While in Hong Kong, I couldn’t resist a visit to the Mandarin Oriental Spa. After much research, the spa at the Landmark Mandarin Oriental seemed the best choice. This is not to be confused with the Mandarin Oriental, which also has a spa. Wanting something different, I booked myself a one hour Oriental Meridian massage. Our spa appointment was later in the evening (7pm), and the spa asks that you arrive one hour prior to treatment to enjoy some of the amenities.
We arrived early to fill out some paperwork and enjoy a cup of tea in the main lobby. Next, we were separately escorted to the locker room. One disappointing aspect was there was not a common area for men and women. You do have the option to purchase a “VIP sanctuary suite” for couples at a one hour increment. It is rather expensive and, at the time of booking, the price did not seem worthwhile to me.
The spa was not crowded and the majority of the time I had all of the amenities to myself. In the locker room, I changed in to a plush robe and went out to enjoy the spa. There is a steam room with very comfortable seating, different than your typical steam room. Also, there is a whirlpool with massaging beds. Just alongside this are heated stone beds to lay in. Like many spas, there is a relaxation lounge with small snacks and water.
Treatment: As I mentioned above, I chose the one hour Chinese Meridien massage. It focuses on acupressure points. To be honest, I did not particularly care for this massage. I cannot be certain whether it was the therapist I had or the massage itself. If I had it to do over again, I would have picked the Oriental Essence massage. Of course, this is all personal preference.
Following the massage, I spent more time taking advantage of the amenities. In the locker room, you do have access to a hair dryer and hair straightener. There are a number of disposable items available for use if you are planning on continuing on with your day after treatment.
Overall, I enjoyed this experience and am glad that we booked a spa treatment. After the days being so busy and packed full of things to do, it was nice to enjoy an evening relaxing. That being said, I do not feel this spa is anything special or life changing. The treatments were not outrageous in terms of price. My massage was $178. There is a service fee added on to the final bill. If I returned to Hong Kong, I would not find a return to the Mandarin Oriental Spa essential.
