are affiliate, so I earn a small commission if you book through the link, at no cost to you 🙂 However, don't worry, I'm still super honest in this review- I have to be as my friends and family refer to it too LOL. Thanks for supporting the work of running this travel blog!
Recommended for travelers who want a country resort experience: a relaxing stay in a hotel with friendly staff, live music, and the most beautiful grounds (i.e. you can just stay on the hotel grounds and not leave, if you wish) BUT not all staff can speak English. (The front desk can, but not the restaurant staff.)
Overall Score: 8.5/ 10
I would return to The Shilla Jeju Resort Hotel (But NOT when Korean schools are on holiday, as the hotel will be packed with families and young children.)
An important point to note: no pets are allowed at the Hotel
Location
The Shilla Jeju is NOT near Jeju Airport or Jeju City/ Jeju-shi. It will take 60-90 minutes by car. (If you're looking for a good hotel in Jeju City with easy access to Jeju Airport, I recommend Grand Hyatt, which was recently used as Paradise on Singles Inferno 3 and is only about 15-20 minutes way.)
Instead, Shilla Jeju is near Seogwi-po, and has a more relaxing feel. (It's more of a country resort break, not a city break.) A great location for exploring the South of Jeju. (Jeju is quite big, so it can take ages to get from one attraction to another, if they're located at different ends of the island.)
The live music in the lobby in the afternoon was a welcoming sight upon checking in at the Hotel. But it dulled when we heard it a second time. (The (non-Korean) singer was not good at all, though the pianist and violinist were talented.
Honestly, we were quite shocked by how low the standard of the singing was.)
- The Shilla Jeju, Seogwipo
- 75, Jungmungwangwang-to, 72 beon-gil, Seogwipo, Jeju Island
Rooms
Size
A standard twin room here is smaller compared than the very spacious rooms at Grand Hyatt Jeju. However, the size is sufficient for 2 people and the balcony more than makes up for its smaller size. You can hear the birds chirping from your room!
Note: once you open the balcony door, the AC will turn off, like in most hotels. I was impressed that the balcony had a mosquito screen, as the Signiel in Busan did not have it, despite being newer and having more flies!
You can choose from a garden view, ocean view, or mountain view. (Our room overlooked the gorgeous gardens, one of the best things about the Shilla Jeju, in my opinion. A garden view room is also the cheapest of the 3!)
You can request an extra futon mattress (but note that there is a surcharge).
Note: the lowest priced room does not include a buffet breakfast, but there is a convenience store right outside the hotel (CU, 2 minutes' walk), as well as a bakery inside the hotel, so you have options if you do not want a full breakfast.
What's in the Room?
The room has comfortable beds (we slept very well) and a desk and chair, as well as armchair to lounge on. You have everything you need for a comfortable stay. The beds were soft with fluffy duvets, but the single beds were quite small- taller gentlemen may struggle.
All the bedrooms have flat-screen TVs (32 satellite channels but only 2 English and 1 Chinese channel) and are air-conditioned (climate controlled) with black out drapes/ shutters/ curtains. (If your room faces the garden, the sunlight will stream in towards your bed in the morning, so remember to close the shutters if you want to sleep on.)
The rooms come with a mini bar with 2 free bottles of water, fridge, daily housekeeping (inclusive of nightly turn-downs, during which they refill your water) and free wifi. Everything is extremely hygienic, and the cups were wrapped. (Some might find this unhygienic but I personally liked it, given all the health issues the world has these days.)
Note that there is no nespresso machine- you're given green tea and coffee bags instead.
There is a safe that looks super old-school, but it is modern. (It has a dial, but you operate it by pressing buttons not turning the dial.)
You can can enjoy a relaxing breakfast whilst basking in the fresh air, on the balcony. In the evening, there is live music from the pool which you can enjoy from the balcony. (The live music ended by 10 p.m.) (You can hear it faintly from the rooms when the balcony doors are closed but I did not find it overly loud, in spring, and I am noise sensitive.)
However, in the summer, when there are more children staying in the hotel, I would not want to have a room facing the pool!
Decor
The design reminds me of a country house meets the Hamptons, classic wicker furniture and all. You can, however, see the wear and tear. For example, the carpet is pretty flat!
Like The Shilla Hotel in Seoul, I can see some people finding it on the old side, but I personally liked it. (It's more charming than Shilla Seoul, for sure.) For example, instead of a touch card entry, you have to slot the card in to open your room door.
Bathroom
The bathroom did look a bit dated, but was very functional.
They are well-equipped with dressing gowns, Molten Brown toiletries and a hair dryer. You're also given a wooden comb, individually packed cotton buds, and a shower cloth.
