01:00.0
If you haven't yet, because we create a lot of informative and useful videos just like this.
01:06.6
So tap the notification bell too so you won't miss any of our future uploads.
01:11.3
If you're watching this on Facebook, we're on the road to 1 million followers so like and follow this page as well.
01:18.4
Okay, geographically, Macau is composed of four main districts.
01:22.9
Three of them have always been around.
01:24.6
The Macau Peninsula where the historical core of Macau is located,
01:30.1
where you'll find the airport and the Taipa Village,
01:32.8
and Coloan Island,
01:34.4
the least developed and most laid-back of the three.
01:37.6
In between Taipa and Coloan Islands is the fourth newly established area on reclaimed land,
01:43.3
which is occupied mostly by hotels and gaming buildings.
01:47.2
This is Kotay Strip.
01:50.2
A portmanteau of Coloan, Ko,
01:53.0
and Taipa, Tai, Kotay.
01:57.3
As early as now, I'm already revealing that
01:59.2
out of these four major areas,
02:01.7
two of them are what I believe to be ideal for tourists.
02:04.9
The Historic Center in Macau Peninsula and the Kotay Strip.
02:08.8
These two are packed with tourist spots and a wide-wide selection of dining and lodging options,
02:14.4
but they do appeal to very different types of travelers.
02:17.7
So let's break them down, starting with the Kotay Strip.
02:25.5
Macau is best known for its five-star luxury hotels and resorts.
02:29.3
And the biggest chunk of them are located along the Kotay Strip.
02:33.0
I bet that when you picture Macau in your head,
02:35.1
you have images of the Venetian or the Parisian or the Galaxy Macau.
02:39.6
And they are all located here in Kotay.
02:42.3
It is an ideal place to stay because this area is dotted with most of Macau's modern attractions.
02:48.8
In fact, the majority of them are housed within these hotels.
02:53.2
For example, the newly built The Londoner is home to this Big Ben replica and a Harry Potter exhibition,
02:59.3
where potterheads will surely have a field day.
03:02.1
Just across the street, inside the Venetian, you'll find the Grand Canal and TeamLab Supernature,
03:07.1
one of the best TeamLab museums we've visited so far.
03:11.0
Next to it is the Parisian, which boasts a replica of the Eiffel Tower,
03:15.6
which has also become an icon of the city.
03:18.4
Here at Studio City, the most captivating attractions are this giant figure-eight ferris wheel called Golden Reel
03:24.5
and a fantastic indoor water park.
03:27.1
Yes, a water park inside a hotel.
03:30.0
Inside the Wynn Palace, a newly opened Illuminarium will take you to another world,
03:34.6
or if you take these cable cars, just around and above the hotel vicinity.
03:39.8
And here at the Grand Lishbowa Palace, there's a martial arts arena, AI Wonderland, and a French courtyard.
03:46.9
All these have their own selection of in-house restaurants and shops.
03:50.3
And all these are within walking distance of each other,
03:53.8
which means that if you stay at Kotay Strip, you have easy access to all these attractions.
03:59.2
The rooms are spacious and often with a view of the Strip or other landmarks around the area,
04:04.8
which are all stunning at night.
04:06.7
It can be romantic, so if you're on a honeymoon or celebrating an anniversary or special occasion,
04:12.5
consider these hotels.
04:14.5
Or if you just want to indulge and treat yourself to a well-deserved vacation or staycation,
04:19.1
these are great too.
04:20.9
But of course, these hotels are full service and on the expensive side by Macau and Southeast Asian standards.
04:27.4
But compared to Hong Kong hotels,
04:28.8
these are much cheaper.
04:31.3
On our most recent trip, we were able to experience staying at one of these fabulous hotels,
04:36.3
thanks to the Macau Government Tourism Office.
04:39.1
This is a standard room called Celebrity Vista King Room.
04:43.2
It is quite spacious, absolutely squeaky clean, well-appointed, and has a gorgeous, gorgeous view of the Strip.
04:50.4
The bed was so comfy, and there are a dozen bottles of water on the desk.
04:55.4
And an espresso coffee machine too.
04:58.8
When I checked how much this room actually costs,
05:01.5
I was surprised that it's not as pricey as I expected.
05:04.4
On clock, this room can go as low as 917 pataka per night on weekdays.
05:09.8
For a room like this, I think this is a really, really, really good deal
05:13.6
considering all its amenities and the location.
05:17.4
But on weekends, the rate can shoot up to 2,150 patakas.
05:22.4
Over here at Grand Lishboa Palace,
05:25.1
a room can go as low as 1,087 pataka on weekdays,
05:29.3
but again, expect the rates to go higher on weekends and in peak season.
05:34.1
You can check the updated prices on clock.
05:36.4
The great thing about clock, the rates you see already include taxes.
05:40.1
So these are also the final prices.
05:42.6
And the best part, you can also slash off some discount by using our promo code,
05:47.2
ThePoorTraveler, that's ThePoorTraveler, single L.
05:51.6
Or, click the link in the description and the pinned comment.
05:55.4
By the way, although Kotay lies on an island,
05:58.8
you can also go to other parts of Macau from here.
