Macau Short Trip Plog: A Series Not to Be Missed
How to make a mundane trip vibrant and leave behind unforgettable moments? Just come to Macau – a quick getaway is all it takes to fall in love with this place. From historic lanes steeped in old-world charm to extravagant feasts of luxury, and exhilarating shopping sprees; if you want to taste cuisines from around the world, Macau is the place to be. This city wears many faces, and even a short two-day stay will leave you feeling its fiery passion. To fully experience Macau’s captivating nightscape, we purposely chose a hotel for this trip. Macau has plenty of hotels, and as long as you book in advance, there are usually rooms available. Take Sands China Ltd., for example – it owns multiple hotels including The Venetian Macao, The Parisian Macao, Conrad Macao, Sheraton Grand Macao, and The St. Regis Macao. As someone who has loved playing in water since childhood, I naturally opted for The Venetian Macao. Did I make the right choice? Keep reading to find out!
The Venetian Macao is situated on the Cotai Strip, a sprawling super-luxury resort that looks like a European castle.
The hotel's pools are all luxury-grade, with several pools serving different functions. Whether adults or kids, everyone can splash around to their heart's content, making it perfect for families on a summer vacation. The hotel also provides dedicated changing rooms, but do bring your own swimwear.
This isn't my first time staying in their suites. Previously, for a business trip and a family vacation, I’ve stayed in the Luxury Royal Suite and the Family Suite. Last year, when I came to Macau for my honeymoon with my husband, we stayed in the Grand Royal Suite. This time, without much deliberation, I booked the Grand Royal Suite again, and it was just as comfortable as ever. The room is spacious, with a sunken living room, and the bed is so soft you'll want to take it home. The view from the floor-to-ceiling windows is also lovely, overlooking the Jundu Golf Course – a real feast for the eyes.
The Shoppes at Venetian, besides its hundreds of brand-name stores, is also famous for its indoor scenery. It recreates the distinctive charm of Venice, building a shopping village with Italian-style waterways. When I first saw the ceiling dome, my first reaction wasn't that it was fake, but I doubted my own eyes – maybe I wasn't wearing my glasses, causing it to look so unrealistically beautiful. If only we could have the boundless sky of The Shoppes at Venetian, where the sky stays forever blue and the clouds forever white, how wonderful that would be!
Lord Stow’s Bakery & Café is a quite famous snack shop in Macau, specializing in handmade egg tarts. When it comes to the most authentic Portuguese egg tarts, Macau is definitely the top choice in the minds of food lovers. The queue wasn’t as long as I expected; aside from egg tarts, people also buy other breads and drinks. Since we had plenty of time, why not sit down and enjoy a Portuguese-style afternoon tea?
I purposely asked the staff for freshly baked hot egg tarts, and they taste best when left to cool slightly. The crispy crust crumbles with crumbs, while the egg custard inside is fragrant with milky aroma and silky smooth in the mouth. They're also quite large; after devouring two in a row, I had to take a break.
teamLab SuperNature, listed as one of the world's top ten must-see exhibitions, has been a permanent fixture at The Venetian Macao's Cotai Expo for quite some time. Visitors who have been to this exhibition all rave about it – there are many exhibition zones and interactive ways to play, making it a photography paradise. Unlike ordinary exhibitions, this one is immersive and interactive. When you walk into a sea of flowers, the colorful blossoms around you bloom and wither; a world crafted by light and line is breathtakingly brilliant; giant balloons float, changing colors upon a light touch.
In Graffiti Nature – Inverted Globe, drawings on cardboards can be projected onto the walls. This really tests visitors’ drawing skills; some children drew much better than me. Watching your own artwork come alive and swim across the wall fills you with a quiet sense of pride.
The Shoppes at Venetian is a large mall with a wide range of comprehensive stores, affordable prices, and plenty of choices, suitable for men, women, and children alike. If we’re talking about a store most loved by ladies, DFA is definitely on the list. This duty-free shop located inside The Shoppes at Venetian often runs jaw-dropping discount promotions, so you’ll find many people making a special trip here to stock up or do proxy shopping. For beauty enthusiasts well-versed in makeup and skincare, it’s impossible not to splurge. Besides top-tier luxury brands, there are also many niche Western beauty brands with attractive prices.
CHOCOOLATE is located at Shop 614 in The Shoppes at Venetian, with spring/summer items starting at 40% off. Summer is here – it's the season to bare arms and legs. Have you got your little dresses ready? If you feel your wardrobe needs a refresh, come to Macau and go shopping! Many stores here frequently offer 50% or even 60% off – every purchase is a win!
There are several gold jewelry shops at Sands Shoppes Macao, and Chow Tai Fook is one of them. If you know even a little about investment and finance, you’ll know that gold is currently a very stable store of value. Chow Tai Fook offers a wide variety of gold jewelry, including many popular collaboration pieces. Compared with Chow Tai Fook stores in mainland China, the promotions here are more generous. The sales assistants are also very nice; while helping you try on items, they offer honest and practical advice.
