Help Me Plan My Trip In Macau

[Thaiaddict01]

hi guys I gonna do a visa-run to Macau, it will be my first time there. I am thinking about staying there 3, 4 days. Is that enough to see everything in Macau? Maybe someone can help me plan out my trip in detail like what attractions to see in the morning at day 1, evening. etc etc if possible? I have been reading up on the attractions in Macau but there are prolly still a lot I haven't read yet.

I think I gonna stay in emperor hotel or similar hotels nearby, that location seems good for me as it's close to everything http://www.agoda.com/asia/macau/macau/emperor_hotel.html?asq=tTQmi3a6k0gKILkap1%2bzIPoYr%2fDWJj00%2bFjLdwHn96xaPqiDyagPItTHdjv%2bRV2LPovR0pYcV60DJ9g%2b5wJRDMzycXDflYqI9fTG1nvzkAqoiyEPEyugH0vyuNxXZJCOUaEGRYQakQI6SOmqoZfbhCeYNwCBsNvthSyraUoMahxBiXdXWLL2dv7SrEzRHpCa&tyra=1|1

Stuff I like to do, sightseeing, just walk around and see cool stuff I guess, good food, snacks like those almond cookies that Macau is known for. tennis, car racing, strip clubs. also I will fly right into Macau airport and not HK airport.

thanks for the help guys.

[craigt3365]

I'm no expert, but I'll pass along my experience of a trip to Macau....understanding I'm from Vegas.

It's main attraction now is mainly the casinos. I was there maybe 8 years ago. Quite a few new ones have been built since then. But back then, they were only mildly interesting. Some filled the air, tables were packed, bags had to be checked at the entrance, and there was some fee that had to be paid up front to even get in.

There are some sights to see, but we saw a good majority during out day trip there from HK. IMHO, HK is much more interesting. I could spend a month there checking things out.

Again, just my humble opinion.

[KED]

My favorite part of Macau was the old Portuguese area - although it is small - there are many great restaurants both Chinese and European in the area - much more interesting to me than the casinos.

[Thaiaddict01]

thanks guy!

do they rent scooters for tourists? would be cool to rent one and just go everywhere with it like Taipa, Coloane etc.....do they allow scooters on the roads that's between macau island and Taipa?

[SeaVisionBurma]

Macau egg tarts, mmmmmmm

Tart with a Heart of Gold

Some other good food tips here - http://www.tommyooi.com/macau-food/

Macau is one of the few places where I would actually do a full or half day paid tour, where you get picked up on a coach in the morning, taken around the islands to various places, and dropped back later in the day. Worth doing on the first day, and then you'll get your bearings.

Quite a lot to do in Macau. You could spend hours just looking around the Venetian.

[Whiskylover]

Not sure about rental scooters. Taxis are cheap anyway.

4 days in Macau is more than enough. There really isn't that much to see unless you like gambling.

Last time i was there i stayed at the Sheraton which i'd highly recommend.

Depending on when you go, it'll be worth checking what shows or exhibitions are on in the various arenas.

off the top of my head and In no particular order things to see and do

Old Macau fort

Macau tower (you can bungee jump of this)

Take a rickshaw for about 300hkd's and he'll take you around all the sites, about 2-3hrs

The Venetian

The Lisboa

Take a ferry over Hong Kong for the day

St Pauls

One of the ice shows (if they're on)

And of course Fernando's restaurant, near Hac Sa beach for real Portuguese chicken.

WL

[Thaiaddict01]

ricksaw for 300hkd....I tho they are taxi. they also act as tour guide? take you around and explain all the attractions for 2,3 hours?

seavisionburma where do I sign up for those? got a website?

[SeaVisionBurma]

You might want to do some research of your own. I can't remember which companies I have done tours with - just google "Macau Day Tours" or similar.

Here's one - goes to the main scenic sites - Macau City Tour

Similar to tours I've done before.

Note as said earlier I would only recommend this as a possible first day or half day option to see the main sites and get your bearings. You might prefer to do this on your own. Subsequent days definitely go exploring, or find the things you like and go there.

There's also pages and pages of recommendations here - Macau day trip suggestions

[Whiskylover]

ricksaw for 300hkd....I tho they are taxi. they also act as tour guide? take you around and explain all the attractions for 2,3 hours?

seavisionburma where do I sign up for those? got a website?

Svb has some nice recommendations a day trip is a good idea.

Yes the have vehicle taxis (metered) and rickshaws (peddle powered).

You'll find the rickshaws near one of the ferry ports. They're well sign posted plus you'll find tourist information, maps etc.