There are 3 pairs of slippers for room- 1 is for kids, so you can see how children-friendly this place is.
Weirdly, there was no toothbrush or toothpaste!
Grounds
The Shilla hotel has some of the most beautifully landscaped gardens that I've seen in Asia. It's nestled by a cliff, so you can enjoy panoramic views of the coast as well as Jeju's volcanic landscape at this picturesque retreat.
There are benches thoughtfully dotted around the gardens, perfect for senior travelers to sit and catch their breath on.
Access to the beach front, albeit down a very long flight of steps made us wish that we have stayed longer to enjoy the Hotel’s massive grounds, beautifully landscaped gardens and walking trials.
The gardens are beautifully and romantically lit up at night, throwing lights onto the numerous sculptures and waterfalls. The statue of a boy at night slowly “peeing” away is a hilarious sight!!
In addition, a good part of the grounds have been devoted to childrens' play areas (but thankfully further away from the rooms so you don't hear the noise in the guest rooms.)
Amenities
There are:
- indoor and outdoor pools
- hot tubs/ jacuzzis
- cabanas, sun loungers and pool umbrellas by the outdoor pool
- poolside bar
- terrace: when we visited, there was free cake and drink offered daily at the terrace, which added to our lovely experience. (At check-in, we were given a daily welcome voucher which we have to shown at the terrace to "redeem" the complimentary snack and coffee/te. However, the coffee was too watery.) You can enjoy a view of the gardens and waters along with your refreshments. This was one of our favorite things about our stay actually: the 2 items don't cost much, but made the hotel feel more welcoming, and less commercialized.
- children’s club (there is a surcharge), ATM and banking services
- live music performances in the lobby and at the outdoor pool (there is a stage in front of the pool)
- a fitness centre/ gymnasium
- a Guerlain beauty spa at the hotel (Treatments not included in the room price.)
- laundry service (not included in the room price- see below for prices)
- free self-parking on site and free parking off-site
- a convenience store a few hundred meters away from the hotel (outside a smaller hotel actually)
- a casino
- a small fashion shop selling clothes and accessories
- a small souvenir shop selling Jeju specialties
- airport bus to and from Jeju Airport outside the hotel (services were reduced due to the travel disruption of the last few years, so check before you book)
Comfort for Seniors
There is a lift in the hotel, so that obviously is a great help!
I was very impressed by how well-trained the staff were. On arriving at the hotel, they immediately came up to help us out of the taxi (in stark contrast to the Signiel Hotel in Busan.) They saw that my Aunt was struggling to get out of the taxi, so immediately offered to find us a wheelchair.
Unfortunately, this is where the Shilla hotel needs a bit of improvement: for our entire 3 day stay, they were unable to find a wheelchair, as all their available ones were already taken up. (We were also unable to reserve one when we made our reservation.)
There is a car rental office at the hotel, which is extremely important, as the Shilla is not very close to Jeju International Airport (so for people coming in on a long-haul flight, it would be better to take a cab than rent a car to drive to the Shilla. You will, however, need a car or to book a private taxi service to make the most of your stay in Jeju.)
Food
The Shilla Jeju has quite a few dining options:
- a Korean restaurant, Cheonjee which I enjoyed: I prefer to eat Korean food in Korea. (Not all 5-star hotels in Korea offer Korean food. The luxury hotels in Busan mostly offered only international food.) Cheonjee is only open for dinner and does set meals.
- The Parkview: open for breakfast, brunch and dinner. The buffet offers everything from seafood to salads, alongside traditional Korean dishes
- Hinode: Japanese cuisine, open for dinner
- the lounge: you can enjoy light bites to live music. The quality of the food was umpteen times better than that of Lotte Hotel Seoul.
We dined at the lounge and enjoyed pizza, sandwiches, and tea. The food was not bad, but we were a little shocked by the price of the tea. About S$20 or USD$15 for a CUP of tea, and not a pot!
There is room service. You can order a Korean breakfast, continental or American to your room.
Who do I recommend Jeju Hotel Shilla for?
I would love to stay at this beautiful hotel again and would recommend it to people who:
- enoy country resorts
- want a hotel with large and beautiful gardens and views of the sea
- can serve as a good location for exploring Jeju (particularly the Southern part) BUT can also be a hotel that one never leaves (has enough restaurants and amenities to keep you occupied)
Who do I not recommend The Shilla Jeju for? Well, business travelers for one.
In addition, people who want cheap hotels, a city vacation or ultra modern hotel should not stay at Shilla Jeju.
Any questions about staying at The Shilla Hotel Jeju? Let me know in the comments and do drop by for more hotel and restaurant reviews for Korea and Singapore!
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