The Basics

The Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) is well managed.

Macau Government Tourist Office (335-341, Alameda Dr. Carlos d'Assumpção, Macau. 853/2833-3000 in Macau; 8238-8680 in Hong Kong. www.macautourism.gov.mo. The Centre Mark, 11th fl., 287-299 Queen's Rd. Central, Central, Hong Kong. 8238-8680. www.macautourism.gov.mo.)

To enter Macau, Americans, Canadians, and EU citizens need only a valid passport for stays of up to 90 days.

The Macanese pataca (MOP) has a fixed exchange rate of MOP$1.032 to HK$1 and roughly MOP$7 to US$1. Patacas come in 10, 20, 50, 100, 500, and 1,000 MOP banknotes plus 1, 5, and 10 MOP coins. A pataca is divided into 100 avos, which come in 10-, 20-, and 50-avo coins. Hong Kong dollars are accepted in Macau on a 1:1 basis.