The rooftop pool at the Kensington Hotel Jeju was the highlight of our stay. The daytime and nighttime moods are completely different, so go up once during the day and once after dark. The Kensington Hotel Jeju rooftop pool is worth visiting in both seasons, and the Kensington Hotel Jeju rooftop pool at night, with its lights on, was magical.
The pool on the ground floor is mostly used by families with small children, so we skipped it and headed straight up to the rooftop. Swimsuit rental is available; I had brought mine, but my husband rented one for 10,000 won and could use it for the whole stay.
The moment we stepped out, we both gasped. We arrived around 2 p.m., when the loungers were still empty, so we grabbed a good spot. By evening there are no free chairs, and some guests reserve seats and leave, which is not great manners.
In the daytime they served a welcome drink, a fruity grapefruit-cherry juice, which they don’t offer in the evening when it gets crowded. After the drink, I went straight into the water. From far away, only my swim cap floated on the surface, which was funny.
It felt like having the whole pool to myself.
The water was warm enough to swim in May. This is the panoramic view of the rooftop.
There are plenty of places to sit and rest.
Behind the pool there is a warm jjimjil area, a sauna, and a bathhouse in the basement, but pregnant women are advised not to overheat, so I couldn’t try them, which was a pity.
This is the outdoor pool on the ground floor.
The Rooftop Pool at Night
And then night fell. You have to visit the Kensington Hotel Jeju rooftop pool at night too.
The daytime felt like a private pool; the night felt like a club, with upbeat music, finger food, and pretty lights.
We brought some finger food: marshmallows and chocolate, all free.
My husband ordered a mojito. He had wanted one in the Maldives but they had run out of ingredients there, so he finally got his wish here.
We rented life jackets and floated around on the water.
The pool is open until midnight. We were too tired to stay that late, so we left at 10 p.m. for a walk. Before heading down, we roasted marshmallows.
Roasted marshmallows are so delicious.
Indoor Pool and Game Zone
Back on the first floor, this is the indoor pool.
The indoor pool is well equipped, and many guests were still in the outdoor pool late in the evening.
We didn’t get to use this area this time, which was a shame. We should come back with our little one someday. I truly recommend this place.
My husband and I always play these at arcades. There is also a bar, which was empty.
Darts is free too. I want one at home.
We went back outside for a walk around Kensington.
The palm trees made it feel like Southeast Asia.
Spending a whole day at Kensington would be wonderful. My husband praised it endlessly, and staying at the Kensington Hotel Jeju was a choice we never regretted. It also seemed popular with pregnant women on babymoon trips. We had hesitated between this and Hidden Cliff, and we were glad we booked at a good price. Tip: in the off-season, booking on the day or a week ahead was 60,000 to 80,000 won cheaper than booking three months early at the time of our visit, so last-minute booking can pay off. The Kensington Hotel Jeju rooftop pool alone made the stay worthwhile.
Prices, hours and details in this post are from our visit in July 2017 and may have changed, so check the latest information before you go.