Exploring Macao | Welcome to the Shopping Party

📍 Macau · 👁 7206 reads · ❤️ 30 likes

I've been busy with work lately, so this travel diary has been delayed for ages. It's only today that I finally picked up my pen to write. We traveled to Macao in mid-January, having done some research in advance. We filled our itinerary to the brim and had a lot of fun experiences. To commemorate this unforgettable trip, I specifically wrote this travel diary—first, as a keepsake, and second, hoping it can help those new to traveling in Macao. We prepared our nucleic acid tests and visas in advance, as well as hotel bookings. Speaking of hotels, I have a great list for your reference. Hotels under Sands Macao, such as The Venetian Macao, The Parisian Macao, Conrad Macao, Sheraton Grand Macao, and The St. Regis Macao, have good reputations among consumers and offer great value for money.

Choosing to stay at The Venetian Macao was a joint decision between my boyfriend and me, because we both love Italy. My boyfriend studies architecture and is very interested in foreign architecture. A hotel as uniquely European as The Venetian Macao simply had to be experienced in depth.

We booked the Luxury Royale Suite for two nights. Besides enjoying a 30% discount, we also got late checkout, which could be extended to 2 PM. If you stay just one night and book two or more days in advance, you can get a Deluxe Suite for as low as 20% off.

The room was very spacious, with the bedroom and living room connected. My boyfriend could curl up on the sofa to watch football, while I could lie in bed watching variety shows. Having two TVs was fantastic. The Wi-Fi speed was also fast—no lagging when video calling my family.

The room was designed and decorated with a gondola theme, full of Venetian charm, offering an unprecedented experience. Oh, and I have to praise the marble bathroom—it was incredibly luxurious.

After checking in, we rushed to visit the teamLab SuperNature space. My boyfriend booked the tickets along with the hotel and got a discount. I tend to get excited easily, and from the moment I entered, I kept chattering in his ear—he must have been annoyed with me, haha.

The teamLab exhibition hall has many must-see zones, such as "Light Sculpture - Plane," where light rays gather to form three-dimensional sculptures on a flat surface, creating a new space.

The floral theme was also amazing, with various colored flowers dynamically changing. The photos taken here had a particularly artistic feel. Under my guidance, my boyfriend has mastered various photography angles—if the photos turn out bad, I'll hit him, hehe.

There was also a graffiti area, perfect for cultivating children's imagination. Even I, a big kid, enjoyed drawing.

The Grand Canal Shoppes perfectly showcase the charm of Venice with its European-style architecture. Everywhere you look, it's like a painting worth copying—I captured it all on my phone to savor later.

Speaking of The Grand Canal Shoppes, it's not just a shopping paradise; it's also Asia's largest shopping mall built around waterways. Three canals run through the mall, and you must experience the sweet and romantic gondola ride.

When my boyfriend kept saying he wanted to buy me a bag, I knew he was up to something! But regardless of his motives, I happily went bag shopping, haha. The Coach store at Shop 011, Level 3, The Grand Canal Shoppes, had many beautiful bags right at the entrance. Besides women's bags, there were also many men's business bags.

Coach bags offer good value for money—some styles are both stylish and practical. Before buying a bag, consider if you have suitable clothes to match—that's the advantage of choosing a versatile bag.

The retro-style cherry blossom bag had such charming colors. They also offer custom bag straps, where you can engrave your information to make the bag unique.

My boyfriend and I bought our matching watches when we first got together; it was time for a new pair. Fossil had a sale, so I dragged him in—and it didn't disappoint. Every watch was more beautiful than the last.

The staff were endlessly patient. While I tried on watches, they also shared other watch care tips, like how to maintain them. Fossil's women's watches suit my style perfectly—medium-sized dials are my favorite.

Watches don't need to be flashy; often the simplest designs are the most touching. I tried several, but in the end, I let my boyfriend decide. Sigh, being too indecisive isn't good either—if women never hesitate, they wouldn't be women, haha.

