 |
|
|
 add to Travel Bag (NEW)
Although Macau may be nothing more than a dot on the map, it does have a plethora of hotels ranging from excellent, five-star establishments right down to backpacker hostels. So, there is something for everyone.
Anyone who has reeled at the room prices in nearby Hong Kong will be relieved to hear that Macau's hotels are cheaper, and there are ways and means to make these prices even more attractive.
The first is obvious: avoid the peak summer season. Public holidays are the other no-nos, especially Chinese New Year, which sees price hikes wherever it is celebrated. Motor racing fans are advised to book early for the Macau Grand Prix, which hoteliers again use as an excuse to charge exorbitant prices.
Weekdays, including Fridays, are cheaper by far, especially if rooms are booked through a travel agent. Anyone traveling to Macau via Hong Kong should visit the travel agents at the Macau Ferry Terminal on Hong Kong Island. Discounts are 30 percent, or more, depending on the season, for hotels classed as three-star and above. Say goodbye to fleapits, and hello to luxury and sophistication!
Similar discounts are also available from the hotel-booking counters at the Macau Jetfoil pier. Unfortunately, the actual hotels do not offer such great deals within their own foyers, so booking before arrival is the best option.
So, where are the best hotels? The Macau Peninsula plays host to the greatest number of hotels in the territory, some gleaming towers of glass while others have made their home in old colonial relics.
Dotted along the southern coastline of the peninsula are the top-quality hotels with fine views of the harbor. Just a few minutes from the Jetfoil pier, is the resort-style Mandarin Oriental. A little further along, and more centrally situated, is Macau’s most famous hotel, the Lisboa, with its unmistakable yellow-and-white 70s exterior. Right along the southern tip of the peninsula are the Pousada Ritz and the Pousada de São Tiago, the latter having taken over an old fort dating to 1627.
Not far from the town centre is a cluster of three and four-star hotels, all much the same, apart from the odd rotating restaurant and karaoke bar. Ranked highest is the Holiday Inn, which sits cheek by jowl with the New World Emperor, Presidente, Fortuna, Beverly Plaza and Grandeur hotels. A little further towards the Jetfoil pier is the Kingsway.
For anyone looking to be in the midst of everything, there is the Metropole and Sintra, no more than a stroll away from the Largo do Senado and its colorful environs.
A little further out of town, if that is possible in tiny Macau, are the Guia and Royal, both situated at the foot of Guia Hill with its fort, lighthouse and chapel.
Right in the heart of the peninsula, geographically speaking, are the Fu Hua and the Mondial. The surrounding area is home to the Lou Lim Ioc Gardens, the <Sun Yat Sen Memorial House and a cluster of historical buildings.
If a fast getaway is a must, there is the Nam Yue, which is within walking distance of the Jetfoil pier and the Grand Prix Museum.
Taipa, one of Macau’s two islands, has several stylish hotels to offer. Situated along the northern coastline of the island, with fine views over the harbour towards the peninsula, are the resort-style New Century and Hyatt Regency. For avid horseracing fans, there is the Grandview, which overlooks the Macau Jockey Club and racetrack.
Linking the islands of Taipa and Coloane is a new area of reclaimed land. Earmarked for extensive development, this brand new district called Cotai lays claim to another of Macau’s many luxury hotels, the Pousada Marina Infante, which opened its doors just a few days before the handover to China in December 1999.
Coloane is the southern most area within Macau, and is definitely the place to get away from it all. With little signs of development, the luxurious Pousada de Coloane and the Westin Resort are great places at which to enjoy a few days of relaxation with wonderful views of the South China Sea.
Last, but by no means least, Coloane is also home to Macau’s only camping ground, just in case there is no room at the luxury hotel!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Macau Hotels Guide
Company Info | About Wcities | Services | Contact Us | Careers
Copyright © 1999-2008 wcities.com all rights reserved
|
|
| |
|
Travel Bag
Interested in writing content for Wcities?