Macau; the Las Vegas of the East, has certainly made its fortune from the fortunes of others. The Macau peninsula connects Macau to mainland China and it is here that the casinos, hotels and entertainment venues are clustered. Busloads of gambling visitors arrive daily from China, and with the opening of several behemoth, Las Vegas-style casinos, this is only set to increase.
When to Go
Hotels rates skyrocket on weekends, so anyone wanting to visit Macau on a budget should plan to stay during the week. Booking a room in a budget two-star hotel or pension may seem like a good idea at first, but some of these are little more than brothels and staying here during peak hours (Friday and Saturday nights from midnight onwards) can be a hair-raising experience!
Language
Together with Hong Kong, Macau is the only part of mainland China that was ever claimed as a European colony, and the architecture and city planning could be straight out of a London Borough. There is still a slight hint of the previous Portuguese owners (who were given Macau in exchange for eliminating the pirates that plagued the region in the sixteenth century) but the most dominant presence is now Chinese, with more than eighty per cent of the population speaking only Cantonese.
Places to See
Simply taking a walk around Macau, particularly the peninsula, is often the best way to find the myriad of temples, churches and fortresses that dot the city. Remember to wear comfortable shoes and pace yourself though, as Macau is hot and hilly. Also, pick up a Macau Museum pass that includes discounted entry to the main museums. Although there are two museums on Taipa, most of the good ones (including the main one, the Museum of Macao) are on the peninsula. These are a great insight into the varied history of Macau, through all its incarnations as a Portugese, European and Chinese-owned outpost.
Shopping
The Macau Tower is perf ect for a broad view of the city, and Fisherman's Wharf is the ideal place to enjoy some light shopping or a couple of theme-park style rides. Light shopping is really all that is necessary in Macau though, as the shopping here compared to Hong Kong is pretty dismal. Most stores sell the same kind of things (overpriced knockoffs) at nowhere near the value to be had in the shopping Mecca of HK.
Off the Beaten Path
To get off the beaten path in Macau, head to the Coloane district, an island just south of Macau proper. Here, the terrain is much less developed and is home to several good hiking trails as well as large stretches of preserved forests. There are a couple of popular, if sparsely attended beaches here too, so a day spent seaside will not have the same crowds as those on the peninsula.
Hotels
Hotels in Macau vary greatly in price depending on the star rating and time of week. As recommended earlier, don't go for anything less than three stars unless you are comfortable spending your vacation in the middle of an informal red light district. Instead, a room in a three star hotel midweek will cost around $100 per night while a more luxurious room in a four or five star suite near the peninsula casinos during the peak weekend trade times will set you back between $250 and $400 per night.
Use the Hotelsio Rate Finder on the left to find cheap hotels in Macau.
(Photo:Fotolia/Matthew Grant)
