The Ultimate Macau Vacation: 8D7N In The Las Vegas Of The East!

The God of Fortune is on the first floor of the Holiday Inn and is a recommended stopover before or after heading to Shrekfast.

Po-shaped anko-filled steamed buns is one of the most sought-after food.

These are quite probably the best Portuguese egg tarts I've had in the whole of Macau! Sweet and milky with a crispy, flaky cookie-batter pastry base!

Spring rolls. vegetable samosas, naan bread and potato curry.

Oh, no, Gingy!

With our stomachs full to bursting point, we decided that a nice little stroll around the Cotai Strip would help with digestion. Sadly, the rain foiled our plans yet again just as we were starting to walk so we took shelter in the nearest building to Sands: the City of Dreams. Here, we encountered dragons and Vquarium, a simulated underwater experience with mermaids.

(Stay for cheap at the City of Dreams, Macau! Book via Agoda!)

A panoramic shot of Vquarium at the City of Dreams.

We went back to the hotel when the rain turned into a drizzle, which continued on all afternoon. I had to cancel all other plans detailed in my itinerary. Had it not rained, we could have gone with the following activities:

Watch the Peacock Performance at Galaxy Macau.

A photo of Galaxy Macau's impressive pool deck.

(Galaxy Macau has the best pool deck in Macau! Book for cheap via Agoda!)

Party at Broadway Street (Avenida Marginal Flor de Lotus), which according to the image source has over 40 hawker-style street food market in Broadway Macau, connected through a link bridge from Galaxy Macau.

Broadway Street takes us back to the hustle and bustle of traditional Macau street markets, featuring authentic food, friendly service, great entertainment and fun! Photo from Broadway Macau.

View the Nam Van Cybernetic fountain, which they say is opposite the Headquarters of the Government of Macau. Photo from this link.

DAY 6

THE GOLDEN REEL AND BATMAN: DARK FLIGHT AT STUDIO CITY

We headed to Studio City on our sixth day in Macau. Before anything else, we were most concerned about where to grab some breakfast. For tourists like us who are looking for a mid-range restaurant, Studio City is gold. 

(Experience Studio City at 30% off or more! Book via Agoda!) 

Times Square in Studio City Macau intends to replicate New York, with fake subway stations, the facade of the Grand Central Station, and high-end shops!

Cute subway replica.

Could it really be Grand Station Terminal?

Sweet and Sticky Cafe. It's so cute!

Studio City has two different food courts for the budget-conscious (and for those looking for fast food): Cosmos Food Station and Macau Gourmet Walk.

Macau Gourmet Walk is a food court of sorts fashioned after Old Taipa Village. 

Those golden arches look curiously familiar..

They have a McDonald's!

Another familiar logo over there.

Cosmos Space Station is another food court; most of the food stalls here sell Western food (i.e. Fatboy's Burger).

After having a Gabriel Choy pulled chicken burger (MOP 8.00) from McDonald's for breakfast, I and my brother headed to the second floor, e-tickets in hand, to ride the Golden Reel. Unlike the House of Dancing Water in the City of Dreams which required e-tickets to be exchanged for physical tickets, e-tickets for Golden Reel (and Batman: Dark Flight, for that matter) can be presented in printed or digital form as the staff just need the barcode to facilitate your entry.

Studio City in Lego form.

The pods of the Golden Reel were fashioned after this old-fashioned Aerocopter.

The Golden Reel prides itself as the only figure-eight Ferris wheel in the world. The (make-believe) concept of the Golden Reel is that two twin asteroids blasted through the hotel, leaving an eight-shape in the middle of the towers.  Because it can't be repaired, management just put in pods and turned it into a major tourist attraction.

After having our barcodes scanned, we had our souvenir photos taken against a green background and were led to an elevator that took us to the 23rd floor to the Golden Reel pods. (Guests can have their own pod if there's no queue; otherwise, one pod has the capacity to carry ten people.)

Not really a nice view.

This is Studio City's rooftop pool? If I'd known how pretty it is, I'd have booked one or two nights here!

Stop for your photos and some souvenir here.

In my opinion, the ride was too short; the entire thing took more or less than twenty minutes. Riding the Golden Reel did not feel any different from riding a normal enclosed Ferris wheel, even while our pods moved over the figure-eight's ridge. I had hoped that the view from way up high could justify the ride's shortcomings, but sadly there was only half a view to be seen. On one side, we could see land being developed; on the other, the more picturesque scene of Macau peninsula and the bridge, and Studio City's pool-- which, by the way, looks like one of the best in Macau. Maybe the experience would be a lot better if we rode at night, when the whole country is lit up like a Christmas tree (the view could be a lot better).

