enjoyed the fact that a one-hour boat
ride was far less taxing on both bub
and us than battling a wave of airport
chaos and an unpredictable plane ride.
You can catch a ferry from Hong
Kong to Macau around the clock and,
unless it’s a holiday, there’s usually no
need to book. Ferries run from the
China Ferry Terminal in Tsim Sha
Tsui and from the Shun Tak Ferry
Terminal in Sheung Wan. At both,
you’ll find a myriad of kiosks selling
tickets for around $160 (prices vary
slightly depending on the time of day).
Although you won’t need a visa to
travel to Macau, you will need your
passport, unless you are a Permanent
Resident.
Don’t be bamboozled by the
number of ferry ticket offices, but do
make sure you know whether your
hotel is nearer the Macau or Taipa
terminal so you choose the most
efficient ferry for you. But, even if you
get that mixed up, both terminals have
complimentary shuttle busses to and
from most hotels.
Hotel options abound
Speaking of accommodation, if you
want to spend your days lazing around
a luxurious hotel pool, you’ll be spoilt
for choice in Macau. Being married
to an hotelier, we usually go with
Starwood options, but that hasn’t
stopped me from checking out the
competition.
These days, it’s all about the Cotai
Strip. Across town from old Macau
in Taipa, this hotspot is buzzing with
enough energy for the whole family.
Most of the hotels in this area are
completely geared up for kids.
I’ve spent time at the Sheraton
Macau – one of the largest hotels
in the world, with just under 4,000
rooms. Upon check-in, you could be
forgiven for thinking you’d arrived
at an airport. The kids will love the
vibrancy of this humming resort.
Think of it as a theme park on
steroids!
Step inside, though, and all
is calm. With three outdoor pools
flanked by private cabanas, you’ll
be hard-pressed to want for more
(cocktails, anyone?). On the weekends,
kids can enjoy poolside movie nights
and a Shrekfast character breakfast
S
ince it’s appropriately nick-
named “Las Vegas of the
East”, you’d be forgiven for
thinking Macau is no more
(or less) than a glitzy gambling mecca
– the perfect playground for keen
punters and party-goers.
And you wouldn’t be completely
wrong. Home to 36 casinos (and
counting) and earning more revenue
than Las Vegas, this tiny pocket in
Asia’s South East is a force to be
reckoned with.
But, it’s not all about poker
machines and blackjack. The kids can
get in on the action, too, without even
mentioning the “G” word. This former
Portuguese colony is on a mission to
reinvent itself as a place not just for
high-rollers, but for those who like a
bit of forward-roll action, too.
Family fun
If you want somewhere away from
the hustle and bustle of Hong Kong
for a quick, revitalising escape, there’s
potentially more to Macau than meets
the eye. In fact, as a mum to a hyped-
up three-year-old, until last month I’d
never actually been to Macau on an
adults-only trip.
It’s been one of our destinations of
choice since Ava was just two months
old. Outfitted with our Baby Björn, we
Summer 2014
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