THE WANDER GIRLS’ TOP 10 TIPS: MACAU

THE WANDER GIRLS’ TOP 10 +1 TIPS: MACAU

By: Ysabel Villaflor

1. GRAB A MAP AT THE AIRPORT AFTER IMMIGRATION.

Why? When most of people don’t speak English and when those who do seem so unclear, the MAP is your best friend. Don’t worry, it’s free and it’s translated in different languages. Be sure to get one in your language. If you do forget to grab a copy at the airport, don’t fret, there are free maps available at the Tourism Office at Senado Square.

2. TRANSLATE YOUR DESTINATIONS IN CHINESE.

If you’re riding a taxi or taking the bus routes, the best way to communicate with your cabbie is showing him your destination in Chinese. Why? Most of the people in Macau hardly speak any English. Case in point: when my friend and I arrived in Macau at 12am, we didn’t have a tour bus waiting for us. So we decided to take the taxi. Before we went out the airport, we approached the Airport Information Desk and had the officer translate the name of our hotel in Chinese. It only took a nod for the cabbie to get it, and in no time, we were already at our destination. No misunderstanding, no Charades. You can also try getting the hotel's business cards since most are written in Chinese with English translations.

Added Tip: When in the Tourism office, grab brochures of your destination. Usually, the pics from the brochures is enough for the cabbies to understand where you want to go. J

Another tip: Lining up for a taxi is not a practice some locals do. So be fast to grab on to your cab unless you want someone else to go ahead before you.

3. CONVERT CURRENCY IN HK$.

If you are going trans-country between Hong Kong and Macau, it is better to convert your money in HK$. Why? Because HK$ are widely accepted in Macau BUT not vice-versa. 1 MOP (Macau Pataca) is almost equivalent to 1 Hong Kong Dollar anyways. It saves you time from going again and again at a money exchanger.

4. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF FREE SHUTTLE SERVICES!

The Venetian, the Wynn just to name a few, offer free shuttle service.

Whether you will be coming from the airport or the ferry, these buses can drive you to and from their hotels. A bus leaves every 15-minutes so it’s convenient and saves you a lot of time and money.

5. AVOID THE CROWD, GO AT NIGHT

Going around the famous spots like the Ruinas can be a pain if you go during rush hour. The crowds are thick and there maybe some shoving involved. The best way to see Senado and the Ruins is at night. No crowds. No shoving. The best part: all the sites are lit up at night for better appreciation: here's a Link to know what i mean: http://wandergirls.blogspot.com/2010/12/macau-at-night.html

6. BRING A UNIVERSAL ADAPTOR

The electrical outlet in Macau is 3 pronged with the two prongs at the top arranged horizontally and the third one vertically. Unless you want to look for a hardware or electrical company in Macau, having universal adaptor is your best bet.

7. ASK VACANCY AT BUDGET HOTEL IN THE MORNING

Don’t bother asking at night. Most of the receptionists at these hotels would only accommodate pre-booked clients via travel agency or websites such as macau.com or agoda .com who have their rooms ready. In the morning, when most guests check-out, it is the best to ask. Besides, the night receptionists who are at these budget hotels don’t speak any English and their jobs are purely ministerial i.e. giving the keys to the guests.

8. BRINGING HOME THE EGG TARTS

The best souvenir to bring from Macau is the famous Portuguese Egg Tart. Looking for them is another story. If you are buying at the Venetian on the way to the airport, Koh Kei Bakery charges MOP1 more than if you buy outside the Venetian.

9. BRING HAND-CARRY SIZED LUGGAGE ON THE FERRY/ TAKE NOTE OF EXCESS BAGGAGE REQUIREMENTS

Most ferry companies charge MOP20 for oversized luggage. So the best bet is to bring hand-carry sized bags because they won’t cost you. It’s nice to shop at bargain prices but take note of your airline’s excess baggage charge. Your bargains might bite you back in the butt. If you’re flying via Cebu Pacific, the maximum weight is 15kgs per person and 7kgs for the hand carry luggage. Any excess will be charged MOP30 per kilo.

Another Tip: Once you go through the X-ray machine of the Macau International Airport, try not to open your bags and take-out or put in stuff in your bag. Why? Because you would have to re-do going through X-ray AGAIN for putting stuff in or out of your bag. True story. I can attest to that.

10. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE FREE FOOD

The street leading to Rua Do Sao Paulo is laden with free goody treats… so take advantage of the free food while experiencing the sights. You might be surprised how good those cookies are. Egg Tarts however, don’t have free tastes.

+ 1 TIP: BRING BONAMINE OR ANTI-MOTION DRUG.

The ferry ride can be bumpy. Do yourself a favor and drink 1 tablet before you go.

Love,

WGysabs

December 28, 2010