KOSMOS Ulleungdo

KOSMOS Ulleungdo, a Michelin Key Selected property, offers a distinctive and highly-regarded retreat on the volcanic island of Ulleungdo, South Korea. Guests consistently laud the hotel for its exceptional service, unique architectural design, and breathtaking natural surroundings, making it a "bucket list-worthy destination" for those seeking a healing and luxurious escape.

1. Overall Rating & Sentiment

KOSMOS Ulleungdo garners overwhelmingly positive feedback, boasting an impressive overall rating of 9.1 on platforms like Agoda.com. Guests frequently describe their stays as "amazing" and "truly memorable," highlighting the hotel's ability to create wonderful memories. The sentiment is strongly positive, emphasizing a sense of tranquility, comfort, and exceptional hospitality.

2. Key Highlights

Guests consistently adore several aspects of KOSMOS Ulleungdo:

• Exceptional Service & Staff Kindness: The staff's warm, attentive, and friendly demeanor is a recurring highlight, contributing significantly to guest satisfaction.
• Stunning Location & Views: Nestled by a seaside cliff with majestic views of Songgot-bong mountain and the vast Pacific Ocean, the resort offers unparalleled scenic beauty, especially during sunrise and sunset.
• Unique Architecture & Design: The hotel's futuristic and ambitious design, with curves, spirals, and domes, is a work of art, inspired by the island's geological setting and believed to harness its "healing energy."
• Luxurious Amenities: An infinity pool (seasonal), an infinity jacuzzi hanging 30 meters off a cliff, two saunas (Yin and Yang themed), and beautifully landscaped gardens are frequently praised.
• Evening Laser Show: Many guests mention the fantastic and moving laser show as a unique and memorable experience.
• Cleanliness: The property maintains an impressive cleanliness rating of 9.7, with pristine rooms and meticulously maintained facilities.

3. Room Quality

Accommodations at KOSMOS Ulleungdo are spread across three distinct villas: Terre, Sommet, and Kosmos, each offering its own style and experience. Rooms are generally described as gorgeous, spacious, comfortable, modern, and luxurious. Key features include:

• Design & Comfort: Interiors are modern and luxe, featuring bespoke furniture pieces designed by talented Korean designers. Rooms are air-conditioned and soundproofed for comfort.
• Views: Many rooms offer garden or mountain views, while others provide magnificent panoramic views of the ocean, Elephant Rock, and the sacred Songgot-bong peak. Villa Sommet rooms specifically boast private ocean-view terraces.
• Amenities: Private bathrooms come with free toiletries, bathrobes, and hair dryers. Other in-room amenities include bottled water, refrigerators, cable TV, and fast Wi-Fi.
• Room Types: Options include Deluxe Ondol (Korean traditional heated floor), Deluxe Twin, and Family Rooms, ranging from approximately 52 to 69 square meters.

4. Dining Experience

The dining experience at KOSMOS Ulleungdo is highly rated, particularly the breakfast.

• Breakfast: Guests consistently describe the breakfast as "excellent," "healthy," and "carefully prepared," featuring both Korean and Western-style options. The salt bread, in particular, has received high praise.
• Restaurant (La ULL): The hotel's restaurant, La ULL, offers a modern interpretation of "boyang" (revitalizing food), emphasizing imaginatively prepared dishes using locally sourced, seasonal ingredients, especially fresh seafood from Ulleungdo. Cafe Ulla also serves coffee and light meals.
• Dinner/Lunch availability: Some guests note that lunch and dinner options on-site can be limited, requiring them to venture out for these meals, which can be inconvenient due to the hotel's secluded location.

5. Service & Staff

The service and staff at KOSMOS Ulleungdo are consistently rated as a primary highlight, achieving an outstanding score of 9.8 for staff performance.

• Exceptional Hospitality: Guests commend the staff for being warm, attentive, very friendly, and accommodating, ensuring a comfortable and satisfying stay.
• Personalized Service: For guests staying in Villa Kosmos, a dedicated private team including a butler, chef, driver, and guide is assigned to create a bespoke experience. These butlers proactively manage guest preferences for transportation, meals, and activities, aiming to eliminate any potential issues.
• Proactive Assistance: Staff are praised for going above and beyond, for instance, providing assistance and options when ferry cancellations occur.

6. Location & Accessibility

KOSMOS Ulleungdo is situated in a breathtaking natural setting on Ulleungdo, an island characterized by its unique mountainous landscape, cliffs, and ocean views.

• Scenic Beauty: The resort is nestled by a seaside cliff, offering stunning views and a sense of disconnection from daily stresses. It's also close to attractions like Naribong Island and an underwater observatory.
• Accessibility to Ulleungdo: Getting to Ulleungdo involves domestic flights to Pohang or Ulleung Airport, followed by a ferry ride.
• Local Accessibility Challenges: While the location offers unparalleled beauty, some guests find it a bit inconvenient due to its distance from the main port areas of Dodong and Jodong. This can make finding diverse dining options or hailing a taxi difficult.
• Transportation Services: To mitigate these challenges, the hotel provides a complimentary shuttle service and free on-site private parking.

7. Value & Pricing

KOSMOS Ulleungdo is considered a luxury property, reflected in its pricing, but many guests feel it offers excellent value for the experience.

• Perceived Value: Despite being an expensive accommodation, guests frequently rate its value highly (9.2), stating that the exceptional quality and experience are "worth every penny."
• Price Range: Average room rates are around $428 (approximately 692,630 KRW) per night, significantly higher than the city's average of $111 (approximately 131,617 KRW). However, some room rates can be found as low as $149.
• All-Inclusive Options: Villa Sommet offers all-inclusive stays, which include breakfast, dinner, and stone therapy.

8. Common Complaints

While reviews are overwhelmingly positive, a few minor recurring points of criticism have been noted:

• Limited Dining Options Nearby: The remote location means a lack of nearby convenience stores or a wider variety of restaurants, which can be inconvenient for lunch and dinner for guests not on an all-inclusive plan.
• Distance from Main Ports: Being some distance from the main port towns of Dodong and Jodong can make transportation and exploring other dining options a bit tricky.
• Lack of Additional Facilities (minor): One guest mentioned wishing for more additional facilities within the accommodation.

Overall, KOSMOS Ulleungdo stands out as an exceptional luxury destination, particularly for those seeking a serene, healing retreat with stunning views, unique architecture, and impeccable service. The minor inconveniences related to its remote location are generally overshadowed by the overall outstanding guest experience.

Sources

1. luxuryhotelawards.com
2. agoda.com
3. agoda.com
4. pendulummag.com
5. michelin.com
6. michelin.com
7. booking.com
8. klook.com
9. koreaherald.com