MACAU – LAS VEGAS OF ASIA
Macau – the Las Vegas of Asia – it’s long been on my bucket list!
While travelling in Asia, I was keen to experience the fun attractions and the cosmopolitan hotels and Macau casinos and resorts and see how they compared to their doppelgangers in Las Vegas, USA.
In September, we flew to Macau from Kuala Lumpur Malaysia, but right up to the day of our departure we didn’t know if our trip was actually going ahead because just a few days earlier a devastating typhoon had hit Macau.
We certainly didn’t want to add to the burden of the recovery effort, so contacted our hotel to check on the status of our booking, and it was made clear to us that the city was recovering quickly and it was business as usual.
I also contacted our airline for an update and was told that our flight was as unaffected and as scheduled.
So we decided to go ahead with our trip to Macau but confine our stay to the Cotai Area and The Strip.
This meant we’d keep away from the historic part of Macau as news reports were saying it had been worst hit by the typhoon.
WHERE TO STAY IN MACAU
The backpacking husband and I stayed for two nights at the colonial looking and four star The Holiday Inn in Cotai on ‘the strip’ and in close proximity to the centre of Macau.
We wanted to be close to the other larger hotels and to the five star The Parisian Hotel where we had tickets for the final night of the Michael Jackson tribute show, ‘Thriller’.
On arrival, the weather in Macau was not so good – it was wet and stormy – but that hardly mattered when almost all the hotels and attractions in Macau are undercover.
On the occasion that we did briefly venture outside, we did see evidence of storm damage.
Many high-rise hotels had broken windows and at ground level many palm trees looked like broken stumps.
We did manage a fun ride in the gondolas at The Wynn and we had a fabulous lunch too – at the famous Fontana Buffet – which we had also enjoyed in Vegas.
I can report that in comparison they are both equally as good!
Also see my post on my top things to do in Las Vegas USA!
FIND YOUR PERFECT PLACE TO STAY IN MACAU USING THIS INTERACTIVE MAP
We had a walk around all the famous the resort hotels that both Macau and Las Vegas are known for: The Wynn, The Venetian, The Mandarin Oriental, The Ritz Carlton, The St Regis, The Conrad, The Sheraton, and others.
Still in Macau – but not Las Vegas – is the famous Sands Hotel and Resort.
Inside The Venetian Macao, I wouldn’t have known that I wasn’t in the one in Vegas. It’s exactly the same!
With its canals and operatic singing gondola drivers and exclusive shops and fabulous sky dome interior.
But the highlight of our trip to Macau was attending The Thriller Live Show at The Parisian Hotel.
A show that had started in the West End in London and travelled throughout the world.
It was the final night of the show in Macau.
It was truly fabulous and everyone was up dancing!
INTERESTING ASPECTS OF MACAU
SAR: Macau, located on the southern coast of China, is officially known as the Macao Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China. (SAR) Macau operates under the “one country, two systems” principle similar to Hong Kong.
History: Macau was the first and last European colony in China. It has a rich history, having been a Portuguese colony for over 400 years, until it was handed back to China in 1999.
Economy: Macau’s economy is heavily dependent on tourism and gaming. It is often referred to as the “Las Vegas of Asia” due to its thriving casino industry and it being a major destination for gamblers from around the world.
Although much smaller in size than Las Vegas, Macau has actually surpassed Las Vegas USA in terms of gambling revenue!
The Macanese Pataca (MOP) is the official currency of Macau.
Food: Macau is renowned for its unique culinary scene, which is a fusion of Chinese and Portuguese influences. The city is famous for its street food, dim sum, and Portuguese egg tarts.
MACAU TO HONG KONG
Klook.comAfter a truly amazing couple of days in Macau, the backpacking husband and I were excited to also be heading to Hong Kong.
Hong Kong is only an hour away from Macau by High Speed Ferry.
Do join me travelling to Hong Kong in my next post in which we eat dim sum in Dim Sum Square, ride along the streets on a ‘ding-ding’, explore the colourful harbour and admire the famous skyline, take a tram up to Victoria Peak and a Star Ferry over to the island of Kowloon with its famed Temple Street Market!
Have you ever experienced Macau?
Is it a place you’d find interesting?
Leave a comment and let me know?
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