MACAU

“Gambling, greenery and glitz in a cultural mix” writes The LonelyPlanet of Macau. Centuries ago China gave the colony of Macau to the Portuguese in exchange for their help ridding the area of pirates. In 1999, the colony was repatriated to China becoming a Special Administrative Region (SAR), ending over 400 years of Portuguese administration. Today, operating under the Chinese “one country two systems” formula, Macau has been transformed into the “Las Vegas of the East”. Like Hong Kong, Macau has its own government, passports, visas, postal system and currency. The city’s atmosphere is a heady blend of colonial Europe, the Far East, and the glamour of the Sunset Strip.

GETTING THERE

The most convenient way to get to Macau is to fly to Hong Kong and take the ferry from Hong Kong International Airport Terminal. From your flight you can board the Ferry directly from Hong-Kong International airport. Ferries leave every 15 minutes during the day, and every hour at night. The trip takes up to an hour and costs approximately $25 USD.
A second ferry terminal is located in Hong-Kong city if neccessary.

If you are travelling from within Asia several airlines fly direct to Macau International Airport:

• AirAsia has multiple flights daily from Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur and Johor Bahru
• Cebu Pacific Air has daily flights from Manila.
• Tiger Airways has daily flights from Singapore and Clark Airbase, two hours north of Manila
• Viva Macau has flights from Jakarta, Male, Pusan, Sydney and Tokyo

From the Airport/ Terminal:

TAXIS: Licensed taxis in Macau are black or yellow in colour. Taxis in Macau are reasonably priced and as it is a small city, it is difficult to rack up charges. The flagfall charge for a taxi is MOP$13.50 for the first 1500 meters. MOP$1.50 will be added for every 180 meters afterwards.

BUS: Bus AP1 runs between the airport and the Barrier Gate. Its route passes through several points on Taipa Island, then Macau Tower, Hotel Lisboa, the Macau Art Museum, the Sands and the Ferry Terminal on the way. It costs MOP3.30.

ACCOMMODATION

PokerStars qualifiers will be staying at the beautiful Grand Lisboa and Casino.

We recommend the Grand Lisboa Hotel in Macau but the city also boasts a wide variety of other hotels from deluxe through standard to bed-and-breakfast style accommodation.

USEFUL INFORMATION

Visas: Residents of many countries, including the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Canada, Australia, and many European and Asian countries do not require a visa for visits of less than 20 days. Check the official government website at http://www.macautourism.gov.mo, before traveling.
Time: GMT+8
Language:Cantonese, Mandarin, some English
Climate: Cooler and less humid in November, but still sub-tropical. Note that most casinos have a dress code, which is casual, but shorts are generally not allowed.
Currency: Macanese pataca (MOP) Exchange. $1 US = 8 MOP
Note: Try not to leave Macau with a lot of Patacas, they are quite hard to exchange in Western countries. Voltage: 220 volts
Official tourist website: Macau Government Tourist Office