A Rare Family Trip with All Fun, Food, and Shopping: Cheers for Macau!
Due to the recurring pandemic, we haven't dared to travel much. Our annual winter vacation trip was a tradition, but for the past two years we've stayed at home. Our little one kept clamoring to go out. Since it had been a long time since our last trip, I discussed with my husband and we decided to go to nearby Macau. The border crossing is convenient, the trip is short, and we didn't have to worry about any hassle. We packed a few things, agreed on a time with my husband, and set off with our child. While packing, the baby was overjoyed—the long-awaited trip was finally happening!
We chose Macau partly because it's close, and partly because it's a bustling city with everything: food, drinks, fun, and shopping. Plus, Macau has many five-star hotels, so we could pick one that the whole family liked. When booking online, we agonized for a while—we wanted a comfortable stay close to attractions for both rest and fun. I was really tempted by The Londoner Hotel or The Parisian Hotel. Actually, Cotai has so many choices: Conrad, St. Regis, and Sheraton. But considering we had a child, after browsing online for a long time, we settled on The Venetian Macau. It looked grand, had great reviews online, and booking through the official website gave us a 30% discount, so we didn't hesitate to order.
We took the free hotel shuttle and arrived in about ten minutes. Standing at the hotel entrance, our baby ran around excitedly. The surroundings were beautiful—the hotel gleamed under the gentle sun, nature's vitality blending perfectly with the architectural lines, leaving us in awe.
Strolling along the hotel side, the air felt fresh with a hint of floral scent. There weren't many people around, so we could enjoy the scenery. Standing on the opposite bank of the canal, looking at The Venetian, the colors seemed vivid, like a static picture unfolding before us. Watching our child run on the grass, my husband and I felt deeply relaxed. Soon the little one got tired and wanted to go back to sleep, so we went to check in.
Inside the hotel, the design was completely different from the exterior—it felt like a resplendent palace. The entire lobby was bathed in golden light, blending seamlessly with the frescoes, creating a strong Western cultural atmosphere. Even the chandelier above was beautiful—I wanted to take it home; it would make the whole lobby bright and lively.
After a quick look around, we headed to our reserved room. Check-in was fast, and following the staff's and lobby's guidance, we quickly reached our room. We booked a family suite at The Venetian. Opening the door, we found plenty of space—two beds could easily sleep four. The room had warm tones, paired with water-town paintings, cozy and romantic. Sitting on the sofa enjoying the view, we could see the entire Macau skyline. The room was fully equipped with a dining table, desk lamp, and armchair, convenient for work.
The bathroom was a bit smaller than the living area, but it had both a shower and a bathtub. The shower had good water pressure and drained quickly. The bathtub wasn't large, but it was fine for me and the baby to soak together. The bathroom had several wall lights, and though the countertop was marble, it had decorative patterns, adding a design touch. The toiletries were small, but after trying them, they didn't feel cheap—they had a light fragrance, suitable even for the baby. After a shower, opening a bottle of wine in the room created a great atmosphere—just thinking about it made us happy.
We had taken our child to see TeamLab in mainland China before, but back then she was small. Now she's older, and Macau's TeamLab has added many new elements, reportedly much larger than the mainland one. Since The Venetian offered a package ticket, we went together. Inside, it felt different from the mainland—it combined nature and light art with added warmth and love. Immersed in it, you could feel that gentle energy. Our baby even stayed quietly for two hours, while my husband and I enjoyed the artistic atmosphere—it was wonderful.
Since it was rare to take the baby out, we decided to visit all the children's playgrounds. Before leaving, I searched online and found that Macau's Adventure Kingdom and Qube are great for kids to explore. Adventure Kingdom is spacious with a unique castle design and large areas to choose from. However, the games weren't easy—many required intelligence and teamwork, but our child had a blast and grabbed my hand, saying we must come again.
Qube had more activities than I imagined: space pods, slides, carousels, and more. Both older and younger children could find joy, and I even played many for the first time. It was especially fun with my husband and child. There were also drawing areas, which seemed geared towards intellectual development. Despite the many activities, everything was clean, and the service was excellent—our baby didn't want to leave.
