Phoenix Resort Pyeongchang
by the TopOfHotel team
Phoenix is the best resort in Korea for snowboarders — the half-pipe and snow park here hosted the 2018 Olympic snowboard events.
Phoenix is the best resort in Korea for snowboarders — the half-pipe and snow park here hosted the 2018 Olympic snowboard events.
In-Depth Review
Rooms and decor
Phoenix Resort Pyeongchang is a big resort known as the #1 pick for Korean snowboarders, scoring around 8.4/10. Hotel and condo blocks are spread along the slope, and the crowd skews young — lots of skiers and riders in their twenties to mid-thirties. Many people book a Phoenix Condominium for four: 60 sqm at about $145 a night, set up like an apartment with a living room, a small kitchen, two bedrooms (a King plus two singles) and two bathrooms. The balcony looks onto the mountain and the slopes, and the kitchen has a stove, fridge, microwave and dishes, so you can cook and save. The standard Phoenix Hotel rooms start around $122.
Food and amenities
On a non-ski day, the on-site Blue Canyon indoor water park is the move — a mid-sized place with a pool, four waterslides, a jacuzzi and a sauna, about $43 for adults. For dinner, Italos, the resort's Italian spot, does pasta, pizza and wine for roughly $21 a head — warm and easy after a day out. An after-ski cocktail at Lounge Phoenix runs about $9, and it gets lively with travelers in their twenties to forties. There are six restaurants on site in all.
Location and getting there
The resort sits in Pyeongchang, about 2.5 hours from Seoul. The easiest way in is the resort's free shuttle from Seoul Station, running at 09:00 and 14:00. The big draw is the terrain: 21 slopes from beginner to advanced, plus the snow park. Start the morning on the easier runs before moving up to intermediate, then head over to watch the half-pipe that hosted the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics — 6.7m high and 170m long. The strong riders there pull off some genuinely good tricks; if that's beyond you, the slopestyle course has jumps and rails at a range of levels, with a 12m Big Air jump.
Things to know before booking
This is not the place for total beginners — there are fewer beginner slopes than at Yongpyong or Vivaldi, and the mountain leans intermediate to advanced. The buildings are older than the InterContinental nearby, since Phoenix opened in 1995. Prices also run higher than Yongpyong or High1 for comparable dates. The half-pipe is for advanced riders — plan on at least two years of experience before you try it.
Our take
Phoenix Resort Pyeongchang is the best resort in Korea for snowboarders — the half-pipe, snow park, 2018 Olympic venue, 21 slopes and the Blue Canyon water park together cover everything a snowboarder or strong skier wants. It scores 8.4/10 from more than 3,200 reviews, and from about $166 it earns its place for riders, advanced skiers and anyone chasing a youthful mountain. That closes out our five Korean ski resorts.
Score Breakdown
Assessed by our editorial team from data and real guest reviews
The Honest Verdict — pros & what to know
- Korea's #1 resort for snowboarders, with a half-pipe, snow park and slopestyle course all on the mountain.
- It hosted the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics snowboard and freestyle skiing events, so the half-pipe you ride is the actual competition one.
- 21 slopes cover everything from beginner to advanced, plus the dedicated snow park.
- The Blue Canyon indoor water park is on site and open year-round, with pools, four waterslides, a jacuzzi and a sauna.
- The atmosphere is youthful and active — lots of strong skiers and riders, mostly in their twenties to thirties.
- Fewer beginner slopes than Yongpyong or Vivaldi — the terrain is mostly intermediate to advanced, so first-timers may feel stretched.
- The hotel and condo buildings are older than the InterContinental down the road; Phoenix opened in 1995 and shows its age.
- Prices run higher than Yongpyong or High1 for comparable dates.
Who It’s For
Match Score by travel style
Amenities
Location & Nearby Spots
Insider Tips
- The snowboard park is open 09:00 to 18:00 — get there at opening when the slopes are still empty.
- The half-pipe is built for advanced riders; you'll want at least two years of snowboarding behind you before dropping in.
- A Blue Canyon water park plus ski-pass combo runs about $100, and snowboard rental (board, boots and helmet) is about $33 a day.