Winter Season in MACAU :)

Jan 19 - 21, 2011

it was my first time to visit macau in this chilly and cold weather. it was absolutely great!

it was also my first time to travel overseas from DMIA in Clark, Pampanga.

here goes my travel ramblings...

GOING TO/FROM/AROUND

Megamall to DMIA via Philtranco bus - 300 php/pax

* we took the 3:00 pm schedule; though the bus arrived at around 3:20 pm

* you may reserve seats online through philtranco's website

DMIA to Megamall via Philtranco bus - 300 php/pax

* according to the saleslady, bus will leave as soon as all the passengers from the plane have disembarked.

* left DMIA at around past 12:00 noon, arrived megamall by 1:30 pm

 inside DMIA

 at the runway

Macau Airport to Hotel Metropole - taxi fare was ~80 MOP

* we originally planned to take grand emperor shuttle bus but the lady who manned Tourist Information told us shuttle was only til 7pm.

Macau - Hongkong via NWFF (new world first ferry) - 135 HKD/pax

* left macau by 10:30 am, arrived HK at around 11:45 am

ferry tickets are available at the 2nd floor

inside NWFF

Metropole Hotel to Macau ferry terminal - free shuttle bus of the hotel

* we should have taken the taxi instead. it took us 30 minutes from hotel to ferry as the bus dropped by to 3 more hotel chains. hay naku!

ACCOMMODATION

we stayed at Metropole Hotel for 2 nights. we booked our rooms (twin bed with extra bed) through http://www.macau.com/en

Pros

• 5 minute walk to senado square
• 1 minute walk to yaohan mall
• cheaper room rates compared to other hotels in the area
• able to check in & out smoothly

CONs

• beds are terribly hard (mine was the extra bed, infairness the foldable spring bed is better than the room's actual beds)
• only 1 channel on TV
• thin towels
• bathroom lock is jammed. we can't close the door from the outside as it will not open. happened to us once and need to call the housekeeping.

OUR TRAVEL ITINERARY

here's our condensed itinerary :)

Jan 19

-Megamall to Clark (philtranco bus)

-DMIA - Macau Airport (cebu pacific plane)

-Macau Airport - Hotel Metropole (taxi)

-Senado Square and Ruins of St. Paul (walk)

-late dinner at mcdo

-Grand Lisboa, Wynn and MGM (walk)

-watched Dragon Show at Wynn

-late snacks at Square 8 at MGM

-back to hotel at around 2 am (walk)

Jan 20

-Senado Square and Ruins of St.Paul (walk)

-MJ Gallery at Ponte 16 (walk from Senado Square)

-Venetian Hotel (from Ponte 16, rode shuttle bus to ferry terminal, then rode venetian shuttle bus)

-lunch at venetian food court

-City of dreams (walk)

-back to Venetian Hotel (walk)

-Fisherman's Wharf (from Venetian, we rode shuttle going to Sands Hotel then walked to wharf)

-Yaohan Mall for dinner (walked from wharf to ferry then rode grand emperor shuttle bus)

Jan 21

-checked out then rode the hotel shuttle bus

-rode NWFF bound to Hong Kong

Hotel Hopping and Tourist Spots

Senado Square and Ruins of St. Paul

it's every tourist destination when traveling to Macau. for me, these places are best explored at night. the lighting effects are visually pleasing.

at night

during the day

Michael Jackson's Gallery

i came across this gallery over the internet while i was researching for our trip. this gallery just opened February 2010 and the admission is free. based on google it is walkable from senado square so i included this in our itinerary.true enough, it was only 10 - 15 minute walk from senado square and the direction going to the gallery can not be missed. 

 MJ Gallery

 

MJ Cafe

Dragon Show at Wynn Hotel

it's just a 5 minute attraction showcasing a dragon at the hotel lobby. it was actually nice.

Fisherman's Wharf

the coldest place we went to. it is also best explored at night. there was rarely people around and almost all the shops are closed already.

Mini shows around Venetian Hotel

we were able to catch some short live performances while walking around venetian hotel. i liked the one where the lady was singing opera songs in a small window. it looked like a scene from romeo and juliet. cute!

Hotel Hopping

Hotel facades and their Interiors are best seen at night. with their amazing lights and design, everything's visually stimulating

Grand Lisboa

MGM

WYNN

Sofitel Ponte 16

Venetian Hotel

City of Dreams

FOOD

we were not able to sample the recommended restaurants to try in Macau. we just ate wherever and whenever. haha!

Mcdonalds at Senado Square

big mac, chicken wings, fillet of fish

Streetfoods along Ruins

fish balls, meat balls, egg tart, fruit juices

MGM Square 8 Restaurant

Malaysian sea food noodle soup

MGM's strawberry cheesecake

bread pudding (super yummy!)

Venetian Food court

Portuguese meals

Yaohan Mall food court

COSTING

this excludes food expenses

TRAVEL TIP/S

if you want a free and easy day tour of macau, here's an itinerary you can try:

Point of Origin: Macau Ferry Terminal
Ride grand lisboa hotel bus (green small hotel shuttle bus)
walk to senado square (straight ahead, around 10 min walk)
walk to ruins
walk back to senado square
walk to ponte 16 (straight ahead, around 10 min walk)
enter MJ gallery
ride sofitel ponte 16 hotel bus going to ferry terminal
transfer to city of dreams hotel bus
watch bubble show
cross the street going to venetian
ride hotel bus going to sands hotel
cross the street going to fisherman's wharf
walk back to sands hotel for shuttle bus or walk (15 min) going back to ferry terminal
ride wynn hotel bus
watch dragon show/tree of prosperity/fountain show
walk to MGM
ride MGM hotel bus going back to ferry terminal

FASHION TIP/S

for winter season, it is best to invest in a good and comfy jacket or coat. don't forget your scarfs, boots and bonnets. for me, it is important to include mittens or gloves in your winter outfits. your neck and feet might be covered but you'll still feel cold because your hands are bare. it is ok to overdress in macau :)

traveling in style

(gray turban, gray scarf, white turtleneck top, brown suede jacket with fur collar, denim mini skirt, red tights, uggs boots, chocolate brown gloves, gray bag)

(pink scarf, black knitted dress, blue stirrups, knee high black boots)

(leopard print earmuffs, red turtleneck sweater, black winter coat, black knitted dress, black bib necklace, blue stirrups, black knee high boots)