The second item on our agenda was Batman: Dark Flight, a 4D simulation ride. The story starts when you enter under the guise of a visitor of Wayne Industries and are sent to an emergency shelter below the building. Things start to go downhill when Batman's archnemesis, the Joker, slips hallucinogenic gas into the chamber and you're forced to take a whirlwind ride through Gotham City.

Quick, interactive, and very exciting, Batman: Dark Flight is a must-do when in Macau! 

Souvenirs.

Again, it was drizzling by the time we left Studio City at 2:30 PM. If it hadn't rained that afternoon, we would have done the following activities:

Tour A-Ma Temple. Photo from Free for Tourists.

 Photo from Free for Tourists.

Watch the dragon dance and shop at the bazaar in Barra Square, right across A-Ma Temple. Photo by Tripadvisor member BradJill.

Photo by Tripadvisor member BradJill.

View the Macau skyline from the Macau Tower. Photo from It's Macau.

Photo from It's Macau.

DAY 7

THE RIALTO SUITE AT THE VENETIAN HOTEL AND CASINO

Our seventh morning in Macau marked the end of our stay at the Hotel GoldenDragon. Before we left, we tried the hotel's buffet breakfast.

Located on the first floor (similarly, you can climb the stairs on the side of the hotel's ground floor lobby), Villa Palazzio's buffet breakfast costs MOP 80.00 per hotel guest (It would cost MOP 130.00 for a walk-in guest) which is actually a very very very good price! But how was the food?

Among others, the buffet offered a noodle soup and congee station, omelette station, Indian dishes such as vegetable samosas, vegetable curry, and naan, potato wedges, egg rolls, sausages, eggs, ham in cream, pasta with tomato sauce, Malaysian fish cakes, coconut-milk rice, pancakes and waffles, white bread, croissants and rolls (no other types of bread were available then), dim sum (siew mai and pork barbecue steamed buns), two kinds of cold cuts (luncheon meat and chicken ham), water chestnut salad, fresh vegetables salad bar, corn flakes and rice crispies, kimchi, fruits in season, and a hot and cold beverages section with two kinds of juice, coffee and tea. There's nothing really notable about the food nor the presentation but it's satisfying; you literally get your money's worth and maybe more, depending on your appetite.

Tip: Don't forget to claim back your MOP 500.00 deposit when you check-out.

We could have taken Hotel Golden Dragon's free shuttle service to get to the Venetian. The shuttle service only runs from the hotel to the Macau Ferry Terminal and vice versa, so we could take the free Venetian shuttle from the ferry terminal and we could have saved more or less than MOP 80.00 for a cab. We were carrying a baby, though, so the hassle of waiting for shuttle buses and riding with other strangers was out of the question. 

We arrived a little too early at the Venetian Hotel and Casino (11:30 AM), and we prayed to high heavens that the hotel would allow us to check-in early (Normally, check in is at 2:00 PM).

(Related: To read my Tripadvisor review of the Venetian Hotel and Casino, click here.)

I approached a receptionist named Nick for check-in. I showed him the print-out of our online booking confirmation showing that we paid for a  Royale Suite for a one night stay. The Royale Suite that we booked is a suite that measures 70 sqm and is one of the most basic suites in the luxury hotel. We were fine if management required us to pay for an extra bed, but to our greatest surprise, they actually gave us more than we expected to pay for-- all for free! First off, aside from free early check-in, Mr. Nick, our generous receptionist, offered us a suite upgrade for free because we used the hotel's official website to book and pay for our room. How splendid! Our faces flushed with gratitude, so he gave us bottled water while surprising us for the second time with two free extra beds! He even said that since we didn't express any intentions to use the mini-bar he will even waive the security deposit of MOP 500.00! Everything's just too sweet!

(Want to get the best, discounted rates from The Venetian? Book via Agoda!)

Tip: Two options for booking: (1) Book via Agoda for up to 30% discount on hotel rooms, or (2) Book directly using The Venetian's official website if you want to avail of current perks and promotions and to ensure that there are no hidden charges (but you need to be careful about reading the quotes, because some are exclusive of taxes and some fees) as compared a travel agency. As of the time of writing, they not only still have the free suite upgrade but they also offer  a buffet breakfast worth MOP 588.00+! 

