Hong Kong and Macau_ City Guide (Lonely Planet, 14th Edition) - Andrew Stone [277]
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POST
Correios de Macau, Macau’s postal system, is efficient and inexpensive.
The main post office ( Map; 2832 3666; 126 Avenida de Almeida Ribeiro; 9am-6pm Mon-Fri, 9am-1pm Sat) faces Largo do Senado; pick up poste restante from counter one or two. There are other post offices in Macau Peninsula, including a Macau ferry terminal branch ( Map; 2872 8079; 10am-7pm Mon-Sat).
Domestic letters cost MOP$1.50/2 for up to 20/50g, while those to Hong Kong are MOP$2.50/4. For international mail, Macau divides the world into zones: zone 1 (MOP$4/5 for up to 10/20g) is east and Southeast Asia; zone 2 (MOP$5/6.50) is everywhere else except for the mainland, which is MOP$3.50/4.50, and Portugal (MOP$4/5.50).
EMS Speedpost ( 2859 6688) is available at the main post office. Other companies that can arrange express forwarding are DHL ( 2837 2828), Federal Express ( 2870 3333) and UPS ( 2875 1616).
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TELEPHONE
Macau’s telephone service provider is Companhia de Telecomunicações de Macau (CTM; inquiry hotline 1000; www.ctm.net). Note that from 2009, all numbers in Macau, except emergency numbers, turned to eight digits. The initial digits of ‘28’ were added to all six-digit telephone numbers and fax numbers, ‘8’ was added to all seven-digit numbers and ‘6’ was added to mobile phone numbers.
Local calls are free from private telephones, while at a public pay phone they cost MOP$1 for five minutes. Most hotels will charge you at least MOP$3. All pay phones permit International Direct Dialling (IDD) using a phonecard available from CTM for MOP$50 or MOP$100. Rates are cheaper from 9pm to 8am during the week and all day Saturday and Sunday. Prepaid SIM cards are also available from CTM for MOP$50 (for local calls) and MOP$100 (with IDD and international roaming).
The international access code for every country, except Hong Kong, is 00. If you want to phone Hong Kong, dial 01 first, then the number you want; you do not need to dial Hong Kong’s country code ( 852). To call Macau from abroad – including Hong Kong – the country code is 853.
Convenient CTM branches in Macau include the following:
CTM branch ( Map; 22 Rua do Doutor Pedro José Lobo; 10.30am-7.30pm) South of Avenida da Praia Grande.
CTM main office ( Map; 25 Rua Pedro Coutinho; 10.30am-7.30pm) Two blocks northeast of the Lou Lim Ioc Garden.
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Useful Numbers
The following is a list of some important tele-phone numbers. For numbers to call in the case of an emergency, see Click here .
International directory assistance ( 101)
Local directory assistance ( 181)
Macau ferry terminal ( 8790 7240)
New World First Ferry ( 2872 6301)
Tourist Hotline ( 2833 3000)
TurboJet ( 8790 7039)
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TOURIST INFORMATION
The Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO; 2831 5566; www.macautourism.gov.mo) is a well-organised and helpful source of information. It has a half-dozen outlets scattered around town, including ones in the Largo do Senado ( Map; 8397 1120; 9am-6pm), at the Guia Lighthouse ( Map; 2856 9808; 9am-1pm & 2.15-5.30pm), at the ruins of the Church of St Paul ( Map; 2835 8444; 10am-6pm) and in the Macau ferry terminal ( Map; 2872 6416; 9am-10pm). Its dispenses information and a large selection of free literature, including pamphlets on everything from Chinese temples and Catholic churches to fortresses, gardens and walks. The MGTO also runs a tourist assistance unit ( 2834 0390; 9am-6pm) to help travellers who run into trouble.
MGTO also has a Hong Kong branch ( Map; 2857 2287; 11th fl, Yue Thai Commercial Bldg, 128 Connaught Rd Central, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong; 9am-1pm & 2.15-5.30pm).
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VISAS
Most travellers, including citizens of the EU, Australia, New Zealand, the USA, Canada and South Africa, can enter Macau with just their passports for between 30 and 90 days.
Travellers who do require them can get visas valid for 30 days on arrival in Macau. They cost MOP$100/50/200