Hong Kong and Macau_ City Guide (Lonely Planet, 14th Edition) - Andrew Stone [276]
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DISCOUNT CARDS
The Macau Museums Pass – a card allowing you entry to the Grand Prix Museum, the Macau Wine Museum, the Maritime Museum, Lin Zexu Memorial Hall in Lin Fung Temple, the Macau Museum of Art and the Macau Museum – is valid for five days. It costs MOP$25/12 for adults/concessions, and is available from the MGTO or any participating museum.
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EMERGENCY
In the event of any emergency, phone the central SOS number ( 999) for the fire services, police or an ambulance. Important numbers:
Ambulance ( 2837 8311)
Consumer Council ( 8988 9315)
Fire service ( 2857 2222)
Police ( 2857 3333)
Tourist Assistance Hotline ( 2834 0390; 9am-6pm)
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HOLIDAYS
In Macau, half-days are allowed on the day before the start of Chinese New Year and on the day of New Year’s Eve. For holidays celebrated in both Hong Kong and Macau, see Click here . The following are public holidays in Macau only:
All Souls’ Day 2 November
Feast of the Immaculate Conception 8 December
Macau SAR Establishment Day 20 December
Winter Solstice 22 December
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INTERNET ACCESS
In NAPE, you can check your email at the Unesco Internet Café ( Map; 2872 7066; Alameda Doutor Carlos d’Assumpção; per 30/60min MOP$5/10; noon-8pm Wed-Mon), and for free at two terminals located in the MGTO ( Map; 8397 1120; 9am-6pm) at Largo do Senado.
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LEFT LUGGAGE
There are electronic lockers on both the arrivals and departure levels of the Macau ferry terminal. They cost MOP$20 or MOP$25, depending on the size, for the first two hours and MOP$25/30 for each additional 12-hour period. There is also a left-luggage office on the departures level that’s open from 6.45am to midnight daily. It charges MOP$10 for the first six hours and another MOP$10 till midnight. Each additional day costs MOP$10.
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MAPS
The MGTO distributes the excellent (and free) Macau Tourist Map, with major tourist sights and streets labelled in English, Portuguese and Chinese characters, small inset maps of Taipa and Coloane, and bus routes marked.
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MEDICAL SERVICES
Macau’s two hospitals both have 24-hour emergency services.
Conde São Januário Central Hospital ( Map; 2831 3731; Estrada do Visconde de São Januário) Southwest of Guia Fort.
Kiang Wu Hospital ( Map; 2837 1333; Rua de Coelho do Amaral) Northeast of the ruins of the Church of St Paul.
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MONEY
Macau’s currency is the pataca (MOP$), which is divided up into 100 avos. Bills are issued in denominations of MOP$10, MOP$20, MOP$50, MOP$100, MOP$500 and MOP$1000. There are little copper coins worth 10, 20 and 50 avos, and silver-coloured MOP$1, MOP$2, MOP$5 and MOP$10 coins.
The pataca is pegged to the Hong Kong dollar at the rate of MOP$103.20 to HK$100. As a result, exchange rates for the pataca are virtually the same as for the Hong Kong dollar. Hong Kong bills and coins (except the $10 coins) are accepted everywhere in Macau. When you spend Hong Kong dollars in big hotels, restaurants and department stores, usually your change will be returned in that currency. Try to use up all your patacas before leaving Macau.
Most ATMs allow you to choose between patacas and Hong Kong dollars, and credit cards are readily accepted at Macau’s hotels, larger restaurants and casinos. You can also change cash and travellers cheques at the banks lining Avenida da Praia Grande and Avenida de Almeida Ribeiro, as well as at major hotels.
Banco Comercial de Macau ( Map; 2879 1000; 572 Avenida da Praia Grande; 9am-5pm Mon-Fri, 9am-12.30pm Sat)
Banco Nacional Ultramarino ( Map; 2835 5111; 22 Avenida de Almeida Ribeiro; 9am-5.30pm Mon-Fri)
Bank of China ( Map; 2878 1828; Avenida do Doutor Mario Soares; 9am-5pm Mon-Fri)
HSBC ( Map; 2855 3669; 639 Avenida