Who doesn’t love free stuff?
Macau is somehow known as an expensive destination with its luxurious 5 star hotels spreading all over the city, Michelin starred restaurants, pricey shows, and worldwide branded retail shops everywhere. It’s relatively true, but there are many “deals” in Macau that you can take advantage of to keep your wallet in shape.
1. FREE SHUTTLE BUS
Most major hotel-casinos offer free shuttle bus to and from ferry terminals / airport / border gate / sister hotels / even to their rivals (awesomeness). More awesome, it’s not just for hotel guests, but everyone can use this free service (except some small chain hotels required you to show hotel reservation before hopping on).
Almost all hotel-casinos stationed their shuttle buses in Macau/Taipa ferry terminal and border gate (Macau-Zhuhai border) as those are the most popular ports people travel between Hong Kong & Mainland China.
Shuttles to and from Macau International Airport only provided by Venetian, City of Dreams, Galaxy, Sands Cotai Central (Conrad, Holiday Inn, Sheraton), Wynn, and Grand Emperor Hotel. The last two are located in Macau Peninsula side, so if your hotel is in peninsula, you can get into one of them to make your distance shorter to reach your destination.
From Peninsula to Taipa Island (vice versa) there are many choices :
-City of Dreams (COD) Shuttle in front of Sintra Hotel (58-62 Avenida D Joao IV, Macau). Sintra Hotel is 10 minutes away from Senado Square (San Ma Lo). And even if your destination is Venetian Hotel (yes it’s arguably the most popular hotel-casino-shops-entertainments here), COD is just five minutes walking distance from The Venetian main lobby.
– Galaxy Shuttle near New Yao Han Department Store (San Ma Lo station) –> They usually use small coach (23 seater) and there is always long queue (both in New Yaohan and Galaxy Hotel). Since Sintra Hotel is pretty near and they run big buses most of the time, it’s better to walk few minutes more for your own convenience. The other way around in Galaxy Hotel, it will be wise to take Star World shuttle if there are crazy queues to San Ma Lo (distance from Star World Hotel to San Ma Lo is just 15 minutes walking distance).
– Galaxy Shuttle in Star World Hotel –> One of my favorite. They always use big coach, less queue, more frequent buses going back and forth, and free WIFI. Yes, inside the bus.
Between rivals/sister hotels in Cotai Strip (COD, Venetian, Four Seasons, Galaxy, Sands Cotai Central), they are providing free shuttle even between hotels are all walking distance to each other. Time to rest your legs from a long walk.
Less known route :
~ Yuet Tung Pier <-> Venetian. Yuet Tung Pier is located beside Master Hotel (Rua das Lorchas, Macau) and is active for sailing to/from Zhuhai (Wanchai, mainland China). It’s also conveniently located by 5 minutes walk from Sofitel Ponte 16, 15 minutes walk from Senado Square, and 20 minutes walk from A-ma Temple. They always use 23 seater coach, but you won’t have to wait too long.
More detailed information about shuttle bus route & schedule, check out here (some might not be updated like San Ma Lo station is no longer in Metropole Hotel & already changed to nearby New Yaohan. But still good source for your references)http://www.iseemacau.com/?m=content&c=search&act=froms/18
2. FREE WiFi (yes I know this one is very essential)
There is free WiFiI provided by Macau SAR Government, named ‘wifigo’, and can be found in major tourist spots in Macau.
– Some hotel which provide free wifi in the lobby: Star World Hotel, Galaxy Hotel, City of Dreams, Sands Cotai Central.
– Free WiFi in Macau Ferry Terminal & Taipa Ferry Terminal
– Free WiFi in Macau International Airport (provided by CTM network, you will need to fill the userID & password which is written in the login page: CTMMIA)
– Free WiFi on the shuttle bus: Galaxy, Star World, Venetian, COD, Wynn
2. FREE STORAGE
Tired carrying heavy backpack everywhere? Just go to big hotel and store your luggages in the baggage service/concierge.
– Taipa side: Venetian Hotel is providing this service to all visitor (not only hotel guest).
