The suites aren't all they're cracked up to be. You have to manually turn off all the lights. It's big but aging poorly and there's mass tour groups always crowding up the place. The Four Seasons is probably the best on the Cotai strip.

Don't know about the others, but I have stayed at a Banyan Tree villa and a suite. There aren't that many rooms, so the only place I run into mainlanders was the Saffron restaurant at breakfast time when I was staying at the suite.

And even the Galaxy's casino seem very quiet and not crowded.

I live in HK, and seriously even if someone give me a free night at the Venetian, I won't bother going.

There are probably no bad hotels, but The Venetian is huge and it takes you ages to walk from your room to anywhere. It feels impersonal and the rooms are nice, if a little too gold. If you are looking for a luxury option and its in your budget, The Four Seasons is great - it is in the Venetian complex, but has its own pool, restaurants and casino. I haven't stayed at The Banyan Tree, so can't judge. A suite at the Wynn (as opposed to the rooms) are very nice - huge and very luxurious. I like the Wynn as you can walk to MGM or Lisboa and also to the local restaurants.

I think the MGM has very competitive pricing for their suites.

This will be my first time to Macau. I have 10 hours transit in HK, arriving in HK at about 2pm and my flight leave at 12:30am. Will I have enough time to visit Macau? Just need to quickly check the city and then leaves. Thanks.

Entirely doable if you know what you are doing. (Am assuming that you have already been to Hong Kong and realise that Macau is not the same as Las Vegas)

http://www.turbojet.com.hk/en/routin...ule-fares.aspx
There is a 3.15pm sailing from HKIA. It may take you up to an hour to go through immigration in Macau (depending on the day you go). Free bus to the casino (Lisboa?). Get a taxi to Venetian (HKD required). Then bus back to ferry terminal for 8.15pm sailing direct to HKIA. Alternatively you could ferry back from Macau via Hong Kong and that might give you another hour in Macau.

Thanks, guys, this is very helpful. To be honest I didn't realise that so many new hotels were built in the last couple of year. I did a bit more research and it appears that the Conrad is treating Hilton Diamond members really well to a nice suite upgrade, so this now has gone to the top of my list. Unless there is anything I should know about the Conrad in terms of tour groups or other negative issues to consider.

I won't even bother with the free casino bus. Just get some cash from an ATM and take taxi to the Monte Fortress and start from there down to Senado Sq, via St. Paul's and other historical sites. Might be a bit late to visit the Macau Museum at the fortress, as it closes at 6 and last ticket sold at 5:30.

I don't think there should be anything wrong with the Conrad, but personally, if you're visiting Macau to see the historical sites and city center, it's just better to stay on the Macau Peninsula. Personally, I'd choose the Sofitel.

We just spent two nights at the Conrad and the suite we got was huge and beautifully decorated. Diamonds are treated very well. No lounge, but afternoon tea (try both the English and Spanish) is great, even though no bubbly. Evening cocktails are house pour, but sufficient. It's actually interesting in terms of people watching to sit in the lobby lounge for tea/cocktails.

To rkkwan's point, the Conrad is away from the city center, but taxis are fairly cheap. We didn't find the location a significant downside, particularly given how we were treated.

BTW, we had a great meal at the Tasting Room, easy walk from the Conrad. Others have commented in the Conrad Macao thread in the Hilton forum about it and I'd recommend it. Very nice space and the food was superb.

Thats pretty much I wanted to do... I have a carry on bag, is there a left luggage at the ferry terminal? Thanks!


Which ferry terminal in Macau is the boat arrived ?

The main ferry pier on the Macau Peninsula.

There should be lockers or inexpensive left luggage, though I am not 100% sure.

Main pier had lockers which fit my carry on and computer/briefcase nicely; it is also computerized so no coinage/local bills needed. That was 2012.

How difficult and expensive would it be to get to the historic city center from the Conrad? Taking into account we have a 1 year old with us and if nothing else is quick and easy I would probably prefer taking a taxi there and back.

We'll have 5 days in Macau and plan to make short trips every day (to allow for lunch time naps for our little one). THis worked out well in Venice last year and I hope it'll be the same in Macau and Hong Kong.

Of is 4 nights/5 days too much even if you can only do short 2-3h excursion trips each day?

That is a lot of time, and probably too much. Though if you do decide on that many days, I can give recommendations for sites to see that's not on the World Heritage list, but very worth visiting nevertheless.

And since you're staying for that many nights, quality of the hotel is important, as you'll spend quite a bit of time there.

It is inexpensive to take taxi from one of the Cotai Strip hotels to the historical sites on the main peninsula. US$10 and 10-20 minutes depending on where you're going. The problem is it can be extremely difficult to find a taxi back to your hotel, as most of the taxis are concentrated at the main hotels, casinos and the ferry piers. And forget the bus.

I would say even 3days/2nights would be a very conservative amount already.