Macau advice

[Limewood]

Having been to Hong Kong more times than I can remember, have not ventured over to Macau, going again April thought we would go for a day trip or possibly overnight then possibly ferry it to airport last day..

I see the organised day trips are very long like 10/12 hours, thinking do it ourselves?

Hotels seem very expensive but around $300a night be OK.

any advise appreciated

 

[get me outta here]

I spent a week there in around 2006. If you want to not stay in one of the big ones, check out this one: https://www.tripadvisor.com.au/Hotel_Review-g664891-d543695-Reviews-Pousada_de_Mong_Ha-Macau.html

 

[samh004]

I've never been on a tour over there. Main things to do are to have as many Portuguese Egg Tarts as you can and check out the ruins of the church of St Paul (UNESCO World Heritage listed). Luckily both of those are close to each other

After that I'd check out the gaudy casinos.

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/china/macau

 

[get me outta here]

And, if you stay at the Pousada, try to go on one of the evenings where they have the banquet in the restaurant next door, it was great and cost very little. Check out the website.

There's a training hotel in HKG that I stay at too, wonderful views in luxury rooms looking out over the South China Sea. The thing that really makes the T hotels great is the 5 star service on 1-2 star budgets.

 

[get me outta here]

It's a World Heritage Area and I think I at least strolled past every one in 2008 (not 2006). Agree with eating a multitude of egg tarts. I'll try to remember the 'best one on earth' as it's in one of the villages where people queue out the door for hot ones just out of the oven. Lonely Planet will mention it I reckon. I just caught buses to the far flung places and walked the rest of it. I had some good street food outside the Red Market. Taipa Village has the gourmet food street.

When I recently went to LAS, I had a touch of deja vu as I'd seen it all in Macau, even though the more recent ones are probaly even more outlandish.

I'm sure you can do this yourself unless you wish to do it all in one day and get the full info tour.

 

[Isochronous]

I like the Small Green Houses Museum on Taipa.

Also lunch set at Robuchon is great value.

 

[craven morehead]

We picked up a tour guide just after exiting immigration and just cruised around. Macau Tower , Ruins of St.Pauls etc etc. Not a cheap way of getting there and back but only about 16 minutes flying time and VIP lanes through immigration both ways. Sky Shuttle Helicopters Daily Flights between HK - Macau & Macau - Shenzhen :mrgreen: The Chopper service essentially set up for the Asian high rollers going to the Casinos

 

[CMA222]

I see the organised day trips are very long like 10/12 hours, thinking do it ourselves? any advise appreciated

I have done two day trips to Macau. The first was an organised trip through the Qantas website that uses Viator to co-ordinate the local content. It all went very well although the included lunch was definitely at a budget establishment. It included the ferries both ways which took the worry out of getting tickets. The second time I did it as a self guided trip utilising the Hop-on-Hop-off bus service which works fine except the upper deck has no protection from the sun, so it can be hot and you do need to slip slop slap. For self guided you will want to pre-purchase ferry tickets on-line and allow plenty of time because the inbound immigration at Macau can be time consuming if you arrive when there are several ferries in at the same time.The bus stops at all the highlights but you have to plan your pick ups because there is only about 3 buses per hour. It your choose the self guided option do your home work so you know in advance what you want to see and how long you will need at each place. Also utilise the free casinio transfer buses (from and to the ferry terminals) to get to the casinos (and their smorgasbords) that are not in the centre of town. To fit it all in in one day we went on a ferry at about 9 am and returned on one at about 10 pm.

 

[craven morehead]

 

[craven morehead]

Some interesting signs / murals we came across !!

 

[Limewood]

Great advise all..

Thinking might spend last 2 nights in Macau then ferry it to Int. airport, our CX J flight to BNE leaves at 12.50pm, so lounge hopping (one of our fav. pastimes) have to leave Macau real early.

 

[craven morehead]

Great advise all..

Thinking might spend last 2 nights in Macau then ferry it to Int. airport, our CX J flight to BNE leaves at 12.50pm, so lounge hopping (one of our fav. pastimes) have to leave Macau real early.

Limewood have you managed to sample the new HKG QF lounge since the upgrade ?

 

[Limewood]

Limewood have you managed to sample the new HKG QF lounge since the upgrade ?

Yes Sept last, its was nice but still like CX lounges.

One of the best was the new BA Concorde lounge in SIN. had only been open few days before our arrival, lucky place was empty.

 

[JohnK]

Holiday Inn Macau is quite nice and usually ~AUD120/night. As an IHG Platinum they grant executive lounge access with free drinks and canapes for a couple of hours in evening and breakfast in morning for 2 people. Executive lounge looks to be temporary so could be building another lounge. Free shuttle to/from ferry terminal.

When you return to HKG with ferry you will get a refund of HKD120 from your ferry ticket if you have an international connection.

Didn't do any touristy things apart from visiting a few casinos.

 

[SeatBackForward]

I lived in Macau for about six months, back in 2007... You'll want to try Lord Stow's "Pastel de nata". They have a few cafes south of the main casino drag I think

 

[Isochronous]

Holiday Inn Macau is quite nice and usually ~AUD120/night. As an IHG Platinum they grant executive lounge access with free drinks and canapes for a couple of hours in evening and breakfast in morning for 2 people. Executive lounge looks to be temporary so could be building another lounge. Free shuttle to/from ferry terminal.

When you return to HKG with ferry you will get a refund of HKD120 from your ferry ticket if you have an international connection.

Didn't do any touristy things apart from visiting a few casinos.

I assume it has to be a same day flight. But how does the refund system work exactly?

 

[JohnK]

I assume it has to be a same day flight. But how does the refund system work exactly?

Think has to be same day.

When you purchase the ferry ticket they will also give you a refund coupon. Take that refund coupon to the Departure tax refund desk after going through security and before going to the train. They give you a cash refund.

 

[SeatBackForward]

There are the direct ferries from Macau to HKG airport also

 

[Cheesy]

Just be aware of booking an early ferry from Macau to HKIA to connect to a morning flight. If there's any fog across the water they won't travel and you could be stranded. My 7am ferry was delayed two hours, and I managed to convince the staff at the SkyPier to let me check me in at T-30 (10am departure, HLO), then commence the mad rush to gate 68!

 

[Dr Ralph]

I've done the organised day trip. It is a long day. But I thought it was worthwhile doing it this way.