To Macau or not to Macau?
Apr 14, 2010 | 3:45 pm
#16
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Delray Beach,FL
Programs: AMEX Platinum
Posts: 45
YES - Go!!!
I noticed that you are SPG Gold.
STAY at the WESTIN !!!
When you fly into HKG, you just go straight to the Macau Ferry desk with your luggage claim checks and purchase a ticket. You do not have to deal with HK customs or immigration at the airport. It is very easy (even with golf clubs!)
Get a VIP seat on the ferry.
When you arrive at the ferry terminal, look for the WESTIN bus. Do NOT take a taxi, who will tell you there is no Westin bus.
The area around the Westin is nothing like downtown Macau. If you do not stay there, you will have missed it.
As Gold, I did get an upgraded room, but the rooms are very large anyway, with a huge private terrace.
To get back and forth to downtown, take the Westin bus back to the ferry and get on the Lisboa bus. Takes you very close to the St Paul ruins.
Also, the Westin bus will take you to the Venetian where you can see Cirque du Soleil for a good price!
Good dining in the coutyard at the MGM.
Also, the WESTIN staff were amazing!!!
From the Westin, you can walk along the beach to Fernandos or take a taxi to the small town where you can stop and get some custudards at Lord Stowe's Bakery!
Getting back to HK is easy. The ferry will take you downtown.
I only spent 3 nights at the Westin and it was well worth it!
They usually have cash and points!
I noticed that you are SPG Gold.
STAY at the WESTIN !!!
When you fly into HKG, you just go straight to the Macau Ferry desk with your luggage claim checks and purchase a ticket. You do not have to deal with HK customs or immigration at the airport. It is very easy (even with golf clubs!)
Get a VIP seat on the ferry.
When you arrive at the ferry terminal, look for the WESTIN bus. Do NOT take a taxi, who will tell you there is no Westin bus.
The area around the Westin is nothing like downtown Macau. If you do not stay there, you will have missed it.
As Gold, I did get an upgraded room, but the rooms are very large anyway, with a huge private terrace.
To get back and forth to downtown, take the Westin bus back to the ferry and get on the Lisboa bus. Takes you very close to the St Paul ruins.
Also, the Westin bus will take you to the Venetian where you can see Cirque du Soleil for a good price!
Good dining in the coutyard at the MGM.
Also, the WESTIN staff were amazing!!!
From the Westin, you can walk along the beach to Fernandos or take a taxi to the small town where you can stop and get some custudards at Lord Stowe's Bakery!
Getting back to HK is easy. The ferry will take you downtown.
I only spent 3 nights at the Westin and it was well worth it!
They usually have cash and points!
Apr 14, 2010 | 4:07 pm
#17
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: California, SMF
Programs: UA, AA, AS, DL, BA, HA, WN, SPG-PL, Hyatt-Dia, HH-Dia, Marr-Pl, US Mint/VR(retired)
Posts: 951
If you go, make it on your way to or from HK, so you could transit directly to or from the airport. There is a ferry from Hong Kong and one from the airport.
We went to Macau first and didn't have to deal with any luggage at HKG. Picked it up at the Macau Ferry terminal.
One day sounds pretty rough. The ferry ride is NOT smooth.
Not sure what the last ferry time is.
I loved the Westin! It is an a very quiet part of Macau - Colane on a beach that you would probably never venture to if you were not at the Westin. Totally different from the "main" downtown and new casino strip.
Take a walk on the beach to Fernando's for lunch or dinner and a taxi to Lord Stowe's bakery in "downtown" Colane.
Getting around from the Westin is easy. Every hotel in Macau has a bus that goes to/from the ferry terminal. The Westin bus will take you to the Venetian or the ferry. From the ferry, you can pick up a hotel bus to the Lisboa to get to the St Paul's square area. See the square during the day AND at night !
Great Chulley glass art exhibits and gallery at the MGM.
I loved Macau. Glad I made the 3 day side trip there.
Apr 14, 2010 | 4:25 pm
#18
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: PVD
Programs: Priority Club Plat
Posts: 12,312
There are several ferry services between Hong Kong and Macau. Turbojet's jetfoil and foilcat between HK Island and Macau are always smooth, but they also use catamarans that are subject to surface condition. Same for CotaiJet and New World First Ferry's all-catamarans services.
Turbojet and Cotaijet ferries are 24 hours. Turbojet is more frequent, but Cotaijet is more convenient for the Venetian.
http://www.turbojet.com.hk/eng/schedule/prd.html
http://cotaijet.com.mo/en/destinations/index.aspx
Turbojet and Cotaijet ferries are 24 hours. Turbojet is more frequent, but Cotaijet is more convenient for the Venetian.
http://www.turbojet.com.hk/eng/schedule/prd.html
http://cotaijet.com.mo/en/destinations/index.aspx
Apr 17, 2010 | 8:43 am
#21
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: None any more
Posts: 11,017
Details here: http://www.skyshuttlehk.com/
Aug 24, 2010 | 7:55 am
#22
Suspended
Join Date: May 2006
Location: HKG
Programs: A3, TK *G; JL JGC; SPG,Hilton Gold
Posts: 9,952
No kidding. Quote from relatives "I've already been to Time Square once, why bother visiting US again?"
Sep 3, 2010 | 1:56 am
#23
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: 香港
Programs: MPC
Posts: 462
Just came back from Macau over the weekend.
Fernandos. Shame. It used to be a nice place. Greeting from gwailo, very bad, service from Philippinas, extra bad. Food. Ultra bad. It ain't what it used to be. Give it a wide berth.
Chinese restaurants in the October area of Macau. Excellent. Sharks fin: fantastic. Let's kill more sharks.
The Venetian, lovely. Worth visiting.
