Kipper

Anyone layover recently at the hyatt they are putting us at by the icn airport? Any info on what it's like or where to go for food and drink and workout there? Thanks.

NoHaz

Food -- take a right and there are a few korean BBQ places OR go left and walk back to the terminal... some restaurants / movie theater / convenience store in basement

Workout -- second floor small gym overlooks the pool. strange setup you have to be led to the weight room through the locker room and access from the pool through the weight room requires 2 staffers to constantly mop wet floor.

At least it is a short ride.

The Walrus

There is an Irish pub near by. Ask the front desk.

e2thumper

There is a Wal-Mart type supermarket called E-mart to the right, also an Australian fish and chips restaurant further right.

Kipper

Excellent news about the irish pub!

Thanks everybody for the info. It is much appreciated.

The Walrus

Correction. Australian.

DaRaiders

I think the Irish pub everyone is referring to is the Jet Lagged Lizard. It's a nice hole-in-the-wall beer joint owned by a Korean Air expat pilot. Lots of westerners with cute Korean gals serving the brew. Look for the place with the small deck that faces the street.

Adlerdriver

Actually, the J-L Lizzard is owned by a Korean woman named Lilly. You'll usually find her in there most evenings.

To get there walk down the road on left side of the hotel (as you look at it). After crossing two small side roads, you'll see it on the right. Green sign, small wood deck out front. They have good pizza (made fresh on the premises) and will order other menu items for you from the local eateries in the same building and have it delivered to the bar. Good beer selection (sorry I drank the last Bitburger when I was there - hopefully they'll get more).

Around the right side of that same building is the KGB Bar. Kind of what it sounds like. Dark, euro-décor and a couple of fairly smokin' Russian bartenders (one named, of course, Nakita).

Lots of mom & pop type Korean joints in the same building as well as a mini-mart.

If you go past the Lizzard another couple of blocks you'll see the Australian Fish&Chips place someone already mentioned. Just past that is a Korean BBQ place and a Thai restaurant. Both come highly recommended by the local expats working for KAL. The word I got on the BBQ place was it is the best place to get Korean food of all the restaurants in the area.

Hotel has a casino with one 5000won (~$5) blackjack table that's usually not too hard to get on along with higher stakes tables and the usually suspects (roulette, poker, baccarat, etc.). Free drinks while you gamble which surprised me.

Hotel restaurant is very pricey. A burger will cost you about $25, breakfast buffet is $30+ and the weekend dinner buffet is $66 ($88 if you want all you can drink booze).

Rooms are good sized with English movie channels. Gym is good.

Two days is plenty long there but I've been in worse locations.

Kipper

Thanks for all the info. I have a 2 day layover and then a dh to hkg. I considered deviating and going to hkg a day early but the hkg hotel does not have contract rate available so will cost about I guess 100 bucks out of pocket. I am wondering if the icn location is fine or if it would be worth the 100 bucks to deviate and go to hkg early. From what has been posted, it sounds okay in icn. I really liked the grand Hyatt location by itaewon - just haven't done the airport one yet. Thanks again for all of the information!

Check 6

It's always worth going to HKG a day early! BTW you can email the Holiday Inn just up the street...they will almost always give you the contract rate....

Enjoy...