Yes, they'll act as a guide, but don't expect perfect english from them, they'll take you around wait for you to visit the sights etc. Of course all prices are all negotiable dpending on what you see do.

Personally i'd spend my time in Hong Kong over Macau, but that's just me.

Enjoy!

[Tolley]

Macau is really for gambling. I spend 4 days there last year with my TGF who likes gambling a lot. We went to about 20 casinos.

The Venetian is the biggest in the world.

For me the best part of our Macau trip was the day trip we did to HK.

HK much more interesting and more things to see and do.

[craigt3365]

Macau is really for gambling. I spend 4 days there last year with my TGF who likes gambling a lot. We went to about 20 casinos.

The Venetian is the biggest in the world.

For me the best part of our Macau trip was the day trip we did to HK.

HK much more interesting and more things to see and do.

Do they still allow smoking in the casinos? It was pretty bad when I was there many years ago.

[Tolley]

Macau is really for gambling. I spend 4 days there last year with my TGF who likes gambling a lot. We went to about 20 casinos.

The Venetian is the biggest in the world.

For me the best part of our Macau trip was the day trip we did to HK.

HK much more interesting and more things to see and do.

Do they still allow smoking in the casinos? It was pretty bad when I was there many years ago.

Yes smoking everywhere and lots of very rude Chinese pushing and shoving and spitting etc

[craigt3365]

Macau is really for gambling. I spend 4 days there last year with my TGF who likes gambling a lot. We went to about 20 casinos.

The Venetian is the biggest in the world.

For me the best part of our Macau trip was the day trip we did to HK.

HK much more interesting and more things to see and do.

Do they still allow smoking in the casinos? It was pretty bad when I was there many years ago.

Yes smoking everywhere and lots of very rude Chinese pushing and shoving and spitting etc

That's what we experienced. When we saw them spitting into the potted plants around the casino, we decided to leave.

[overherebc]

Not sure about rental scooters. Taxis are cheap anyway.

4 days in Macau is more than enough. There really isn't that much to see unless you like gambling.

Last time i was there i stayed at the Sheraton which i'd highly recommend.

Depending on when you go, it'll be worth checking what shows or exhibitions are on in the various arenas.

off the top of my head and In no particular order things to see and do

Old Macau fort

Macau tower (you can bungee jump of this)

Take a rickshaw for about 300hkd's and he'll take you around all the sites, about 2-3hrs

The Venetian

The Lisboa

Take a ferry over Hong Kong for the day

St Pauls

One of the ice shows (if they're on)

And of course Fernando's restaurant, near Hac Sa beach for real Portuguese chicken.

WL

+1 on Fernando's especially the shrimp dish they serve with the crusty bread to soak up the sauce. You could also try a meal in the Venetian, probably not as expensive as you would think, seems to be subsidised by the millions they make from the casino.

[Whiskylover]

Macau is really for gambling. I spend 4 days there last year with my TGF who likes gambling a lot. We went to about 20 casinos.

The Venetian is the biggest in the world.

For me the best part of our Macau trip was the day trip we did to HK.

HK much more interesting and more things to see and do.

Do they still allow smoking in the casinos? It was pretty bad when I was there many years ago.

Yes smoking everywhere and lots of very rude Chinese pushing and shoving and spitting etc

Ha ha.. I completely forgot about this.

But dam they can spend money on those craps tables. Serious money.

[Tolley]

Macau is really for gambling. I spend 4 days there last year with my TGF who likes gambling a lot. We went to about 20 casinos.

The Venetian is the biggest in the world.

For me the best part of our Macau trip was the day trip we did to HK.

HK much more interesting and more things to see and do.

Do they still allow smoking in the casinos? It was pretty bad when I was there many years ago.

Yes smoking everywhere and lots of very rude Chinese pushing and shoving and spitting etc

That's what we experienced. When we saw them spitting into the potted plants around the casino, we decided to leave.

I only went because my TGF wanted to go and I would never go again.

It is really for mainland Chinese.

There were a few TGs and katoeys working the Venetian and they were rather agressive too.

[USNret]

craigt is exactly right. HK is MUCH more interesting. 4 days there is perfect, and you can take a day trip by hydrofoil to Macau if you absolutely must see smoking, spitting Chinese in the casinos.

[AyG]

Have a look at http://postcardsfromthailand.com/2013/05/not-much-to-see-here/

It's a report of a recent visit to Macau.

[Thaiaddict01]

thanks a lot guys, a lot of good tips here

[GrantSmith]

Whilst the smoking aspect is prevalent, they do quite a good job of ventilating the casinos to the point where it's not that noticeable - except for the Ponte 16 Casino - that place was lacking in the ventilation stakes...

