Our recent trip to Taipei technically began somewhere else. Or rather, it paused somewhere else. Like many journeys to Asia, ours included a transit through Hong Kong — a city we already know well, having visited twice before. This time, however, we made a conscious decision: instead of rushing into another whirlwind of skyline photos and dim sum stops, we would slow down. No sightseeing checklist, no “must-see” pressure. This layover was about indulgence, comfort, and experiencing Hong Kong in a quieter, more personal way.

Two things defined this stopover. The first was exploring Cathay Pacific’s home lounges at Hong Kong International Airport, made possible thanks to our oneworld status this year, which (for once) opened the doors to the very top tier lounges. The second was spending the night at the Conrad Hong Kong, part of the Hilton family — a hotel that understands luxury in a way that feels composed rather than showy.

I’ve always had a soft spot for Cathay Pacific lounges. If you’ve ever seen my Instagram stories featuring dangling legs by massive airport windows, chances are they were taken in one of Cathay’s London lounges at Heathrow Terminal 3. Those are excellent lounges — calm, elegant, reliable. But frequent flyers know a simple truth: airlines tend to do their very best work on home ground. And Hong Kong is Cathay Pacific’s kingdom.

We planned this stopover meticulously. Lounge-hopping may sound spontaneous, but to do it right, it requires strategy. We knew exactly which lounges we wanted to visit, what services they offered, and how to sequence them for maximum enjoyment. Thanks to our outbound flight to Taipei and our return journey home, we were able to access the lounges twice — which felt almost decadent.

We started with The Wing, First Class Lounge, located just after priority check-in and security, on the left-hand side, perched on a mezzanine above the main terminal level. From the moment you arrive, it feels less like an airport facility and more like a private club. The space unfolds in layers. After reception, you enter a champagne area furnished with deep armchairs and generous sofas, where several varieties of champagne are laid out for self-service. There is something quietly empowering about pouring your own glass at an airport, unhurried, without a boarding announcement in sight.

Beyond this is the bar, serving cocktails and spirits, and behind that, a buffet section with an impressive spread of Asian and international hot and cold dishes. And if that still isn’t enough, there’s a full-service dining area where you can order à la carte from a menu offering dishes not available at the buffet.

But before food, we headed straight for the bathing area — because what The Wing offers here goes far beyond the standard airport shower. Yes, there are private shower suites, already luxurious by airport standards. But there are also three private cabanas, each allocated for up to 90 minutes. Calling them “bathrooms” feels almost insulting. These are enormous private rooms, complete with a sofa, vanity area, walk-in shower, separate toilet, and a massive stone bathtub sunk into the floor. A proper bath. At an airport. Before a long-haul flight.

After days of city heat, humidity, and constant movement, this kind of reset feels almost emotional. Every detail is thought through: plush towels, luxury toiletries, body lotion, toothbrush and toothpaste, shower cap, comb, cotton swabs — the kind of amenities you’d expect at a five-star hotel, not at gate-side altitude. And just when you think it can’t get better, you’re informed that the shirt hanging in your wardrobe can be ironed while you bathe. I wish I were exaggerating. I wasn’t.

I opted for a quick shower while my partner enjoyed the bath, and even that felt indulgent. Stepping back into the lounge refreshed, dressed in freshly pressed clothes, there’s a brief moment where you forget you’re about to board a plane at all.

Next came lunch in the dining room. We ordered several courses from the menu, which offers a slightly wider selection than Cathay’s London lounges, with a strong focus on Asian cuisine alongside international options. We gravitated, unsurprisingly, toward the Asian dishes. Portions are smaller than what you might expect at a restaurant, but that’s actually part of the appeal — it allows you to taste more. Normally, I find airline portion sizes mildly annoying. Here, they’re a feature, not a flaw.

After eating, we lingered on the terrace overlooking the buffet area, watching the rhythm of the terminal below. There’s something grounding about observing airport movement from a comfortable distance — the contrast between the calm inside the lounge and the purposeful chaos outside.

Then it was time for our second lounge visit.

Cathay Pacific’s other First Class lounge sits at the opposite end of the terminal and feels like an entirely different world. While The Wing is elevated above the terminal, this lounge is located below the main level, offering views of aircraft from a lower, more intimate angle. The design is distinct — moodier, cozier, more enclosed. Again, there’s a bar, a small buffet, and a dining area. But instead of cabanas, this lounge offers complimentary massage treatments.

After exploring the space, we settled at the bar. Cocktails in hand, we struck up a conversation with a fellow traveler — the kind of easy, transient airport connection that only happens in places like this. Time passed quickly, and before we knew it, boarding time was approaching.

That’s when the lounge ambassador approached us. Her role, as she explained, was to ensure guests felt comfortable, cared for, and to resolve any issues before they arose. When she learned that we hadn’t yet tried the lounge’s exclusive Michelin-star tasting menu — available only in this specific lounge — she insisted we do so. Personally escorted us to the restaurant. Informed the staff to serve us as quickly as possible.

She was so efficient, so confidently in control, that for a brief second I wouldn’t have been shocked if she’d arranged for the aircraft to wait. It sounds unbelievable, but at a certain level of travel, airlines do occasionally hold planes for specific passengers. Not us, obviously — but still, the thought crossed my mind. (Editor’s note: we are absolutely not those passengers.)

She also shared a tip that perfectly encapsulated this level of travel savvy: some frequent flyers plan their layovers so they bathe in one First Class lounge, then cross the terminal for a massage in the other. I mean… life skills.

The Michelin-star tasting menu itself, I have to admit, didn’t win me over. Had I paid for it directly, I would have been annoyed. Of course, I know we paid for it indirectly — through loyalty, miles, and a lifetime of flights — but still. Not every luxury experience needs to be worshipped just because it’s exclusive.

And that, in a way, is what this Hong Kong layover was really about. Luxury not as spectacle, but as choice. Choosing rest over rushing. Comfort over content creation. Knowing when something is extraordinary — like bathing in a stone tub at an airport — and when something is simply fine, Michelin star or not.

Sometimes, the most memorable parts of a journey aren’t the destinations themselves, but the pauses in between.