Things to know before visiting Macau

Macau, otherwise known as the “Las Vegas of China”, is located about an hour west of Hong Kong. It is semi-bordered by China on its North and West sides. Each location provides its own flare and favorite things to do and see with the Macau Peninsula being the most popular with tourists.

Whether you have a few hours or several days, Macau is an eclectic destination that will not disappoint you. Set for your journey with some tips and life-hacks that will make your visit to Macau 100% trouble-free.

What language is spoken?

The two official languages of Macau are Cantonese and Portuguese. However, Cantonese is the most common language spoken by locals. English is also widely understood, mostly in the casino resorts and main tourist areas. However, if you are using taxis it might be better to look up the Chinese address of a place on Google and show the taxi driver that.

Currency

Macau has its own currency called pataca (MOP), which is closely tied to Hong Kong dollar. But you can also pay with HKD everywhere, even in buses. So, don’t panic if you did not visit the exchange office in advance. But bear in mind that while paying with Hong Kong dollars you can still get your change in patacas (MOP), so if you don’t want to keep them as a souvenir, remember to exchange your MOP in Macau. Being one of the world’s least convertible currencies, patacas could be hard to shed, back in your home country.

When is the best time of year to visit?

The best time to visit is between October and December when the weather and temperature is more comfortable. The summer months often bring stifling temperatures and most people tend to stay indoors in the cool air conditioning as outside you just sweat buckets. Macau has a moderate to hot climate and humidity is generally high. Typhoons are possible from May to September.

What to bring

• Passport – Macau is its own territory and requires each visitor to be processed through their immigration.
• Comfortable shoes – the historical area is large and some uneven stone steps and walkways.
• Camera and extra batteries – the plan is to be there all day.
• Sunscreen and a hat – lots of shady places and indoor venues but in between locations the sun is hot.
• Cash – ATMs are available but make sure to let your bank know you will be visiting Macau.
• Insect Repellent – I did not have a huge issue with mosquito bites, but I did walk away with a few.

Driving and walking

Just like its neighbour Hong Kong, Macau is a drive-on-the-left region. If you are traveling from mainland China by car, admire how cleverly the switch between right-side China and left-side Macau is arranged on the Lotus bridge. As a pedestrian, stay vigilant while crossing the road, remember to look right first, then left and not the other way around.

Is Macau a safe place to visit?

For the most part, Macau is very safe and visitors experience very low levels of crime. However, visitors should take the usual precautions that they would take in any city, for example, take extra care of passports, credit cards and money in crowded areas and late at night.

Source Internet