Take a visit to the Wynn Casino as well, they have a pretty cool dancing water show, high end shopping, and the food is also reasonable in terms of price.

With the mainland literally within spitting distance, the place is teeming with mainlanders, with many of the Casinos offering shuttles to and from the border checkpoint.

My personal advice, make HKG your base and take a day trip to MFM, you'll feel a lot more relaxed...

[trainman34014]

Had three days there last June direct from CNX and it was interesting. We are not gamblers but still found plenty to see and we just used the local buses which are cheap and plentiful. Our favourite part was the old Portuguese City with its Egg Tarts and Almond Buscuits, you can wander around taking many good photo's and there are plenty of local eating places. Not a great deal of good English spoken except in Hotel's but pointing at things does the trick in most cases. The Casino's are great to walk around, especially the Venetian with its Canals and Gondola rides on the first floor.

We returned with a lot of Tarts and Bicky's but they vanished fast !

[Thaiaddict01]

which casinos got free shows?

[onionluke]

You can head over to Taipa town and catch the horse racing and if its too hot and humid you can nip across the road to The Sports Bar and have some Portougese pub grub ( steak sandwitch ). The dog racing might still be on too .

[Thaiaddict01]

hmmmmm about the h7n9.... what's the latest with H7n9? is it ok to travel to Macau, should I cancel my trip or go?

[craigt3365]

hmmmmm about the h7n9.... what's the latest with H7n9? is it ok to travel to Macau, should I cancel my trip or go?

I was in China during the SARS outbreak. What a crazy time. Everything shut down and the Chinese media saying you got this from foreigners. Too funny when I got on a bus and all the Chinese would scatter elsewhere!

The odds of you getting this is slim to none. You're much more likely to die in a traffic accident. With that being said, if I am not mistaken, all cases have been on the mainland. And this article says no new cases recently and it "seems" to be under control:

http://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/1243706/h7n9-bird-flu-appears-contained-un-health-experts-say

[Thaiaddict01]

No new cases since the 8th of May. 131 cases in total, 36 deaths. (Source: WHO website).

[Thaiaddict01]

ok guys I got my tix and got few more questions.

Macau is a pretty safe city right? any scams for tourists or anything I should watch out for? is the tab water there drinkable?

is it easy to cash out traveler's check in Macau? do they have those booth things everywhere

riding scooter in macau any different than pattaya? is it worse than pattaya? I plan to rent from http://www.macauscooters.com/ and they want credit card info via their site. safe to give them the info or just get the bike in person when I get there?

I can have access to HKD much easier...I think I will just get that....they all take HKD in Macau right?

thanks guys

[AyG]

Yes, pretty safe.

Tap water not drinkable.

Cash TCs at a bank - don't remember seeing any booths.

Streets are very busy. Not the safest of places to ride a bike. The local bus service is very comprehensive and the buses frequent. I'd suggest using bus, not bike.

Yes, they take HKD in Macau everywhere, but you'll get change in MOP. (Exchange rate 1:1.) Difficult to change MOP outside Macau, so best to spend them before you leave.

[GrantSmith]

Funny how that exchange rate works in the airport though, not 1:1 but some other favourable assuming you're changing HKD to MOP...

Macau's pretty safe, the police presence is outstanding - they seem to be everywhere or did I just frequent too many casinos

Forget riding a scooter, most casinos have a shuttle bus somewhere which you can conveniently hop on hop off as you please...

[OldChinaHam]

I have been to Macao off and on since the late '70s.

Macao used to be cool, now its hot.

If you do not gamble, it is difficult to see what else you might find there, as even the local residents will tell you.

Almost every square inch is now devoted to the gambling industry, and I do not gamble, so for me it is always a chore to go there and I normally only stop in Macao on my way through to China.

The hotels are overpriced for what you get, the goods there are overpriced for poor quality junk coming in from China.

I am sorry but this is what I think of the place.

Many people will argue otherwise, and say that everyone always says Macao was better in "the good old days", or "10 years ago".

But now I think that when people say this it is really true.

I was there when there was only 1 big casino, and that is very small by today's standards.

35 is a very long time in Macao years, and the place is so different I wish I did not still half recognize it.

But for you going there for your first time, you should be able to find things of interest.

The heat in the summer time while walking around is outstanding.

And the pollution coming over from Chinese factories is there, too.

Try to book a hotel as cheaply as you can before you get there because once there it is sometimes hard to get a good discount.

The food though is truly DAMN-Good!

So if I had to go, I would spend my time eating, mostly.

Edited May 29, 2013 by OldChinaHam