Place to stay in Macau
 

I just booked a flight Munich-BKK-Macau for about a week in December. I on a budget and would like to spend no more than $60/night. Is this possible and is there a place you could recommend?
Thanks!!

You have lots of choices for 3-4* hotels in Macau. Basically, you can get that rate for most hotels in Macau except for a handful of 5* hotels.

The problem is that it's not easy to get those rates ahead or online. I always book my hotel at one of the numerous agents at the ferry terminal in Hong Kong. I have never been to the Macau airport, but I'd assume you'll find travel agents there to book hotels. Still, see the rates on asiahotels.com and see what you can get.

As for specific hotel choices for under $60 or 500 MOP, here are some old-time favorites: <b>Sintra</b> (old hotel, but relatively large rooms), <b>Royal</b> (on a hillside, a little far from most major casinos, but fine for sightseeing), <b>New Century</b> (large hotel with casino on Taipa Island - very close to airport).

Most of the newer hotels are fine and close to the ferry pier, but that area is not the most attractive - just a whole bunch of new buildings tightly packed together. These include the Presidente, Grandeur, Casa Real, Golden Dragon, etc.

Thanks!!! :-) So maybe if I don't book now, but rather wait and check out those places on the internet, I won't run into problems finding something in mid December?

I really don't think you'll have a problem unless you're going on Christmas holiday (i.e. like 12/24-26), or weekends around that time, when most Hong Kong people have the days off to go gamble.

You can even wait until you get to Macau to book. Unlike many tourist destinations of the world, most people do not pre-book trips to Macau, so I think you can get rooms last minute. Again, I've never booked hotels in advance for Macau. Always wait until I get to the ferry terminal in Hong Kong, then book for same night hotel.

Well for that rate, Logos (even for far more than that rate) you ain't going to find anything great-and I mean particularly from the service end-people do like the Westin Macau-and I've been there-it's quite nice, but it's also pretty far out-I'd stay more in the middle of town (not on Taipa Island) if I were you-it's more interesting in the center, with its lovely Portuguese colonial buildings, and good Asian antique stores-and you don't have to spend money in taxis or buses going back and forth.

But the hotel scene in Macau is not great, by any means. The Pousada de Sao Tioga on Avenida de Republica is about the best-but the rates are almost 200/nt.

Under no circumstances would I advise you to stay at the Hyatt on Taipa-that place is a dump!

I'll wait and (hopefully) find something at the airport. :-) I'm not expecting a $25 (including breakfast) Bavarian Pension or luxury. Just some ordinary place. :-)

Right. Basically, for your budget, you won't get into these hotels: Mandarin Oriental, Landmark, Lisboa, Westin, Sao Tiago &amp; the Hyatt (not that you want to stay at the Hyatt). I think any other hotel is possible for your budget.

Well, I'll be leaving in a few hours.
Thanks for your advice :-)

logos999 - I was in Macau 2 weeks ago. I stayed at the Sintra, and I would recommend again it, as well as the Royal, if one's going to Macau for its historical sites. Both are close to them, and neither have a major casino it in. [Royal does have some slot machines.]

The going rate is about MOP430-500 for weekday. Which is about $60. A little more for weekend.

Thanks! I stayed at the Ritz. Could have been better for the money (500 mop). I thought the 5* would be real... :-) But anyway the city is nice. Will be in Macau again a few days before chrristmas and try the Sintra then.

I've stayed at the Ritz before too. 500MOP is about right for that. [Just ignore the star ratings - they don't mean much.] I just find its location a little too remote, with no place to eat nearby.

Hi all

Am planning for a trip with my parents, in-laws and some toddlers to Macau-HK and looking for a location that the oldies won't gripe about (if you know what I mean - about distance to walk, food, confort...)

Any good ideas for hotels that are value-for-$$?

Brought my family - kids aged 10 and 8 stayed at Sintra. IMHO the location is good. It's about 5-10 minute walk (depending on pace) to Senado Square. There's food available nearby. Only tried the Chinese dim sum for breakfast at the hotel restaurant. Food decent and price reasonable. Around the corner is a Chinese eating place which my family loved.
There is no casino in the hotel which is a good thing for families. For adults the Grand Lisboa is just across the road. The Lisboa, Wynn's and MGM Grand is a short distance away.

There's free shuttle from Sintra to the ferry terminal, Yaohan (which is a short walk to Fisherman's wharf).

Stayed at the <b>Royal</b> with family few days ago. It has gone through very nice room updates, and is really really nice.

Paid about HK$1,000 for a package of room + 2 sets of r/t Turbojet tickets at one of the agents in the Macau Ferry Terminal on HK Island. Subtracting the ferry costs, room is under $500 a night. Weekdays. So, basically no change from what I wrote 18 months ago.

Main issue with its location is its lack of taxi cabs at times. All the taxi cabs in Macau seem to running among the Ferry Pier, Lisboa/Wynn/MGM, Venetian, Portas do Cerco, and no where else. They do have a bi-hourly complimentary shuttle from hotel to Lisboa/Wynn/Sands and the ferry pier.

Location-wise, Sintra is better. But Royal has nicer rooms.

Just want to add that nowadays it can be difficult to get a cab, disregarding where you are. So, don't count only on it unless you have time and patience.

True. On the other hand, the buses (while crowded) are cheap, and some run interesting routes.

For example, we got on #18 in front of Vasco da Gama garden down from the Royal, and it went to the Macau Tower, then turned around and passed through the World Heritage sites on the Penha Peninsula before dropping down to the A-Ma Temple.

And plenty of frequent buses going to the old Taipa and Coloane villages from in front of the Lisboa.

Just returned from Macau. Stayed at the Royal. Very nice. A good value, I thought. Located on a hill near the hill top light house fort and close to the sightseeing. Macaus is small so all is easy to see. Keep in mind that its similar to las vegas in that the room rates go up dramatically on the weekend.

Am presently planning a 2-week visit to HK with short side-trip to Macau in Nov of 09 (visiting friends in DB). I have heard of the great electronics/camera shopping in Macau but can find little on the 'net. Can anyone provide reasonable comparison of selection/pricing between HK and Macau on these types of items? (websites, esp. of Macau shopping, would be great too).

Thanks in advance.

I have never heard of Macau being a place for buying electronics. Unless you're talking about used Rolexes. Tonnes of pawn shops, all with hundreds of them.

Thanks for speedy reply! A fellow student (back when I was in University) was from Macau and had an enormous stereo that he'd said was &quot;dirt cheap&quot; from there. Of course that was some thirty--mumble years back so I thought it was time to seek enlightenment! (and naturally the Macau websites advertise the duty-free status of Macau....but they do have their own agendae!)

What better place than here to update information? :o)

Thanks again: guess I'll stick with HK for now.