Ramada Plaza Gwangju Hotel Deluxe Twin Room

This was my third stay in the Gwangju area, and my second time at this hotel but with a different room type. Ramada Gwangju has been reigning as the top hotel in the region for over a decade. Even now, it remains one of the "Big Three" hotels in the area, as Gwangju lacks prominent hotel brands compared to other regions. This is an area that needs development. Last summer, I had my first "staycation" with my mom, and seeing her enjoy herself (especially the breakfast), I booked two hotels in Seoul for March this year. However, due to her contracting COVID-19, we had to cancel those plans. Fortunately, another hotel promotion event came up, and I participated for the fourth time in a row, choosing a hotel in Gwangju for convenience. Among the options—Utop, Holiday Inn (where I only tried the afternoon tea), and Ramada (the reigning top hotel for 10 years)—I decided on Ramada for this stay. The room type was a Deluxe Twin with breakfast included. On the first evening, we followed the "Gwangju staycation rule" and picked up pizza from Pizza Alvolo Gwangju Hyocheon branch. As expected, it was delicious 👍. We also visited the newly opened Lotte Max, a warehouse-style market near the hotel. It’s located where the old Lotte Mart used to be, with the building kept intact but fully renovated inside. It seems to be modeled after the Lotte Mart in Jamsil. My mom, who usually shops at markets or Shinsegae E-Mart in Gwangcheon-dong, found it fascinating and fun. Back at the hotel, we enjoyed a beer together with the pizza, which was still tasty even after cooling down. It was a precious moment to reconnect and share stories face-to-face. Following my mom’s routine, we went to bed early. The Deluxe Twin room features a double (queen) bed and a single (SS) bed, making it suitable for three people or spacious for two. Early the next morning, we went for a walk. Although this is a routine for me in Japan, it’s rare for me to do so during a staycation in Korea. However, we took a morning stroll before breakfast. About a 7-minute walk from the hotel is the May 18th Memorial Park, where cherry blossoms were falling, azaleas were blooming, and the late cherry blossoms were starting to scatter. We spent a little over 30 minutes enjoying the morning sunlight. Afterward, we had breakfast at the hotel. The breakfast venue is on the top floor and is quite spacious. Despite it being a Monday morning with only about 10 guests, the breakfast was served as a full course. The selection was better than expected, with plenty of vegetables and good fruit options. The bakery section was weak, there were almost no seafood options, and the meat selection was limited. Nevertheless, my mom enjoyed the breakfast more than during our previous staycation, which made me satisfied. Perhaps due to the morning walk, she found the food especially delicious. After breakfast, I followed my usual routine of relaxing while my mom chatted with her sisters over the phone. Check-out was at 11 AM, so we prepared and left on time. Due to regulations on single-use items, it’s better to bring your own supplies. Parking is unlimited and exclusive to the hotel, making it more convenient than other places. Thank you.