Hi, was wondering if there's any updated info on the same topic " Getting from Guangzhou to Macau", as the original post is from a few years back.

Yes, there is.

Guangzhou-Zhuhai railway opened in January. The station is right across the border of Macao.

Trip times from Guangzhou South range from 0:58 to 1:23 depending on the number of intermediate stops, total 25 trains daily.

25 trains/day. must be Casino runs!

And

2500 Casino buses waiting to take the gamblers to their favorite destination.

25 trains a day is nothing. The area between GZ and Macau is all developed with population of several million. If the train goes directly to central GZ, they'll be running 100 trains a day easily.

They're not bad for hitchhiking either.

How long would the run be from the border to the center of Macao?

Bus Wars
Reality tv show:D

Macau casino bus drivers and their touts vie for the lucrative business of
snagging mainlanders.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBz2h...e_gdata_player

Depends on where you're going to exactly, how you're getting there, and traffic. It's only about 2mi/3km from the border to Largo do Senado, but there can be a lot of traffic, and there may be a long line for taxi. Public buses have lots of stops and some have circuitous routes. Or you can take a free shuttle to Sofitel Pointe 16 or Grand Lisboa and walk.

In fact was contemplating staying at the Sofitel Pointe 16, but was wondering if it would be too far away from all the casinos and the general gambling buzz. I have only a night in Macau. Any idea how far & how much by taxi, would be the run be from Sofitel Pointe 16 to say the Cotai region (which i presume is one of the main casino & gambling hubs in the Macau)

Also read on the hotel's webpage that they have a shuttle from the border, but not sure if it's a paid ride or a free shuttle service?

All the casino shuttles in Macao are free. Taxi from the Sofitel to say the Venetian on Cotai will probably be around 70-80MOP. Or US$10.

There are big casinos all over Macau. Pointe 16 has one, you don't have to go over to Cotai to see the other big casinos either - Grand Lisboa or Wynn or Sands on the Peninsula will do as well.

Does one need to book these tickets in advance.??

Do i need to book these train tickets in advance (online) or landing up a little before departure time is enough??

(Apologies if these questions seem rather basic, as i haven't done train journeys in China before)

Grabbing the Grand Lisboa's free shuttle is my preferred method, if I'm trying to get to Macau Old Town for free. ;) It's a few blocks closer to walk from there than from some of the other casinos. From the central peninsula area (bus stop near the Lisboa), if you're willing to catch a cheap public bus to central Taipa village, you can walk from there to the Venetian in 15-20 minutes. There are some public bus routes that drop right by the Venetian but more routes go to central Taipa, or require a change there. Personally I'd just go for convenience and take a taxi from peninsula to Cotai or Coloane.