All in all, the check-in process was smooth as silk; like usual, we were asked for a passport and were given too many key cards for our use. The only offer we refused was the baggage delivery, as it would take 30 minutes at most for them to deliver it to our room (we were traveling light, anyway). We toted our bags by ourselves to the tenth floor where we wondered what kind of room was behind door Number 1047.

The lifts.

When we got to the door of mysterious Room Number 1047, we were (again) quite surprised when we saw that it was a lot different from the other doors in close proximity-- we had double-doors. We all had a quick thought that maybe we were sent to the wrong room but brushed it off, unlocked the doors with our key card and entered with bated breaths. 

Imagine our collective astonishment when we started to realize what our "free suite upgrade" entailed. From the humble Royale Suite, we've been upgraded to the Rialto Suite!

Pass through the entrance foyer into the sitting room. The door on the left of the photo leads to the visitors' coat closet, powder area and toilet.

The sitting room, work desk, and dining area.

The door on the right leads to the Master's bedroom, with its own powder area, grand bathroom and toilet.

The sitting room's flat screen.

A very comfy lazyboy in the sitting room.

The mini bar. There's a Nespresso machine, coffee, tea, and a fridge filled with treats for sale.

The Rialto Suite, measuring a spacious 170 sqm, has its own sitting and dining room, visitors' toilet and powder room, Master's bedroom with a king sized bed and its own toilet and powder room, grand bathroom, and mini-bar. It's like living in a luxurious condominium!

The Master's bedroom, with its very own flat screen and a king-sized bed. I see little princess got here before me, as evidenced by the already ruffled sheets.

The grand bathroom, with a his-and-her pair of sinks, bath tub, enclosed shower area and toilet.

Why, oh why couldn't we stay here forever?

To ease our euphoria (and regret over not booking here for more than a night), we all decided to take a stroll along the Grand Canal Shoppes, starting at Level 03. What's extraordinary about the Venetian is that it's known for its high-end shops, the interior's consistent theme of Venice, and one unique detail about the ceiling: the simulated sky. Pictures just don't do the place justice.

A panoramic view of one part of the Grand Canal Shoppes.

By simulated sky, I meant the ceiling had a huge projection of a fake, moving sky that accordingly mimics natural clouds throughout the day.

Upon reaching the Marco Polo canal, we looked for either the Boutique di Gondola or the Emporio di Gondola as these are the only two shops that sold tickets for the gondola ride. They also sell souvenir items. We didn't want to ride a gondola in the Grand Canal because when we passed by it, we saw how dirty the water was. We were disgusted by the coins in the bottom of the canal and the water bottles, plastic bags, paper and food wrappers floating in the water.

The gondola ride is one of the most famous attractions in the Venetian. However, it doesn't come cheap and they don't give discounts even to stay-in guests like us. For starters, an adult ticket costs MOP  128 each and a child costs MOP 98 each. One of the bummers about the ride is that my two-year old princess didn't get to ride for free-- we had to pay for her too.

We rode during the late afternoon (around 2:00 PM) and there was no queue at all, but for a more romantic vibe ride in the evening on a private (MOP 512) gondola-- although there'd be more of a queue then.

Inside Emporio di Gondola.

Alfonso, our gondolier.

The Venetian also has a gimmick called Streetmosphere, described in its official page as "Comprised of outstanding vocal, visual, and musical talents from around the world, the Streetmosphere artists perform memorable arias in Italian, English, and even Chinese."

Come dinner time, we didn't have to go far and out to look for a place to eat-- the Venetian food court, North, has various offerings from Western, Italian, and Peruvian cuisine to Asian favorites like Chinese, Japanese, and Vietnamese food. It's at Level 03.

Like dining under the cool night sky.

Godiva and Haagen-Dazs in one place? It's heaven.

In the end, I had Pineapple Seafood Fried Rice (MOP 88.00) with drink (MOP 15).

My brother's Curry Katsudon (MOP 68.00)

Exhausted, everyone called it a night by 9:00 PM. We could have swum in the pool, lifted weights in the gym, or played Baccarat in the casino, but we didn't. Somehow, we were contented with the day's activities. Besides, who could pass up the opportunity of slowly falling asleep beside a view like this? (That's Galaxy Macau, BTW.)

