New Star Spa Shanghai: It’s a Lounge Without the Flight

Best Spa Shanghai is part of the TPOL in Shanghai Trip Report.

What’s the best part of traveling? For me, it’s the time after I am done taking all the damn pictures of the lounge, flight, hotel, food, drink, taxis, sights, and whatever else I compulsively feel I have to blog about.

Complaining aside, the best part about traveling is when I am forced to relax because I have nowhere else I can go and nothing else to do. For some, that could be an overrated bungalow in the Maldives. For me, that place is an airport lounge or a long haul flight. I can eat, drink, and sleep while being pampered like royalty. I once compared SQ first to Thanksgiving without the annoying relatives. On a few occasions, I have stayed at the lounge well beyond the time recommended by my physician (see AA Admirals Club JFK Gate 42: Here All Day, Amex LAS Centurion Lounge: The Full Day Freeloader Review, and New Turkish Airlines Lounge Review: I Miss Chuck E. Cheese).

Regrettably, I don’t have the points to fly first every day. However, I may have found the next best thing for my expat days in Shanghai. It is a Korean style spa called New Star. Like an airport lounge, the place opens early and closes late. Like an airport lounge, there’s plenty to eat, plenty to drink, and many places to relax.

Pajamas

The first stop is the locker room where I, in keeping with the premium class theme, changed into pajamas.

Food

For my first meal, I had Korean style BBQ.

Massage

After my meal, I went to the massage room for a 30-minute leg massage. For, the price of 68RMB ($10), it can’t be beat. Following the massage, I sat in the quiet room and enjoyed my ginger tea.

Food Again

For my second meal, I had dumplings.

Spa

Next up was the spa. Women go to one side and men go to another. Be prepared to disrobe. The patrons looked at me in amazement. It had to be because I was the only foreigner, right? In the spa, there are various pools with different temperatures. Completely submerge yourself in the cold one if you want to feel alive and dead at the same time. It literally takes your breath away.

It also reminded me of the Seinfeld shrinkage episode.

After hot and cold combinations, I went for a salt scrub. A man put salt all over me including my dumplings. That was awkward and reminded me of another Seinfeld episode. It was relaxing and for 58RMB ($8) was worth the price.

Following that, I went into the sauna to unwind and then back to the hot and cold pools. The man’s day at the spa ended with a warm shower and more onlookers staring in amazement.

Relaxation Everywhere

There are plenty of places to sit down and relax including hot rooms, cold rooms, and oxygen room.

Video Games

Like the older and better TK Lounge (see Turkish Airlines Business Class: Where Costco Meets Chuck E. Cheese), games are available.

Saddam Spider Hole

My favorite part of the experience was what I call the Saddam spider hole. It’s like going into a CAT scan machine without the fear of a diagnosis. I slept there for a solid hour.

Bracelet

For two people, the day at the spa cost $135. It was all tracked by the bracelet on my wrist.

Overall

This was a great discovery. It was like being in a lounge and flying first class without going anywhere.

TPOL’S TIP: New Star has two locations. I went to the newer Pudong location which is located at 288 Dongxiu Rd, Century Park, Pudong, Shanghai, China.

Best Spa Shanghai is part of the TPOL in Shanghai Trip Report.