By Zoe Zahra
Macau, often referred to as the Las Vegas of the East, is a great place to visit for a weekend if you're staying in Hong Kong and fancy a bit of a flutter. Once a sleepy place, Macau is currently in the midst of a tourist boom has become a country of two faces. There still exists the quaint, cultural place of its mixed Portuguese and Chinese history but with the development of casinos and super hotels it's fast becoming a gambling mecca.
Where to stay
The Wynn Hotel is fab for a girlie break. The elegant rooms have all the mod-cons, plus there is a luxurious spa, small promenade of shops, outdoor pool and a whole host of delicious restaurants. The Wynn is not as garish as some of the other hotels and casinos that inhabit Macau and is centrally located with a short shuttle service from the ferry port and is within a stones throw from the main city centre.
What to do
See if lady luck's on your side and hit the casinos! There are currently tons of Vegas-style casinos in Macau but there are set to be many more. Developers are currently creating a self-contained city called the Cotai Strip that will connect the two islands of Taipa and Coloane with big name Vegas casinos and hotels like The Venetian and MGM Grand, so you'll be spoilt for choice.
Adrenaline junkies should visit the Macau Sky Tower where you can walk around the outer rim near the top of the tower and sky or bungie jump. For the less daring there is anobservation deck in the tower which offers amazing views of Macau.
There's not a massive amount in the way of nightlife away from the hotel bar and casinos, so a trip to the Fisherman's Wharf is worth a visit as you'll find plenty of restaurants, bars, cafes, shops, a funfair and even a man-made volcano which erupts at night in a pyrotechnic display.
If you want to escape the hustle and bustle, check out the churches, temples, museums, and fortresses that Macau's vast history has produced. The two islands Taipa and Coloane also offer gorgeous beaches and bays where you can take a dip or even try your hand at windsurfing.
Eating, drinking and nightlife
Macau caters for a vast range of tastes from Italian to Thai but for the real Macanese experience you have to sample their Chinese and Portuguese restaurants. This strange pairing is due to Macau's mixed cultural history. For s truly delicious Cantonese cuisine head to the Wing Lei restaurant in the Wynn hotel where you can enjoy a selection of traditional Chinese foods. For a Portuguese feast there is Cameos which is in The Fisherman's Wharf complex.
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