City of Dreams is not the finished article. Nothing exciting there. Wait 'till the neighbouring megalopolis is finished.
Taxi problem? Massive. Doing themselves a disservice. Not going back for a long time. There are much nicer places nearby. Even in China.
Fernandos. Shame. It used to be a nice place. Greeting from gwailo, very bad, service from Philippinas, extra bad. Food. Ultra bad. It ain't what it used to be. Give it a wide berth.
Chinese restaurants in the October area of Macau. Excellent. Sharks fin: fantastic. Let's kill more sharks.
The Venetian, lovely. Worth visiting.
City of Dreams is not the finished article. Nothing exciting there. Wait 'till the neighbouring megalopolis is finished.
Taxi problem? Massive. Doing themselves a disservice. Not going back for a long time. There are much nicer places nearby. Even in China.
Sep 6, 2010 | 12:18 am
#24
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: 香港
Programs: MPC
Posts: 462
Sorry, forgot to add.
Zillions of mainlanders walking around with lighted cigarettes. INSIDE THE MALLS AND HOTELS as well as on the streets. Really cheapens the 5 star luxury feel of the hotels as they go smokin' shouting in their crew cuts, man bags, polos, suit trousers and Ballys.
Class act.
Zillions of mainlanders walking around with lighted cigarettes. INSIDE THE MALLS AND HOTELS as well as on the streets. Really cheapens the 5 star luxury feel of the hotels as they go smokin' shouting in their crew cuts, man bags, polos, suit trousers and Ballys.
Class act.
Sep 6, 2010 | 7:16 am
#25
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: PVD
Programs: Priority Club Plat
Posts: 12,312
Sorry, forgot to add.
Zillions of mainlanders walking around with lighted cigarettes. INSIDE THE MALLS AND HOTELS as well as on the streets. Really cheapens the 5 star luxury feel of the hotels as they go smokin' shouting in their crew cuts, man bags, polos, suit trousers and Ballys.
Class act.
Zillions of mainlanders walking around with lighted cigarettes. INSIDE THE MALLS AND HOTELS as well as on the streets. Really cheapens the 5 star luxury feel of the hotels as they go smokin' shouting in their crew cuts, man bags, polos, suit trousers and Ballys.
Class act.
Sep 6, 2010 | 2:57 pm
#26
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: LGA - JFK
Programs: UA, AA, DL, B6, CX, KE, Latitude, VIFP, Crown & Anchor, etc.
Posts: 2,589
The PROBLEM in Macau is that, "they" are practically everywhere including the casinos and for their hosts, some of them are whales (high rollers) with sky high markers.
And, watch where you put your feet down since they are known to spit anywhere and everywhere - without warning & looking first - less you want to slip on it, yike !!
And, watch where you put your feet down since they are known to spit anywhere and everywhere - without warning & looking first - less you want to slip on it, yike !!
Sep 7, 2010 | 3:17 pm
#27
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: PVD
Programs: Priority Club Plat
Posts: 12,312
I know what you're saying. But what interest me are the UNESCO World Heritages Sites and other historical sites. Other than the A-Ma Temple and the St Paul ruins, "they" have no interest in the rest.
Sep 7, 2010 | 11:30 pm
#28
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: LGA - JFK
Programs: UA, AA, DL, B6, CX, KE, Latitude, VIFP, Crown & Anchor, etc.
Posts: 2,589
Next week, a group of friends will be traveling with us to Vietnam with a stopover in HKG for several days and decided not to spend a day over in Macau - especially on a Saturday with the huge crowds near/in/around the casinos. Oh well, we will just have to postpone it until our return next time.
Last edited by Letitride3c; Sep 8, 2010 at 7:43 am
Sep 8, 2010 | 3:35 am
#29
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: PDX
Programs: AS Atmos Gold/OW Sapphire
Posts: 1,545
Was just in Macau a week ago with the GF who specifically stated that she wanted to avoid the casinos and the gaudy hotels. We stayed at the excellent Grand Hyatt, which was quite empty on a Wednesday. I agree that the City of Dreams is pretty unremarkable but the hotel itself was magnificent.
Instead of the casinos, we had lunch at Nga Tim in Coloane (sorry to make you jealous, Jamoldo!), dinner at A Lorcha, went to the Macau Museum of Art and hung out at the hotel. We had done the Ruins on a previous trip so we skipped them this time. All in all, we had a great time while managing to avoid the cheesiness and faux-glamour of all the new developments. We also managed to avoid the stereotypical Mainland crowd, which was nice.
Last but not least, we didn't have any issues with taxis, although instead of waiting around for one or having to call for one after lunch in Coloane, we took one of the local buses instead. It was quite easy and dropped us off in front of the Venetian, where we crossed the street to get back to the Grand Hyatt.
Instead of the casinos, we had lunch at Nga Tim in Coloane (sorry to make you jealous, Jamoldo!), dinner at A Lorcha, went to the Macau Museum of Art and hung out at the hotel. We had done the Ruins on a previous trip so we skipped them this time. All in all, we had a great time while managing to avoid the cheesiness and faux-glamour of all the new developments. We also managed to avoid the stereotypical Mainland crowd, which was nice.
Last but not least, we didn't have any issues with taxis, although instead of waiting around for one or having to call for one after lunch in Coloane, we took one of the local buses instead. It was quite easy and dropped us off in front of the Venetian, where we crossed the street to get back to the Grand Hyatt.
Sep 8, 2010 | 9:18 am
#30
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: PVD
Programs: Priority Club Plat
Posts: 12,312
Taxis are an issue in that lines at the ferry pier can be long, and they can be a rare sight outside the main casino areas. Buses are frequent, but they can be packed. I find myself traveling mostly on foot in the historical center of Macau.