– Peninsula side: Grand Lisboa Casino (basement)
Major casinos provide this service to all casino visitor, but in case you are facing a difficult hotel’s concierge staff, try to give some excuse like ‘my booking is still not confirmed from the internet and need some time to wait until I’m able to check-in’. Be creative!
3. FREE DRINKS (AND FOOD!?)
All casinos provide free bottle of water. Some others also provide milk tea, coffee, orange juice, soft drinks, and even alcohol (in COD). All for free! If you see that ‘aunty’ walking around with the refreshment trolley, don’t hesitate to ask for a drink!
So now you feel a bit hungry, but still want to roam around the casino (without spending money), go to Grand Lisboa Casino. They also provide snacks/desserts like mochi or small cake.
4. FREE SHOWS
Wynn Hotel : Dancing Fountain (8 different songs and displays, daily from 11.00-00.00 every 15 minutes). Best time to watch is after dark as they will add lights and even fire!
Wynn Hotel : Tree of Prosperity / Dragon Show ( daily from 10.30-01.30 every 30 minutes)–> entrance is from the door in front of Star World Hotel, but you can also walk from the main lobby. Both shows will take turn every other 30 minutes. Ex. Lucky Tree is every 11.30, 12.30, etc. The Dragon is every 11.00, 12.00, etc.
Star World Hotel : dancing performances in the lobby, 3-4 different acts everyday, 15-20 minutes each performances with 10 minutes break between acts.
Grand Lisboa Casino : show girls dancing and performing acrobatics at regular intervals.
Sands Casino : dancing & music performances in the bar, 15-20 minutes each show with 10 minutes break between acts.
Venetian Hotel : music performances in grand canal shoppes, ‘street’ performances in various spots in grand canal shoppes.
Galaxy Hotel : diamond shows every 30 minutes daily in Galaxy hotel lobby, crystal shows every 30 minutes daily in Galaxy Casino lobby, laser/illumination shows on the top of Galaxy building (need to watch it from outside, best view is from the bridge in front of Venetian West Lobby)
5. FREE ACOMMODATION
– Mc’Donalds. Don’t laugh, I found that there are many sleepover after midnight and none of the staff asking them to wake up. Want a reference for the best Mcd to sleep on? Go to Mcd Rua Do Campo on the second floor, it’s pretty big and open 24 hours, conveniently located near city centre (walking distance to/from Lisboa Casino & San Ma Lo).
– Don’t like first option? Another option is do couchsurfing. Obviously you need to have a profile and understand that this community is way more than finding a place to stay. It’s also a great way to make new friends, or perhaps a free tour guide! But please, don’t be a freeloader :). Read my previous article about couchsurfing here.
6. FREE CASINO MEMBERSHIP
Major casinos will offer you to create a membership card. It’s free of charge and very useful. You will need to show your passport to create a new card, and you will earn points every time you make a purchase or spend money on the casino. Here are some example to make the most of the membership card for your short stay in Macau:
– COD membership : 10% discount for The House of Dancing Water ticket, plus some other discounts in retails or restaurants (ex. Hard Rock Cafe), you may also get discounted price for the Cotaijet ferry tickets to Hong Kong (from Taipa ferry)
– Galaxy membership : 10% discount for Galaxy Cinema and the food, also in some of their restaurants.
– Lisboa/Grand Lisboa membership : 5-10% discount for some of their restaurants.
– Sands membership : discounts for their retail shops, restaurants and ferry tickets.
You can ask in advance what benefit you can get before applying one, and after you have it in hand, don’t forget to show your card before you pay!
7. FREE EXERCISE
There are many parks in Macau which provide the exercise equipments (usually in red & yellow color). Some of the nice parks are:
– Alameda Dr Carlos D’Assumpcao Park : is located right in front of Kun Iam Statue in NAPE area. There is also library inside the park which you can get free wifi nearby (wifigo).
– Flora Garden : one of the gate to Guia Fortress/Lighthouse with stairs of cable car. There is a jogging track and a small zoo.
– The Reservoir : (not actually a park but you can exercise here) located near Macau ferry terminal, there is also jogging track circling the reservoir. Many night joggers here.
Hope all tips above useful for you and happy traveling in Macau!
thecuriouskiddo 