China - Macau

Ok so the first entry below (which I always keep for posterity’s sake) was written over a decade ago. Holy shit have things changed!

Man the check in at the W was a madhouse, and on a Wednesday! Plus people were way more dressed up than me :)
I have to say I love Macau. The Chinese really copied Vegas and then injected it with steroids. These buildings are hue-mung-gous. And Vegas obviously has huge buildings. It’s pretty remarkable.
It’s less walkable than Vegas because of these gigantic complexes (and Vegas ain’t all that walkable, though they try).
Walking in the Venetian casino, supposedly the largest in the world is like walking into a gaming field. Like an actual field. It’s awe inspiring and also a little dejecting because you know how little the individual matters.
The Londoner is a sight to behold.
Coming here during a nicer weather month would be fun with all the water park action and pools.

You can get pretty much anything you want but I was surprised at the missing western foods. Like you couldn’t even get a slice of pizza. Funny stuff.

…2012

Someone is gonna have to explain Macau to me. This is the center of gaming in Asai? This crazy hodgepodge of buildings without hardly any interesting city features? I know the Asians love to gamble, so I can definitely see why Macau would be the most profitable gaming area in the world (more people plus more of a propensity to play) but Vegas this is not. You can go to vegas and shop, and have a spa day, and luxury pool hop, and eat and drink at the best bars and restaurants in the world. You can go to an amusement park or a world class strip club. In Macau, you go to gamble, and maybe eat and sleep from time to time. Don’t get me wrong, the hotels are almost all fantastic, but all on the interiors. The town itself is extremely meh, I found it incredibly boring and disappointing, and I went twice! Fuck me!

Notes to self:

-Don’t go back unless you are in the area and are desperate to either gamble, or stay in an ultra modern casino hotel.
-The ferry goes directly back to the airport and they will even check your bag all the way to the plane…as long as you make it on time and not 1 second late…fuckers

W Macau - Jan 2024

The W upgraded me to a fantastic suite, and it was truly baller. The hotel is connected to studio city which is pretty convenient. Very nice place with plush rooms and great amenities. No actual casino of course but that hardly mattered.

MGM Macau - Jun 2012

I liked this hotel a lot. They did a really nice job with the rooms and it’s big with a bunch of restaurants and bars and such. They had what looked to be a nice pool but it was kind of chilly. Way better than the MGM in Vegas…but I’d rather be in Vegas.

Every amenity you’d expect from a sick casino resort.

Hard Rock Macau - Jan 2011

I was super excited to stay at this hotel…I mean it’s f’ing sick. Very modern, very sexy, very cool. The lobby is small but perfect with lighting and coloring that works so well (Hard Rock is always really good at that). The restaurants and bars are top notch. It was cold while I was there so I didn’t do the pool but I’m sure it’s great. This hotel was really well done.

Even the basic rooms are slick as shit. I would get a suite nex time…if I ever make it back out to Macau. Probably the biggest Asian pay movie section I’ve seen…including adult, with a sick TV.