Review: THAI Royal First Lounge and Royal Orchid Spa – Bangkok

An Around the World Trip — Oktoberfest and Asia

• Introduction
• United Global First Class Chicago to Munich
• Oktoberfest… and Six Other Highlights of Munich
• Le Meridien Munich
• THAI Royal First Class Munich to Bangkok
• THAI Royal First Lounge and Royal Orchid Spa
• A Layover in Bangkok
• THAI Royal Silk Business Class Bangkok to Shanghai
• Two Days in Shanghai
• Park Hyatt Shanghai
• China Eastern Economy Class Shanghai to Hong Kong (to Shanghai)
• A Weekend in Hong Kong – Ten Highlights
• Hyatt Regency Hong Kong, Tsim Sha Tsui
• Grand Hyatt Shanghai
• Air China First Class Lounge – Shanghai-Pudong
• Air China Forbidden Pavilion First Class Shanghai to Tokyo-Narita
• A Twenty-Two Hour Layover in Tokyo and the Hyatt Regency Tokyo
• ANA Suite Lounge – Tokyo-Narita
• ANA First Class Square Tokyo-Narita to Washington-Dulles

Upon arrival, we were escorted to a private living room across the wide hallway from the large lounge area.  The THAI First Class Lounge is beautifully laid out with tons of space.  There are several shower facilities, a nap room, plentiful lounges, work spaces, semi-private living rooms, a buffet area, and a full dining room.  Again, we opted for our own private living room, complete with a sofa, love seat, a couple chairs, a desk with computer, coffee table and a large, flat screen television.

Once we settled in, a waitress handed us a drink and food menu.  I ordered an iced tea, an order of pork shu mai and some Pad Thai while my friends cycled through the shower.  The iced tea was delicious, as was the Pad Thai.

After relaxing for a bit, I made my way to the shower area to freshen up before our jaunt into the city.  The shower facilities were certainly adequate and contained everything one needs to freshen up after a night of flying.

Shower Facility

Shower Room

Napping Room in THAI Royal First Lounge

We spoke with the Lounge Agents and arranged for them to hold our bags while we went into Bangkok for the day.  We were allowed access into the First Class Lounge despite our business class tickets on our Shanghai flight since we’d arrived from Munich in First Class.  My buddy who flew in economy was allowed in the lounge as my guest.

Upon returning from our day in Bangkok, I arranged a 60-minute spa session for myself at the THAI Royal First Spa.

The treatment started with warm towel and some tea.  There was a bit of confusion as to which treatment I was supposed to get since my onward boarding pass said I was in business class.  I questioned it and was allowed the full 60 minute massage, but instead of a full-body massage, I only got a neck / shoulder and leg / foot treatments.  No biggie, as I’m not a huge massage fanatic anyway.

Though they were very nice, I think I was expecting a bit more with everything I’d heard about the place.  Whatever the case, it was perfectly fine – I was getting  a massage in a First Class Lounge during a layover in Bangkok – that’s not a bad situation!

After the treatment, I enjoyed some warm tea, and relaxed for a bit before heading back to the First Class Lounge.

I was inexplicably hungry when I joined my friends back in our living room (we ate dinner out and about in Bangkok), so I ordered some green chicken curry over rice, and it was delicious.

Oddly enough, I was not in the mood for drinking much, so I had an iced tea while checking e-mail and relaxing before our flight.  About 45 minutes prior to our departure for Shanghai, we bid the THAI First Class Lounge farewell and headed to the gate.

 The Verdict…

THAI does an exceptional job with its ground services in Bangkok.  The facility was beautiful and spacious.  I thoroughly enjoyed the food spread and drink options, though I’d rate the drink selection below that of the Lufthansa First Class facilities at Frankfurt and Munich.  If you’re lucky enough to experience THAI Royal First Class either out of or in-transit through Bangkok, you’re definitely in for a treat – as it is certainly one of the best airport lounge experiences out there.