06:01.0
Taipa Village, a community popular for its street food, can be reached on foot.
06:05.4
It's quite a long walk but there are travelators along the way.
06:08.8
Here, you can go on a food trip like we did.
06:11.4
For longer distances, most of these hotels offer free shuttle bus services
06:15.7
to and from the airport and key attractions around the city.
06:19.0
And there are plenty of public buses too, like this, Bus 26A,
06:23.7
which can take you from the Parisian or Studio City to Senado Square,
06:27.3
the heart of Macau's history.
06:28.6
This is the historic center of Macau, which is also the city center.
06:30.1
Speaking of historic center,
06:36.2
This is the historic center of Macau, which is also the city center.
06:41.0
It is the most populated part of the territory.
06:43.9
And most tourists gather here because the most recognizable landmark of Macau
06:48.5
is right here, the ruins of St. Paul's.
06:52.3
The Portuguese influence is in full display here and in the adjacent Senado Square,
06:56.9
connected by mosaic art cobblestones,
06:58.9
streets flanked by stores selling beef and pork jerky, egg tarts, and other souvenirs.
07:04.6
But but but, much of the tourism activities are concentrated in this specific area.
07:10.3
As you walk further away, you'll find quiet parks and gardens and very local spots.
07:16.2
If Katae Strip shows off the modern edge of Macau,
07:19.3
the downtown area puts its historic roots front and center,
07:22.8
especially its Portuguese colonial past.
07:25.7
You'll sense it in the street signs and the architecture
07:28.3
and the Portuguese and Macanese cuisine.
07:30.9
It's a completely different vibe.
07:33.6
While Macau is best known for the flashy hotels of Katae Strip,
07:36.9
it also harbors cheaper forms of accommodations.
07:40.1
Most of them are located here in the peninsula.
07:43.1
Budget hotels, hostels, and guest houses can be found within and around downtown,
07:48.5
which can go as low as 383 patacas.
07:52.3
In one of our previous days years ago, we stayed at a budget hotel called Fuhua.
07:57.3
We had a very pleasant time.
07:58.6
The room was neat, and the service? Good.
08:02.1
But again, this was years ago, before the pandemic, so I'm not sure if it has changed since.
08:07.6
But its location was fantastic.
08:09.7
We just walked most of the time,
08:11.4
and it was surrounded by restaurants and bakeries that locals frequented.
08:15.9
Again, if you're looking for a hotel,
08:18.2
Klook has a wide selection, including budget-friendly options,
08:21.6
and you can get extra discounts exclusive to the PoorTraveler subscribers.
08:26.1
Just click the link in the description and the pinned comment,
08:28.1
and at checkout, enter our promo code, ThePoorTraveler, single L.
08:39.6
As always, the best area to stay depends on your itinerary.
08:43.9
Both areas are close to tourist spots.
08:46.1
It's just a question of what type of tourist spots are you more interested in.
08:50.8
If you're in Macau mostly for its modern, spectacular attractions,
08:54.5
and you have a bigger budget, choose the Kotay Strip.
08:57.5
But if you prefer a more local and more cultural experience,
09:01.0
stay in the downtown area in the Macau Peninsula.
09:05.0
By the way, Philippine Airlines offers direct flights from Manila to Macau.
09:09.5
So if you haven't booked a ticket yet, consider flying with PAL.
09:13.3
One thing I love about PAL is the generous baggage allowance
09:16.3
that automatically comes with each booking,
09:19.0
except for the economy super saver class.
09:22.0
For Macau flights, check-in baggage can weigh 25 kilos maximum for economy passengers.
09:28.0
That's on top of the 7-kilo carry-on baggage allowance.
09:32.5
Often, although some flights with low-cost carriers really do appear cheap,
09:36.5
when you start adding baggage allowance, the total cost gets close,
09:40.5
and sometimes even exceeding PAL's prices.
09:44.0
Another reason we prefer PAL is its four-star service
09:47.0
and delicious in-flight meals and unlimited drinks onboard,
09:50.5
which are already included in the booking.
09:53.0
Visit PhilippineAirlines.com to search for flights to Macau.
09:57.5
And special thanks to the Macau Government Tourism Office
10:00.5
for making our most recent trip possible.
10:03.0
We have more Macau videos coming up soon, so subscribe to this channel if you haven't yet,
10:07.5
and ring the bell so you're notified when it's published.
10:10.5
If you're watching this on FB, like and follow this page too.
10:14.0
You can also follow us on Instagram, ex, formerly Twitter, and TikTok.
10:19.0
Just search at The Poor Traveler, single L.
10:22.5
We also have a podcast.
10:24.0
Follow The Poor Traveler podcast on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
10:27.5
If our videos helped you in any way, you can support this channel by tipping us.
10:32.5
You can tip us via PayPal, Gcash, Maya, credit card, or even bank transfer.
10:37.5
Just head over to thepoortraveler.net slash tip to show us some love.
10:42.5
That's all for now.
10:44.5
Remember, plan smart, travel safe, and make every trip worth it!
10:57.5
Thank you for watching!