The Shoppes at Parisian is designed with an ultimate romantic French flair, housing mostly multi-brand stores, designer boutiques, and Parisian trendy brands – perfect for fashion buyers. The longer you stay in the mall, the more you’ll wonder if you’ve truly stepped onto the Champs-Élysées in France. From characteristic statue art to lifelike street performers and costumed entertainers, there’s so much to admire. Photography lovers can flaunt their beauty here to their heart’s content, but remember to find a trustworthy photographer! Once the photos are out, others might think you’ve traveled to Paris! Turning a trip abroad into an even more international experience – what a bargain!
The Antonia multi-brand store is right next to the escalator; it's quite large and carries many brands, from luxury to niche streetwear. The sales assistants are young and friendly, so communication is a breeze. If you love buying trendy luxury items, you’ll find many hard-to-find old-season and classic pieces here.
The merchandise is arranged neatly and orderly, like exhibits, with a highly artistic design.
Since we’re here, let’s carry romance through to the end! The 7th and 37th floors of the Eiffel Tower are observation decks open to visitors. You can buy tickets at the Eiffel Tower souvenir shop on the 5th floor of the hotel, or simply purchase them online.
Standing at the base of the tower, I didn't feel much emotional stirring, just a sense of its towering majesty. But once I ascended to the 7th-floor observation deck and saw the meticulously decorated settings and photo props, I instantly felt the meaning imbued in the tower, so vivid and alive. There’s a must-visit spot for couples on the tower – the renowned Love Lock Bridge. Friends wanting to come here with their significant other, remember to bring a lock in advance; it’s a highly ceremonial experience.
The Shoppes at Four Seasons truly lives up to its name as a luxury paradise, gathering world-renowned brands from all over, offering professional and first-class services. I thought the mall wouldn’t be too crowded, but to my surprise, there were queues outside some luxury stores.
DFS inside The Shoppes at Four Seasons has many skincare and beauty products on sale; though the discount levels vary, you can still save a considerable amount. Perhaps due to the pandemic, there aren't as many shoppers in Macau right now, so you know what that means – no need to push through crowds, and no worry about popular items being out of stock!
The sales staff are all quite pleasant, and the in-store experience is great. If you’re looking to purchase fashion accessories, check out their sunglasses – super cool!
Like a tireless bomber, after successfully checking off The Shoppes at Venetian, The Shoppes at Parisian, and The Shoppes at Four Seasons, I headed to the Londoner-themed Shoppes at Londoner. This was my first time here; the former Sands Plaza has been transformed into a British-style shopping center right before my eyes, and the contrast in style is quite significant. As soon as you stroll through here, you’ll feel the strong British atmosphere everywhere. Since it’s newly opened, there are many carefully prepared props, such as a giant teacup, vintage cars, postboxes, and more – all free photo props, provided your photography skills are up to par.
Most shops in The Shoppes at Londoner are British brands, ranging from big names to niche trendy labels, with a wide variety and complete stock. Shopping in such a beautiful environment naturally puts you in a wonderful mood～
As someone who usually loves fried chicken burgers, I just had to try Shake Shack's signature burger. I purposely avoided peak meal hours, but the place was still incredibly busy, and queuing was unavoidable. The dining environment is nice, though whether you can snag a seat when it's crowded is another story.
They offer quite a few types of signature burgers, each packed with a rich variety of ingredients. The most classic is the Shake Burger, which comes with cheese, lettuce, tomato, and a meat patty. With one bite, all the flavors intermingle, delivering an incredibly rich texture. The potato fries are truly addictive, and with cheese added, they're so fragrant – even if it means gaining weight, I'd still polish them off.
The chicken nuggets are large and crispy, and you can dip them in whatever sauce you like. Finally, I’ve achieved sauce freedom here.
The longer you stay in Macau, the less you want to go home – every day here is fulfilling and joyful. Apart from eating, drinking, and having fun, you don’t have to worry about anything else. Amid a fast-paced work life, slowing down to travel to Macau was the best decision I’ve made this year. In Macau, you’ll understand the true meaning of enjoying life, which is why I keep choosing it time and time again. This little city has open and honest customs, endless scenery, street food delicacies from all corners of the globe, bustling shopping circles, and historically rich ancient relics. It can be lively, and it can be quiet – who wouldn’t be charmed?
Travelogue Contents: 1. Hotel Environment 2. The Shoppes at Venetian 3. DFA and CHOCOOLATE 4. The Shoppes at Parisian 5. The Shoppes at Four Seasons 6. The Shoppes at Londoner | Travel Information | Hotel Index | Guide Index | Flight Index | Site Navigation | Travel Index | Cruise Index | Corporate Travel Index | Franchise Cooperation | Distribution Alliance | Links | Corporate Gift Card Purchasing | Insurance Agent | Agency Cooperation | Hotel Franchise | Destination and Scenic Area Cooperation | More Franchise Cooperation | About Ctrip | Ctrip Hotspots | Contact Us | Careers | User Agreement | Privacy Policy | Business License | Security Center | Ctrip Content Center | Intellectual Property | Trip.com Group Algorithm Disclosure
