USP The all-suite 61-floor hotel stands out from its neighbours for its tall, slim facade punctured with a window through the centre; then there’s the staff, dressed in an eclectic selection of Asian outfits, from the doormen who look ready for a 1950s safari, to the elegant xylophone player dressed in Chinese silk in the lobby. Outfits aside, the hotel is widely recognised and awarded for its superior service. Cold towels and refreshing fruit cocktails or tea accompany guests’ every move and each whim is catered to. The spa is no exception and from spring next year, when it relocates to its new home on the 21st floor, it will be the spa to beat in Bangkok.

QUALITY OF EXPERIENCE I had the 90-minute Lomi Lomi massage, from a choice of six massages influenced by different therapies, such as Indian, Thai, and Hawaiian in my case. The massage menu comes with good descriptions of each one – with detail on whether thumbs, palms, arms or elbows are used and an indication of pressure. The massage started with an iced water and cool towel, a foot wash in a green tea-infused and rose-petal foot bath and questions about my preferences – pressure of massage, whether I wanted oil applied to my face and so forth. The massage was excellent – the perfect pressure, with the therapist asking on a couple of occasions whether it was ok. It was full body, with good attention to my knotted shoulders, which at times made nauseating crunches, but felt much looser afterwards. It was unquestionably the best massage I had during my ten-day trip in Thailand. The massage bed is also worth mentioning – the indent for my face was comfortable, a refreshing change from the choking ones that leave unflattering marks on one’s face – and the bed was sturdy, so didn’t move when the massage was applied. There was also plenty of towels and sheets to combat the chill of the fierce air conditioning. At the end I had a warm towel, hot tea and fresh fruit platter with plenty of time to relax and shower in the privacy of my own treatment room.

AMBIENCE The subtle aroma of kaffir lime and soft music immediately transplants you from sticky and chaotic Bangkok to soothing haven territory – that’s if the similarly peaceful lobby hasn’t already chilled you out. Smells throughout the hotel change daily, so the effects of aromatherapy start before you’ve even entered a treatment room – and you can even take the scents home with you, by the bottle, from the hotel gift shop. In its present home on the 39th floor the spa looks like just another corridor of rooms, which it once was, but when it moves to the 21st floor, the surroundings will be striking – monochrome natural elements, water features, sleek dark wood and more lovely smells. For those who want a more private service, there are three spa suites, which have their own treatment rooms and come with extras such as a welcome scrub, bath menu, massage lesson, spa toiletries gift pack and spa canapés.

IN CROWD Business and leisure guests at the hotel make full use of the spa, but service is discreet with pre- and post-offerings within the spacious treatments rooms, making contact with other guests minimal – avoiding the sometimes embarrassing bathrobe-clad encounters in a communal “relaxation lounge”.

FOOD The hotel has seven restaurants, and while there’s no specific spa restaurant, all offer a range of light, healthy dishes alongside more indulgent ones. Saffron serves contemporary Thai cuisine, Bai Yum Cantonese, Pier 59 fish and Thaihei Japanese, all with exceptional views of Bangkok – although the best view is from the open-air rooftop bar Vertigo. Most require smart dress, so spa goers need to change out of their robes before dining. Breakfast is a bountiful spread which includes lots of fresh exotic fruit, so there’s no excuse to tuck into the pastries.

WALLET WATCH Rooms start from US$300 (£135) per night for a Deluxe Suite, rising to US$1,000 for a spa suite and US$2,000 per night for the Presidential Suite. My Lomi Lomi massage costs US$80 (the same price as all other 90-minute massages). Other treatments include facials, scrubs and wraps.

NEED TO KNOW Banyan Tree Spa Bangkok, Sathorn Road, Bangkok 10120, Thailand (+66 2 679 1052/4; www.banyantreespa.com/bangkok; email: spa-bangkok@banyantree.com)

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