Although shopping time was brief, I didn't miss any opportunity. The Venetian Macau, where we stayed, had several shopping malls nearby. The stunning Grand Canal Shoppes not only feature a man-made sky, so you can look up anytime to see blue sky and white clouds, but also over 300 stores to browse. If time permits, you can visit each one. Besides that, there are The Parisian Shoppes and Sands Plaza, each with hundreds of shops. I heard that The Londoner Shoppes has also opened in Macau—a hotel integrating accommodation, shopping, and business, very upscale. This time was too short; I hope to visit next time.
Benefit is a beauty brand I love. Even as a mom, I'm still crazy about pink. In mainland China, I buy a lot—prices aren't high, but discounts are rare. In Macau, I handed the kid to my husband and dove into the store. They had many new arrivals, and we could enjoy a 10% discount from the mall. Using Alipay gave even more discounts, totaling about 15% off—much cheaper. A gift set was a hundred yuan cheaper.
What I liked most was that the sales assistants were very generous with samples, no matter how much you bought. I must recommend their foundation—light and translucent, perfect for my oily skin. Refreshing in summer, clean in winter—I love it.
Moynat is a handbag brand I really like. Though a luxury brand, Moynat is more understated. The designs are fashionable and bold in color, but not flashy. The leather texture is well-handled; at first glance, it may seem plain, but the bags pair easily with clothes due to their restrained color schemes. They stand out in any crowd and look very classy.
I usually buy from daigou, but their prices aren't cheap. In Macau, the brand doesn't have many discounts, but it qualifies for mall offers. Overall, it's still much cheaper than daigou. Buying in Macau also allows for mainland maintenance, which is cost-effective.
Although there are many stores in mainland China, gold prices are really high now. It had risen to over 400 yuan per gram before we left. At Macau's Chow Tai Fook, gold was 384 per gram, with no craftsmanship fee, and many styles. Just buying casually saved hundreds. The sales staff were very enthusiastic—my husband and I tried on many items, and they patiently served us. Five-star service for sure.
The little bear in the store was super shiny. At this gold price, buying it home would be only 322 per gram—very cheap!
My husband and I both love Northern Chinese cuisine. We feel that eating big meat and drinking from big bowls is really cool. Earlier, I saw online recommendations for Northern Kitchen, saying the restaurant style and dishes capture the Northern vibe. I booked online in advance. Our baby can't eat spicy food, but the dishes here weren't very spicy, and the little one enjoyed them! Overall, Northern Kitchen's popularity is well-deserved—both the serving speed and service were great!
Roasted lamb roujiamo: six large buns—our family of three couldn't finish them. The lamb flavor was strong, and the buns were fragrant.
Old Chengdu sour fish with pickled vegetables: generous portions, with a layer of sour bean vermicelli underneath. It was spicy and sour, reminiscent of hot and sour noodles—delicious. The fish slices were very thin and even, with a fresh and flavorful taste that lingered.
Northeastern big bone: four large bones with plenty of meat, richly flavored. Our baby grabbed and ate several with their hands.
Drunken chicken: rich and mellow, with a savory broth and tender chicken—quite flavorful.
Time flew by, and the several-day trip ended quickly. We enjoyed all the food, fun, and shopping, realizing what a worthy city Macau is. Here you can eat the delicious egg tarts from Rua do Cunha, see stunning skies, occasionally buy relatively cheap luxury goods, and enjoy top-notch hotel service. I hope to bring our parents someday, leave our footprints in Macau, and let them witness the beauty of our motherland!
Travel Diary Table of Contents: 1. Check-in at the Venetian Macau that the whole family loved 2. Visit the artistic Teamlab—so happy! 3. Super fun Adventure Kingdom and Qube 4. Can't miss Qube 5. Shopping around the major malls 6. Benefit 7. Moynat 8. Chow Tai Fook Jewelry 9. Northern Kitchen Travel Info: Hotel Index, Strategy Index, Flight Index, Website Navigation, Travel Index, Cruise Index, Corporate Travel Index, Join Cooperation, Distribution Alliance, Friendship Links, Corporate Gift Card Purchase, Insurance Agent, Agent Cooperation, Hotel Franchise, Destinations and Attractions Cooperation, More Join Cooperation, About Ctrip, About Ctrip, Ctrip Hot Topics, Contact Us, Career, User Agreement, Privacy Policy, Business License, Security Center, Ctrip Content Center, Intellectual Property, Trip.com Group Algorithm Announcement
