On the 28th floor of Sheraton Seoul D Cube City Hotel in Guro-gu, southwest Seoul, there is nothing much to see from the window of its fitness center but a panoramic view of the area that includes apartment complexes near Shindorim Station.

But after a hearty meal at the hotel’s signature Feast buffet restaurant serving a variety of Asian cuisines ranging from Korean and Chinese to Japanese and Thai, visitors will feel the urge to burn some calories at its 24-hour gym.

Once you press the start button and raise the speed on one of about 20 cardio machines, you will instantly feel like you’re running on clouds while facing the window in this clean-air gym.

The view of buildings and apartments does not become bothersome, but enhances the effects of the cardio exercise by making you feel as if you are freely jogging in the sky above them.

On a clear day, this environment enhances your workout capability without you losing adrenaline or tiring out in the process.

While most other hotels house their fitness centers in the lower floors, Sheraton Seoul D Cube City Hotel’s gym stands out not only because of its quality, but also because of its high-floor location.

What boosts the running experience at the hotel is the cardio machines’ touch screens. They feature the choice of three jogging routes, enabling you to see not only how much you have run, but also where you are on the track.

Features such as the 6-kilometer winding trail make you want to maximize your running speed and complete the course.

Given the cleanliness and elevated level of the gym, you will want to stay and try the 10 shiny weight lifting sets waiting behind the cardio machines. Trainers will normally encourage you to do heavy weights first to increase your muscle strength, then run on treadmills, as this will help burn more fat and improve body energy efficiency. However, this really depends on your physical fitness and what kind of diet you are on.

The hotel, which can accommodate up to 450 members a year, also has an area for free weights with trainers and staff standing by, and a swimming pool and a video golf zone for you to practice your swing.

Before or after a workout, hotel guests are bound to dine at the Feast restaurant on the hotel’s 41st floor. It will hold a Cantonese dim sum cuisine event called Dim Sum@Feast starting Sept. 4.

Guests will be able to enjoy the taste of dim sum such as steamed fresh shrimp dumplings stuffed with shrimps and cornstarch, and truffle dumplings with minced pork, pork fat, shrimp, dried mushroom, black truffle, caviar and wonton skin.

For more information, call (02) 2211-1710.

By Park Hyong-ki (hkp@heraldcorp.com)

This is the final installment of a summer trilogy featuring local hotels with sports getaway attractions. ― Ed.