DAY 8

CAFE DECO, HITTING THE VENETIAN'S POOLS BEFORE DEPARTURE

In the morning, I and my mom (early risers that we are) didn't miss our last chance to tour the hotel until every nook and cranny has been discovered and documented. Breakfast, dubbed the most important meal of the day, had been put aside for the time being (with good reason, too, as you'll later find out).

The lobby.

The majestic ceiling.

Imperial Dimsum House.

McSorley's Ale House.

Worried about where to buy souvenirs? They're available right here in the lobby.

The perfect souvenir for a foodie friend-- Lord Stow's famous Portuguese Egg Tarts.

We also paid a little visit to V-Gym on the 8th floor. It's open from 6:00 AM to 11:00 PM.

Two and a half hours of touring the hotel and we finally felt satisfied. We found the kids already up and about when we went back to our suite, so we decided a dip in the pool would be the best course of action to take.

To get to the pools from the hotel towers, guests need to take the lift to Level 05, walk about 200 meters, and then take the lifts a second time to Level 01.

Getting to the pool, you'll pass through Qube, a play area for the little tykes.

The difficult thing about going to Macau in spring is it's a bit cold outside, and four out of five pools in the Venetian are not heated. The one pictured above is not heated.

Also a non-heated pool.

This is heated.

The whirlpool tub is heated up to 38 degrees Celsius.

At 11:00 AM, we headed to the ground floor for a spot of (buffet) lunch at the stylish Cafe Deco. At MOP 232.00 per adult (with 15% discount for in-house guests), we didn't think it was a bad deal. Dinner costs more (about more than MOP 300.00 per person).

The Chinese receptionists spoke very little English, but luckily there was a Filipino on-duty who could speak our language. They did not charge the two-year old princess that I had with me but we were not provided with a high chair later on, either. 

(Related: To read my Tripadvisor review of Cafe Deco, click here.)

Lunch is open from 11:00 AM- 2:00 PM. 

The only beverage station in all the buffet spreads in Macau that I've encountered that offered ice-cold lemon iced tea, which is my favorite among all fruit drinks. They had apple, cranberry, and orange juice, too!

Indian dishes, like chicken curry, vegetable curry, lentils curry, spiced potato, and naan.

Stir-fry station.

Dim sum station, with notable dishes like vegetarian dumplings, pork gyoza, beef siew mai, chicken steamed buns, and leek dumplings.

Noodle soup station.

Chicken and duck carving station.

Fresh salad station with an assortment of cold cuts.

Mmmmm, spices and dressings.

Seafood station.

An variety of main dishes. Some of the notable ones are Fish Fillet in Lemon Sauce, Grilled Chicken Steak, and Spicy Seafood with Vegetables. 

Bread station.

Not to be missed is Cafe Deco's impressive dessert spread!

Strawberry Mousse.

Granny's Apple Pie is a must-try!

I thought the buffet spread was quite decent. The cuisine was varied-- there were Indian, Western, Japanese, Filipino, Macanese and Chinese food. The best part, however, was the dessert selection with one awful flaw-- there were NO PORTUGUESE EGG TARTS. 

While I am positive that there are better buffet options than Cafe Deco within the Venetian or the vicinity of the Cotai strip, I can't say we didn't leave the place feeling satisfied and full.

After filling our tummies, we headed back to our suite to pack our stuff. We called front desk to inform them that we were checking-out late, and they graciously obliged-- for no additional charges. Come 2:00 PM, we said bye-bye to that amazing room which we've all learned to love in the one day we stayed there in luxury.

Check-out was surprisingly a breeze, even by Venetian standards. Card keys in hand, I started to head to the check-out queue when an attendant caught my attention. I showed him the jacket of my card keys and with just one look, he told us we could skip the queue and go since there was no security deposit anyway. That concluded one quick and efficient check-out! By 2:20 PM, we were on our way to catch our 6:00 PM flight back home.

What is truly amazing about this trip of mine was the realization that you could actually spend eight memorable days in one small country! Nowadays, people just constantly judge a location without doing a little bit of research about it. It is common for me to encounter an acquaintance who saw or read about the places we visited and to be told: "I've already been there, but I never knew that a certain attraction like this ever existed there!" or "I've already been there, and never gave much thought about this certain attraction because I didn't think it would be that good!" That's a pity. And that's also why I'm passionate about writing and sharing all about my experiences. 

So did I manage to convince my dad all about Macau? Judging from his stony expression while he checked his credit card bill, I'd say yes. Family vacation goals achieved.