Macau for points collectors: hotels, casinos and the Cotai Strip
The illuminated resort towers of the Cotai Strip in Macau at night. Photo: travel oriented from Manila, Philippines, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Macau became the world's biggest casino market in the 2000s. From the old Inner Harbour to the Cotai Strip, here is how hotel points collectors can approach a visit.
Macau, a special administrative region of China on the Pearl River Delta, is the only place in China where casino gambling is legal. After its gaming market opened to foreign operators in the early 2000s, its revenues overtook those of the Las Vegas Strip within a few years. For a hotel points collector, it is a fascinating place: enormous resorts, very competitive room rates outside holidays, and a historic old town listed by UNESCO.
Two very different Macaus
- The peninsula: the old Portuguese city, with the ruins of St. Paul's, the Senado Square and the older casino hotels near the Inner and Outer Harbours.
- Cotai: reclaimed land between the islands of Taipa and Coloane, lined with integrated resorts that combine hotels, casinos, shopping malls and arenas.
Accor brands in Macau
Sofitel Macau At Ponte 16 opened in 2008 on the Inner Harbour, as part of a complex that includes a casino. It is a convenient base for the old town, with views across the water to mainland China. On Cotai, Raffles has a property within one of the large integrated resorts, and other group brands have appeared over the years. Stays at participating hotels earn Accor points as usual; spending in the casinos does not.
How the casinos differ from Europe
Baccarat dominates the gaming floors, far more than roulette or blackjack. Tables are often busy and minimum bets can be high in the evening. There is no dress code as strict as in Monaco, but smart casual clothing is the norm. Visitors must be adults and carry identification.
Timing and budget
- Avoid Chinese New Year and the October Golden Week if you want reasonable rates.
- Midweek nights are usually far cheaper than weekends.
- Set a gaming budget before you arrive and keep it separate from your travel money.
- Use the free shuttle buses that link the ferry terminals and the resorts.
Even if you never place a bet, Macau is worth seeing for the food, the old town and the sheer scale of the resorts. If you do play, treat it as entertainment with a fixed price, like a show ticket.
