Rest and Relaxation at the JW Marriott Jeju Resort and Spa (South Korea)

Location and getting there

Jeju Island is located approximately 50 miles south of the Korean peninsula and is easily accessible via flights from Seoul and Busan or a ferry from Busan. Flying into Jeju Island is the fastest and easiest way to visit; flights from Busan take around one hour and flights from Seoul take around one hour and 10 minutes. A ferry will take anywhere from two hours and 40 minutes to five hours. Flying between Seoul and Jeju is so popular that the route from Gimpo International Airport to Jeju International Airport has the record as the world’s busiest route with an average of 226 flights per day!

The JW Marriott Jeju Resort and Spa is located one hour away from the Jeju International Airport. It is located in the southern central part of the island next to the second largest city on the island, Seogwipo. When you arrive, you can easily hop into a regular taxi (up to four people) or a jumbo taxi (up to eight people) and make your way to the resort.

Jeju Island is not a huge island, but with limited direct routes, it requires more time to get around the island. If you would like to visit the east side of the island to see the famous female Haenyeo divers, the trip will take at least an hour one way from the hotel. Similarly, visiting the west side of the island will require around an hour one way by car.

Who should visit

JW Marriott Jeju Resort and Spa is perfect for families, foodies, art aficionados — anyone visiting Jeju who wants a more elevated experience and perfect for guests seeking rest, relaxation or family time. Due to the location, this is not a hotel to use as a base for exploring the island. If this is your first time visiting Jeju, I recommend staying in other parts of the island to sightsee before spending two or three nights to end your trip. If you have been to Jeju before and seen the sights, this is the perfect hotel to slow down, unwind, unplug and relax with no agenda.

Accommodation

There are room options for every type of traveler. Base level rooms with one king bed and a sofa bed start at a generous 463 square feet and offer plenty of space to spread out and relax. This is a solid room for solo travelers, couples or families with one small child. Note that the sofa beds are not true sofa beds that open up; there is simply enough space for a third person to sleep on top of it, though any extra bedding incurs an additional daily charge.

The base level rooms also offer a unique configuration with a toilet and sink located off the entryway next to the closet area, an open concept dual vanity across from the beds and then a separate shower room featuring an oversized tub and natural light from the window. The oversized tub looks quite inviting upon first glance, but in reality the tub takes a long time to fill and is quite uncomfortable due to the straight sides of the rectangular tub. Bathrooms are stocked with Bvlgari toiletries, bathrobes, fresh towels and the comfiest hotel slippers; your feet will melt into them!

There are a limited number of garden view room options which are located on the ground floor and offer an outdoor seating area with a large round soaking tub. If possible, I would opt for an oceanview room for more privacy and fantastic views of the property.

Family suites with one king bed plus a bunk bed and two bathrooms can accommodate two adults and two children under 13 and perfect for a family of four. The family suites are quite popular with families so you will need to make sure to book in advance to secure one of these suites. If you need a bigger room, there are several connecting room options that are available that can accommodate different party sizes.

Dining

With five dining outlets spread out across the property, you can easily spend the day going from one meal to the next and you will not be disappointed. The food takes the spotlight and it's apparent from the in-house garden where they harvest fresh greens to sourcing as much food locally from the island, to the thought and intentionality behind every meal. Booking with a Fora Advisor not only includes daily breakfast for two, $100 property credit, priority for upgrades and more, it also includes a daily Jeju Royale Brunch for two which is a culinary affair in itself.

Breakfast is served at Island Kitchen and consists of an à la carte menu or your choice of set breakfast menus.The set menu features a different main of your choice, but each comes with yogurt and housemade granola, a small salad, a bread basket with housemade truffle butter and strawberry jam and a small dessert to end your meal. They say breakfast is the most important meal of the day and you will leave satisfied and fueled for the day’s adventures.

If you had breakfast, you probably won’t be hungry by the time it switches to the Jeju Royale Brunch around 10:30 am. If you want to take advantage of the amazing food, I recommend going to breakfast first thing in the morning, followed by a morning activity (perhaps a swim or a short hike on the Olle Trail?) and then coming back around 1 pm for a late lunch. The Jeju Royale Brunch includes caviar, bottomless champagne, unlimited à la carte main dishes from a special menu and an impressive buffet featuring a sushi chef preparing fresh sushi, dozens of cold salads, seafood of every kind, pasta, numerous meat (chicken, pork, beef) dishes prepared in different ways, fresh fruit, freshly squeezed juices and an extensive dessert selection. It’s hard not to try a little bit of everything!

There are several dining options on-site including The Flying Hog, which features wood fired specialties, Yeoumul, a Japanese omakase, The Shade House, a poolside pub and The Lounge, which offers afternoon tea and delectable treats.

Activities

Beyond indulging in the spa, working out to offset the amazing meals and swimming or lounging by the pools, the resort is located directly on the Olle Trail, a long-distance trail covering the entire perimeter of the island. Olle Trail #7 is mere steps away from the back of the resort grounds and provides easy access to hiking along the beautiful coastline of Jeju. Take advantage of this and choose your own adventure. If you head right on the trail, there is a coffee shop close by and if you head to the left, you will see some beautiful coastal sights and eventually connect to the town of Seogwipo. It’s a wonderful easy activity and you can tailor it to be as long or as short as you want while seeing breathtaking coastal views in either direction.

If you would like to spend all day relaxing and enjoying soaking in hot springs, the adjacent O’Reve Spa may be worth a visit. The facility is not associated with the hotel, but built within the hotel property and offers spa treatments, multiple outdoor hot springs of varying temperatures, indoor pools, an outdoor pool, saunas and more.

Feeling a bit stir crazy? A ten-minute taxi ride into nearby Seogwipo will cost around five dollars and is the perfect outing if you are seeking life outside of the resort. You can visit Seogwipo Olle Market, a famous covered market with souvenir shops, food stalls, and a farmers market or visit the nearby Cheonjeyeon and Jeongbang Waterfalls which are located in town.

Kids

Families are not only welcomed, but celebrated and appreciated in all corners of the resort. From the expansive and beautifully designed outdoor playground with a variety of play structures and water pumps/features to the dedicated lifeguards at the indoor and outdoor pool (note: children 140cm and under will be required to wear a life jacket) to the complimentary ice cream in The Lounge for children, this place is fantastic for families.

In addition, there is an on-site dedicated kids club (additional fee) which hosts drop-in, half-day and full-day activities for kids with outdoor exploration, cooking classes, painting and more. In the evening, the kid's club space is open complimentary for families to enjoy the facilities.

Final thoughts

Bill Bensley has done it again with this thoughtfully designed modern masterpiece at the JW Marriott Jeju Resort and Spa. This new addition to the Jeju hotel scene is gorgeous at every turn and connects the old and new while incorporating the beautiful surroundings, nature and culture of Jeju. This is the perfect hotel for discerning travelers whether you are seeking rest, relaxation, nature, food or family time.

For more inspiration and insider recommendations, visit our South Korea page.