This article first appeared in the Jul/Aug 2011 issue of World Gaming magazine.
So far in 2011 an average of 73,000 people a day have come to Macau. Our resident travel guru The Phoenix looks at the different ways to get to the biggest gaming city in the world. Don’t forget your passport or ID card!
Ferry
On an average day about 29,000 people arrive in Macau by ferry. This is the most common way people travel from Hong Kong to Macau, but there are also ferry services from mainland China. Of all the various ferry operators World Gaming highly recommends Macao Dragon:
- Having launched in 2010, Macao Dragon is the newest ferry operator. They are friendly, fun and keen to impress their customers.
- Their economy class is as good as (or even better than) the higher classes on other operators. The ceilings are very high and the seats are new, spacious and comfortable.
- They have the highest quality ferries coming to Macau: 65 metre supersized catamarans with a capacity of 1,152 passengers each, much more than any other operator. The larger size of their vessels means a much more stable voyage.
- Embarkation and disembarkation is via extra-wide ramps so there is no need to line up in single file to get on or off the ferry.
- They travel directly to Taipa, putting you right in the middle of the action with easy access by free casino shuttle bus to the mega-resorts of Galaxy Macau, Venetian and City of Dreams. There is no need to cross a bridge from the Macau peninsula to Taipa.
- Each vessel has 25 widescreen television screens.
- They have plans to install satellite broadband internet access soon, which no other operator offers.
- Macao Dragon has many class options: economy, premium economy, first class and Dragon suites.
- High rollers are not ignored. The very reasonably priced Dragon suites include a dedicated AV centre and private washroom. These suites have either four or eight seats.
- Given all their modern amenities, Macao Dragon offers exceptional value with a one-way ticket starting from just HK$/MOP$88. They even have a round-trip special of just HK$/MOP$158. This is by far the lowest price of any operator.
Macau Dragon has multiple crossings between Hong Kong and Macau in both directions daily. It’s a relaxing short journey where you can grab a drink before you hit the tables on your arrival. You will even be able to pick up a complimentary copy of World Gaming on their ferry as it is in every seat pocket, and yours to keep. You can buy your tickets directly at the Shun Tak centre in Sheung Wan, Hong Kong or at the Taipa ferry terminal in Macau, or book online at www.macaodragon.com. When travelling to Macau it is always wise to book ahead during peak periods, though it is often unnecessary with Macao Dragon because of the huge capacity of their ferries.
Chopper
For those of you that don’t want to waste a moment of your gaming pleasure then what better way than to leave Hong Kong and arrive in Macau just fifteen minutes later? You will feel like Francis Lui, Stanley Ho or Sheldon Adelson as your own personal chopper whisks you away from the Hong Kong skyline and drops you into the heart of gaming heaven in Macau.
This option is not for everyone but if you are a thrill seeker or a highflying baller then there is no better way to travel. The Phoenix was told about this service by none other than The Dragon who always chooses to travel in style.
Sky Shuttle operates helicopters daily between Hong Kong and Macau with flights leaving every half hour from 9am to 11pm. Forget standing in line and waiting for a ferry, you’ll have access to the comfortable surroundings of the Sky Shuttle departure lounge and receive priority immigration clearance on arrival in Macau. You only live once so why not treat yourself and experience how the other half live.
Sky Shuttle also has a chopper service between Shenzhen and Macau that has been in operation for 6 years. You can get all the information you need by visiting Sky Shuttle’s website at www.skyshuttlehk.com.
Walk
No we are not joking – the majority of people who come to Macau do it on foot. They might catch a boat, car, bus or plane to the border but when they actually cross the invisible line between mainland China and the Macau SAR they come through one of the busiest border crossings in the world on foot.
According to the Macau Statistics and Census Service an average of about 40,000 people a day walk through the Zhuhai’s Gongbei border crossing to enter the very northernmost point of Macau. This border crossing is open 17 hours a day, from 7am to midnight. That equates to over 14 million people a year, or if you like 40 people every single minute the border gate is open. During peak times the flow of humanity can swell to ridiculous numbers: as much as five people a second! These are staggering statistics and shows just how big Macau has become.
You will find that this is a fast process and one of the most professionally run borders in the world. There are no boom gates with a couple of weary guards here. They are used to big crowds and you will find that you are usually through reasonably quickly. However, at peak times the demand to get into Macau can be overwhelming and delays are unavoidable. In the past there have been horror stories of people waiting two hours to get across the border but the situation seems to be improving.
Also don’t forget the Cotai Frontier post. This border crossing is at the end of the Lotus Bridge that crosses from Zhuhai’s Hengqin island directly into Cotai. This border is much less used and only open from 9am to 8pm.
Chaffeur
Whether you live in Guangdong or just pass through it on your way to Macau you may be interested in a new service provided by Avis that takes you to Macau in comfort and style.
Avis is one of the largest car rental companies in the world. Wherever you travel you should be able to find an Avis office providing quality car rentals.
Avis saw an opportunity to provide a chauffeur driven cross-border service between mainland China and Macau and has made it a reality. The idea is to provide a safe and stress-free trip for customers looking to travel to Macau. If you’re sick of waiting in long queues to clamber onto a crowded bus then you might want to check out this new service.
The vehicles used are generally the new Nissan Elgrand or Toyota Alphard. These vehicles offer Avis’ clients a luxurious standard of travel and can seat up to seven people.
For more information including pricing and the range of services available from Avis visit www.avis.com.mo/cross_border_service.htm. An Avis service counter is also located at the Grand Lapa Hotel car park in Macau.
Airplane
Macau International Airport in Taipa is perfect for travellers. It’s fast and convenient which makes it miles in front of most other international airports. As soon as you disembark it’s a very short stroll across the tarmac to the air-conditioned comfort inside.
Immigration is usually quiet and a far more pleasant experience than running like a madman to beat the queues you often see at the outer harbour ferry terminal if you catch a ferry there. More likely than not your bags beat you to the carousel and you’re out of the airport before you know it.
The only problem is there is a limited number of carriers and flights directly to Macau. Many international visitors have to fly to Hong Kong and catch the ferry or chopper across. Check with your local travel agent and if you can fly directly to Macau you will find it much faster and more convenient compared to flying into Hong Kong.
You will have better success with smaller or regional airlines. Air Asia, Air Macau, Cebu Pacific, Eva, Tiger and Jetstar are some of the airlines that fly directly into Macau.
