When I was looking for flights from Japan to Malaysia, I noticed that transit flights were often cheaper than direct flights. This time I booked a ticket that transits in Macau.
Since I had the chance, I decided to spend one night in Macau during the transit.
It turned out to be a surprisingly nice short stay. The airport hotel was very convenient and I was able to take a short walk around Taipa at night.
I wanted to write about the experience in case it helps anyone who plans to transit through Macau.
The hotel I stayed at during the transit
For my one night transit stay I chose Golden Crown China Hotel.
View on Google Maps
Because I booked at the last minute, only a room for two people was available, but the price on Trip.com was about 75 dollars.
There are cheaper hotels on Macau Peninsula, but for a transit stay the travel time and moving luggage can be a hassle.
This hotel has one major advantage.
• Located directly in front of Macau International Airport
• You can check in within about ten minutes after landing
After a flight this level of convenience makes a big difference.
My flight schedule
My schedule looked like this.
Arrival in Macau
8 PM
Next flight
11 AM the following day to Malaysia
With this timing it would be difficult to go all the way to Macau Peninsula and properly explore the city.
You can reach Macau Peninsula by
• Bus
• Taxi
• Casino shuttle buses
But arriving at night limits what you can actually do.
So instead of forcing a visit there, I decided to walk around Taipa for a while.
If your flight arrives earlier in the day, you could:
- Leave your luggage at the hotel
- Visit Macau Peninsula
- Explore the historic district
Walking around Taipa after arrival
After checking in I immediately started exploring Taipa.
The city area is within walking distance from the hotel.
Even at night there were still people walking around and the atmosphere felt safe and relaxed, which made it a pleasant place for an evening walk.
Dinner at Taipa Food Street
The first place I visited was Taipa Food Street.
View on Google Maps
This area is known for local restaurants and street food.
However since it was already late in the evening, many restaurants were about to close.
I eventually entered a small Chinese restaurant that did not even appear on Google Maps. It had a very local feeling.
There are a couple of things to keep in mind when eating in this area.
• Many restaurants are cash only
• Prices are higher than expected
I exchanged about 7 dollars at the airport, but after ordering a bowl of noodles the money disappeared almost immediately.
Macau is a casino city, so prices are generally higher than in many other parts of Asia.
A bar called Old Taipa Tavern
If you want a beer after dinner there is a bar called Old Taipa Tavern.
This bar is quite popular among visitors and the atmosphere looked very nice and lively.
However the prices are not cheap, so I decided to skip it this time since I was only staying for a short transit.
If you want to experience a local Macau bar, this place is probably a good choice.
View on Google Maps
Walking to The Parisian Macau
After dinner I walked to The Parisian Macau.
This massive casino resort is famous for its replica Eiffel Tower.
In this area there are several huge resorts inspired by European cities, including
• Paris themed resorts
• London themed resorts
• Venice themed resorts
Each of these buildings contains
• Huge shopping malls
• Large casinos
• Entertainment areas
Many of these places stay open late into the night.
I did not plan to gamble so I simply walked around and looked at the atmosphere.
To be honest the casinos felt a bit like very large arcades.
Walking inside the resort malls
I also walked around inside the shopping malls of the resorts.
Because it was already late most of the stores were closed.
However the buildings themselves are enormous, and simply walking through them feels like an attraction.
Before I noticed it the time had already passed midnight, so I decided to head back to the hotel.
One small regret
One small regret was that I could not find beer near the hotel.
I expected there might be a small shop nearby, but there was nothing close.
I should have bought drinks at a convenience store in the city before returning.
So if you plan to go back to the hotel at night, it might be a good idea to:
- Stop at a convenience store
- Buy drinks or snacks
- Bring them back to the hotel
The airport hotel was very comfortable
After returning to the hotel I
- Took a shower
- Went straight to bed
The bed was comfortable and I slept very well.
Because the airport is right in front of the hotel, I was able to sleep until just before check in time the next morning.
This is one of the best parts of staying at an airport hotel during transit.
Final thoughts on a one night Macau transit
My short stay in Macau was simple but enjoyable.
During this brief stop I was able to
• Stay at an airport hotel
• Walk around Taipa at night
• See the atmosphere of Macau casino resorts
Golden Crown China Hotel turned out to be extremely convenient for a transit stay.
If your schedule looks like this
arrival in Macau at night
flight departure the next morning
it may be better to relax on Taipa rather than rushing to Macau Peninsula.
Next time I visit Macau I would like to explore Macau Peninsula more slowly and visit places such as
• Senado Square
• The Ruins of St Pauls
• The historic center of Macau
