HOTEL REVIEW: Pousada De São Tiago, Macau

Pousada De São Tiago is more gorgeous than I’ve ever dreamt a hotel could be.

Room type: De Barra Suite with harbour view

* 1 bedroom, 1 lounge area, 1 bathroom, 1 powder room, 1 terraza

Price: HKD$3,278 (P17,800/US$420) per night
* Expect an additional HKD$4000+ in fees and food/drinks in 1 night.

Rating: 10 out of 5 Stars

PROS: Yes, you’ve read it right. It’s a 10 out of 5 stars for São Tiago, because it far exceeded any of my expectations.

The suite was exquisitely appointed, from the divine bed (I’ve-died-and-gone-to-heaven soft) to the opulent old fortress-inspired décor, the Bang & Olufsen surround sound entertainment systems, the Jacuzzi in the bathroom bedecked in tortoiseshell tiles, the Hermes toiletries and the spacious terraza with the relaxing view of the Praia Grande Bay. No detail was too small, no cost too high, for the developers of this beautiful hotel.

São Tiago is a refreshing alternative to the casino-hotels crowding the Macau area. The hotel is housed within a 17th century Portuguese fort, giving it an elegant and nostalgic feel. 12 suites with modern facilities are available for the most discerning guest to choose from.

Also within the fort are La Paloma (hotel restaurant) and the Cascata Bar, both serving Spanish cuisine on the finest china and in the most luxurious surroundings. Food was mostly passable, but their bread and cheeses are a MUST TRY.

We had the hotel practically to ourselves when we went. The hotel's exclusivity makes it perfect for those who are looking for a quiet, plush place to stay in (honeymooners take note) amid the hustle and bustle of Macau.

CONS: Service needs improvement. We arrived at the hotel at around 8p.m.,

with no porter or guard to greet us. We lugged our luggage up the stairs to the reception area. Service was OK at best.

An anecdote: We were late in checking out since I had to be unglued from the delicious pampering of the Jacuzzi. When we finally went downstairs, the people at the reception were acting super bitchy. With the price that we paid for the lodgings and the grub, plus the fact that it appeared we were the only guests in the hotel, I though the treatment they gave us was excessive and unwarranted. It killed off any of our desire to extend.

No iPod speaker dock. This would have sweetened the deal. There’s a TV embedded in the bathroom mirror but no iPod player? It boggles the mind. Am I really expected to carry CDs around in the 21st century?? This is a pet peeve of mine when it comes to hotels.

Also, the tacky, ugly and weird miniatures of mountain ranges and fountains lining (littering) the corridors must be removed, destroyed, bulldozed, bombed. They look lost in this hauntingly beautiful hotel.

* * *

Beyond these, Pousada De São Tiago is still, hands-down, the best hotel I’ve ever stayed in.

It has become my yardstick in measuring all other hotels. It comes as no surprise that every hotel after it (and before it) disappoints. São Tiago looks even better than the pictures.

I can’t wait to be back in São Tiago again. 

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