Hong Kong and Macau_ City Guide (Lonely Planet, 14th Edition) - Andrew Stone [272]
VENETIAN MACAO RESORT HOTEL Map Hotel $$$
2882 8888; www.venetianmacao.com; Estrada da Baía de Nossa Senhora da Esperança; ste MOP$1600-4500;
Well, you need a map to navigate this elephantine resort complex, and getting lost is not unheard of! With 3000 lavishly decor-ated suites in its 32-storey tower, this man-made wonderland has countless amenities catering to luxury over hedonism. It’s worth checking its website for packages that often come with complimentary ferry tickets.
HOTEL TAIPA Map Hotel $$
2882 1666; www.hoteltaipa.com; 822 Estrada Governador Nobre Carvalho; r MOP$1280-2080, ste MOP$2680-4880
This Best Western chain is a decent place to stay, though it’s lacking in character. It’s an aircrew’s favourite and has less tourist groups staying here. A nice 60% discount is usually on offer.
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Coloane Island
WESTIN RESORT MACAU Map Hotel $$$
2887 1111; www.westin.com/macau; 1918 Estrada de Hác Sá; r MOP$2200-2700, ste from MOP$5000;
Each room has a large terrace in this ‘island resort’ complex, boasting excellent vistas of the mountains and Hác Sá beach. The attached 18-hole golf course ( Click here ), two swimming pools and an outdoor spa allow you to soak up the ample sun and the relaxing country club atmosphere. Enjoy a sundowner at its delightful Café Panorama ( 8899 1020; 11am-1am).
POUSADA DE COLOANE Map Inn $$
2888 2143; www.hotelpcoloane.com.mo; Estrada de Cheoc Van; r MOP$780-880;
We’ve got mixed reports about this inn. While some rooms are nicely furnished, others are poorly maintained. Check the rooms before you check in. For the nice ones you’ll swear you’ve landed in an inn in Lisbon. Rooms are decorated with fantastic Portuguese-style tiles and furniture, as well as whirlpool bathtubs. The location above Cheoc Van beach is about as chilled as you’ll find. The attached Portuguese restaurant has a great bar area. Midweek, rooms are discounted to MOP$580.
POUSADA DE JUVENTUDE DE CHEOC VAN Map Hostel $
2888 2024; Rua de António Francisco; dm/d Sun-Fri MOP$20/50, Sat MOP$30/80
To stay either here or at the hostel at Hác Sá ( Click here ), you must book through the Education & Youth Services Department ( 2855 5533; www.dsej.gov.mo) and have a Hostelling International (HI) card. During the high season (summer and holidays), competition for beds is high and it might be shut altogether in August. The hostel has a garden and a small kitchen for making hot drinks.
POUSADA DE JUVENTUDE DE HáC Sá Map Hostel $
2888 2701; Rua de Hác Sá Long Chao Kok; dm/d Sun-Fri MOP$20/50, Sat MOP$30/80
This circular, grey-tiled building, at the southern end of Hác Sá beach, is more modern than the Cheoc Van hostel, though it’s sometimes reserved for groups only.
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TRANSPORT
MACAU TO HONG KONG
Air
Travel to Macau by helicopter is a viable option and is becoming increasingly popular for residents and visitors alike.
Sky Shuttle ( in Hong Kong 2108 9898; www.skyshuttlehk.com) runs a 16-minute helicopter shuttle service between Macau and Hong Kong (HK$2300, tax included) with up to 28 daily flights leaving between 9am and 11pm. Flights arrive and depart in Macau from the roof of the ferry terminal ( Map; 8790 7240). In Hong Kong departures are from the helipad atop the ferry pier that is linked to the Shun Tak Centre ( Map; 2859 3359; 200 Connaught Rd Central) in Sheung Wan.
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Sea
The vast majority of people make their way from Macau to Hong Kong by ferry. The journey takes just an hour and there are frequent departures throughout the day, with reduced service between midnight and 7am.
TurboJet ( 8790 7039, in Hong Kong information 2859 3333, bookings 2921 6688; www.turbojet.com.hk) operates three types of vessels (economy/superclass Monday to Friday