My second visit to Macau in 2006 and this year’s third never failed to astound. From what looked like a quick, quiet weekend escape from bustling Hong Kong in the early 90’s, with every trip, the place was bigger, bolder, and so much brighter from a million lights that change color with every blink. But amidst Macau’s staggering transformation, one thing remained — I still like it better than Hong Kong. Perhaps because of their Portuguese roots, the people seemed more open, nicer. Modern Macau is a world of contrasts, where the economic cultures and spiritual values of east and west co-exist, and its citizens live in a spirit of peaceful tolerance.
Take your flight from Manila or Clark, Pampanga and you’re in this Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China in less than two hours. So many things to do packed in such a tiny place. And you can enjoy them in so many ways — as a lone traveler, a couple, family, or group of friends. This 3-part series will show you how to enjoy Macau — in style, on a budget, even for free
Exchange rate: MOP$1 = approx PHP6
8 WAYS TO ENJOY MACAU IN STYLE

1. Check in at the Sofitel Macau at Ponte 16. Indulge in this small luxury hotel’s French contemporary flair and classic Portuguese ambiance. The room itself pampers — generous space, fine amenities, heavenly bedding (!), stylish décor with views of the historic Pearl River Delta at dawn and city glitz at dusk. It’s a walking distance to Macau’s heritage sites including St. Paul’s Ruins, Leal Senado Square and a multi-cultural neighborhood. Sofitel’s central location is a 20-minute drive from the Macau International Airport and 10 minutes from the Macau Ferry terminal. Room rates start at MOP$1000 (my press visit included a privileged peek at the Sofitel-exclusive Michael Jackson Legend Gallery). The itinerary I shared with 5 travel bloggers from the Philippines was hectic, but with such a home for four days, business felt like pleasure and life truly “magnifique!” For a list of Macau’s high end hotels, click here.

2. Indulge on a meal like no other at Horizons, Macau’s latest premier dining destination known for its succulent grilled steak and seafood. Located at the new luxurious Crown Towers at the City of Dreams, Macau’s newest entertainment-shopping-restaurant-casino-hotel-and-resort concept, Horizons offers its guests fine international dining with sweeping views of the city’s waterscape and COTAI strip, Asia’s Las Vegas. Here, you’ll be lucky to experience Malaysian sous chef Ryan Dang Beh Keong’s exquisite execution of subtle yet fantastic flavor combinations.
(Above) Cold smoked salmon glazed with champagne offered a delicate surprise with every bite — sprinkled with a light and salty cucumber and capers salsa, slurped with crème fraiche, slivers of caramelized orange zest and specks of ikura (salmon roe), or swept along a rich beet puree produced by slow oven roasting for 3 hours until soft and velvety.

My first taste of the sweet kabocha (Japanese squash) Read on…