This time I came to HKG originally wanting to try the Amex Centurion But after arriving, I went to queue for the shower and was told I'd need to wait 5 hours The staff said Centurion showers cost extra, and they only have one shower room, so the queue was 5 hours Then they told me the Plaza Premium across the hall also has showers and most likely no queue Because this Plaza Premium has 6 shower rooms, and you can shower for free by swiping your Amex card I'd guess if you have another kind of PP card you might need to pay extra This Plaza Premium (Gate 60) is right across from Centurion — actually when you head to Centurion you'll pass this lounge on your left Overall it's about the same level as the other Plaza Premiums at HKG. I also checked the food and it's almost identical, but since I'd already eaten at Centurion I just grabbed a few small persimmons. But this Plaza Premium is essentially open-air (directly connected to the airport interior, not the actual sky outside), so one problem is that it's very noisy inside the airport, with all kinds of announcements. And there aren't many good seats — most are semi-enclosed or face the airport, so you can't see the planes. Also the temperature inside is the same as the rest of the airport, so I don't think this lounge is very good for resting. After visiting HKG so many times, personally I think the best Plaza Premium for resting is Gate 35, but that one also only has one shower room. I'll write another post about it in a couple of days. Overall, the Gate 60 Plaza Premium is the best for showering and has the best shower environment. You go to the front desk to book a shower and they bring you right in. Once inside, the bathroom's level of finish is, I'd say, very good for an airport — far beyond the various Centurions in the US. It even gave me a low-budget Aman bathroom vibe The shower is very minimalist, and the brown warm dark-gray walls feel very comfortable Also the bathroom feels relatively new and well maintained, looks very clean As for amenities, they're standard — everything you'd expect, with a disposable toothbrush, toothpaste, shower cap, comb, etc. The shower amenities are only shampoo and body wash, no conditioner. The scent is decent The hairdryer is just okay — not as good as the Dyson at LGA, but still far better than the garbage hairdryers at other Centurions in the US. I just did a quick search and found out it's a Swiss brand Overall, the shower experience at Plaza Premium (Gate 60) is among the best I've had across all the airports I've showered in. Plenty of shower rooms, no queue. Newly finished, well maintained, very clean, and hot water comes out smoothly. Among the several PP-card lounges at Hong Kong Airport, this is the one I'd most recommend for showering But for eating and resting, I'd still recommend Centurion for food and Plaza Premium Gate 35 for rest. I'll write another post about Gate 35 in a couple of days.
About the free shower with an Amex card — is that only for certain Amex cards, or does any Amex work? Also, Gate 60 is right across from Centurion. If I go the wrong way, is it easy to miss the entrance? For a first-timer, are there clear signs?