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A family staycation in a part of Seoul that barely feels like Seoul: four of us eating, swimming and lazing around at the foot of Bukhansan. The suite and the pools were big and lovely. Check-in was not.

Based on an August 2023 stay for four adults in a Pine Suite, when the hotel was still called Paraspara. It is now Hotel Anto, and rooms, rates and facility rules may have changed.

At a glance

• Room: Pine Suite (2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, living room and kitchen) for 4 adults
• Loved: One suite big enough for the whole family, an outdoor round pool with no usage limit at the time, a rooftop jacuzzi facing Bukhansan
• Not so much: About an hour’s wait at peak-season check-in, a confusing layout, some wear on the sofa and bathrooms
• Best for: Families who want a resort feel without leaving Seoul

Location and check-in

Right at the foot of Bukhansan National Park, it is green the moment you arrive. Rather than one tower, the hotel is spread over several buildings like a resort, which is also why we kept getting lost. At the time, check-in was in Building 103 and the main facilities in Building 114. In peak summer we arrived around 2 pm and waited almost an hour, with few places to sit. The welcome chocolates in the room helped. The nearest subway is Bukhansan Ui Station on the Ui-Sinseol Line.

The Pine Suite

With several rooms, a family staycation usually ends with everyone in separate rooms. The Pine Suite let the four of us stay together: two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a living room, a kitchen and a dining table. The kitchen has an induction hob and a wine fridge, and there is a separate tea room (my family was too busy lying down to use it). Each bathroom has two sinks, one with a bathtub and one with a shower. The beds were comfortable, but the sofa and bathrooms showed more wear than I expected.

Outdoor pool and rooftop jacuzzi

This is why people come in summer. The outdoor round pool is big, and at the time there was no limit on how often you could use it, so no rushing to fit a time slot. My surprise favorite: the beach towels, warm and actually absorbent. The rooftop jacuzzi looks out over Bukhansan. The indoor pool and sauna did have usage limits, and the route between facilities was confusing, so ask about the rules and the way around at check-in.

Room service and breakfast

For dinner we ordered room service rather than go out, and the portions were generous and the food decent. For my sister’s birthday we bought a Bukhansan-shaped cake from the hotel deli (mango for summer): cute, tasty and genuinely tiny. Breakfast was in a large restaurant with little wait and plenty of choice, from a honeycomb to a toaster for your bread. Nothing unforgettable, but an easy breakfast where everyone finds something.

Would I stay again?

Worth considering if your family of four wants to share one big suite. It suited a slow staycation of green views, swimming, room-service dinners and more lounging. The check-in wait and the wear in the room were letdowns. Since it is now Hotel Anto, check extra-guest charges and what is included (breakfast, pools) before you book.

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