The Grand Canal Shoppes has many affordable luxury and trendy brands. Besides bags and shoes, there are also plenty of clothing stores. Here, I recommend two familiar stores: UNIQLO and H&M. First, UNIQLO offers great value, with good styles and quality.

The store is large, making shopping a breeze. Their fleece jackets are super cheap, and some basics have great texture. The store was quite busy—UNIQLO seems very popular in Macao too.

Passing by H&M, I snuck in while my boyfriend wasn't looking, hoping to snag some bargains.

H&M has stylish clothes, with many new winter items. While I tried things on in the fitting room, my boyfriend waited outside with my bag. There were so many pretty clothes, I couldn't try them all! My boyfriend doesn't care much about clothes; if I didn't force him to buy, he'd wear the same down jacket all winter, OMG!

To resist the ravages of time, I use plenty of skincare products. Not wearing makeup to work feels like going out naked. My boyfriend says I care too much about appearance—don't you think he's speaking without considering the effort? If he weren't after my looks, what else would he be after, haha? Okay, enough rambling. Let me recommend two reliable duty-free shops: first, DFA at Shop 1023-1028 and 1030-1031, Level 1, The Grand Canal Shoppes. Their perfumes are dirt cheap—up to 50% off. Some lipsticks and lotions are also on sale; ask the staff for specifics.

Second is DFS at Level 1 of Four Seasons Boutiques. We weren't lucky—the lowest discount period wasn't on. But there were still deals.

Some Western beauty brands have distinctive designs and a pleasant feel. Seeing me hesitate over which to buy, my boyfriend kindly put both in the basket—such a caring gesture!

Common skincare brands have counters here, and the staff are so friendly that spending money feels worthwhile. My skin is prone to dehydration, so I bought plenty of hydrating masks, lotions, and creams.

Before coming to Macao, I heard that The Londoner Macao of Sands was under preparation. By the time we arrived, it was mostly complete. The Londoner Macao officially welcomed guests on January 22, and many new restaurants had opened. You must check out their exclusive club, The Residence. The expected British style is great for photos!

The Londoner Shoppes has a large Zara store. I discovered this gem while planning—it's at Shop 2006, Level 2. You can enjoy the crystal palace-like interior and buy clothes you like. Visiting The Londoner Shoppes was one of the best decisions I made.

This Zara store has many new arrivals, and some older styles are on sale. With careful selection, you can get great value clothes at reasonable prices.

There's no salesperson following you around, which feels liberating. If you have questions, they come to help immediately. I wanted to buy clothes for my little nephew, so I asked a staff member to recommend the right size. It turns out, sometimes you should listen to sales staff! My nephew loved the clothes, and the size was perfect!

Before I was fully awake, my boyfriend said he was taking me to a fun place—Love Lane. This picturesque alley is below Ruins of St. Paul's, with colorful houses and a romantic atmosphere throughout. When my boyfriend held my hand as we strolled, the air itself felt sweet.

Some door frames have simple carvings, and windows are unique. There are also cafes, cinemas, and other shops nearby—perfect for spending an afternoon wandering.

Unlike the romantic Love Lane, Macau Tower represents challenge and excitement. To make our trip more meaningful, my boyfriend insisted on taking me to bungee jump. My legs went weak even before we reached the tower.

Macau Tower stands 338 meters tall and is one of the world's top ten observation towers. From there, you can take in all of Macao and feel the city's full character. Besides thrilling high-altitude activities, the tower also has food shops, luxury stores, and public areas for visitors.

I am too timid. After my pleading, my boyfriend abandoned the idea of doing a SkyJump with me and chose to do the Skywalk instead.

We not only ate, drank, and had fun in Macao but also brought back plenty of imported snacks and egg tarts. Although shopping left my back and feet sore, seeing all the haul made me incredibly happy. Fortunately, I traveled with my boyfriend—I had a free laborer. After reading my travel diary, if you feel tempted, pack your bags and go!

Travel Diary Index

1. Everything is ready, only the east wind is needed

2. No hesitation in buying bags

3. Three great stores: buying is winning

4. Attention, beauty-loving girls

5. Encountering The Londoner

6. Romantic Love Lane, thrilling Macau Tower

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