Every summer, Koreans are faced with relatively few options to beat the scorching heat.

Some hop on a plane and travel overseas for sightseeing and shopping, while others stay in the country and drive long hours to beaches like Haeundae to enjoy a splash of ocean waves and a suntan.

And there are those who would rather work in their air-conditioned office and save their vacation for later, rather than travel and rub shoulders with the crowd.

A fresh option is beginning to gain attention ― hotels.

No longer are they only considered to be a place for people ― especially on a business trip ― to stay and sleep overnight. 

Hotels offer accommodation services enabling visitors not only to relax on comfortable double or king-size beds, but also sports amenities to relieve stress from their daily life.

With renovated guest rooms offering a grandiose window view of Mount Namsan, the sports center at the Millennium Seoul Hilton ― which includes a gym and swimming pool ― is definitely worth paying a visit to work out in the spare time.

Located on the third floor, the fitness center has a variety of some 50 spotless muscle-building equipment with a line of treadmills facing the hotel’s indoor pool. It is incomparable to general fitness centers in terms of the quality and quantity of equipment and services.

The air inside the gym where the temperature is maintained at around 21 degrees Celsius feels so clean that it pushes you to increase your regular running speed and test your limit because the freshness makes the body less tired and painful.

After jogging an extra kilometer or two, people will immediately feel the urge to dive into the pool, which is neither too cold nor too warm, after sweating out their stress and keeping their mind clear from distractions on a running machine.

However, instead of going straight to the pool to further cool off the adrenaline, guests will want to hit the weights and build their full-body muscles with the gleaming equipment laid behind the treadmills. Those who enjoy golf can practice their swings at the hotel’s indoor driving range  adjacent to its gym and pool.

With staff standing by at all times to accommodate the guests’ needs, the fitness center also provides personal training sessions. 

The Millennium Seoul Hotel, which is less than a 10-minute walk from the Seoul Subway Station, has recently completed its largest-scale renovation, redesigning its deluxe rooms with modern decorations.

It has installed eco-friendly LED lighting and abstract carpets to enhance the comfort and beauty of the hotel rooms.

People might just want to relax and lie down in their rooms after a quality exercise. But as soon as they see the beautiful view of Mount Namsan from their window, they won’t be able to resist hiking up the hills afterhours when outside temperature and humidity levels drop.

The Millennium Seoul Hilton is offering its summer getaway packages until the end of this month. For more information, call (02) 317-3000. 

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

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