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MACAU – the special administrative region of China – is the largest gambling center in the world, surpassing Las Vegas in scale and style.
Putting up in a casino hotel is a given when going on a gambling holiday to Macau. At these hotels, casinos are equipped within the hotel grounds, so there’s no need to step out to try your hand at a few rounds of roulette. Good night, and good luck.
Venetian Macao Resort Hotel
The Venetian – which sits on a 10.5 million square feet lot – is the largest casino center in the world. Its shimmering form is set along the Cotai Strip, Macau’s premier gambling strip where seven luxury properties reside. The hotel’s casino spans 546,000 square feet and is divided into four themed gaming areas: Golden Fish, Imperial House, Red Dragon and Phoenix, all which hold a collective 3,400 slot machines and 800 gambling tables. The resort has also recreated the dreamy canals of Venice within its premises, as well as a 600-store shopping mall. If size does matter, The Venetian is certainly proof.
Sheraton Grand Macao Hotel
Coming in a close second in the size department is Sheraton Grand Macau Hotel. The hotel is not just the largest Sheraton outlet in the world, it’s also the biggest lot managed by Starwood Hotels & Resorts. The hotel has a whopping 3, 896 rooms and is nearly impossible to navigate by foot without getting lost. In between gambling sessions, have your shoulder knots ironed out at Shine Spa, or head for a swim at one of the hotel’s three outdoor pools. If you feel the need to work out on holiday, the hotel’s gym and fitness center is outrageously large and equipped with a variety of state-of-the-art fitness equipment.
Wynn Macao
In the heart of the city is Wynn, a huge draw for families who prefer not to stay along the Cotai Strip. At the hotel’s entrance, you’ll be greeted by a rather theatrical pyrotechnic fountain, which dances to water in sync with music. Once inside, be sure to tread carefully around the hotel lobby as the four Chinese ceramic vases on display are slated to cost US$12.8 million. If the hotel alone doesn’t make you feel like a million bucks, try and earn it at the casino at one of the 1,015 machines available. In the Wynn premises is also its Encore Tower, a crystal- and jewel-themed space where the high-rollers check in. Trivia: The 2012 James Bond film “Skyfall” featured a scene filmed at Wynn.
Pic: Macau Casinos
Grand Lisboa
Grand Lisboa is something of a landmark in Macau. The hotel is owned by Hong Kong and Macanese billionaire Stanley Ho, who monopolized the region’s gambling market for four decades, and sports the nickname “The King of Gambling”. In fact, on permanent display in the hotel lobby is “The Star of Stanley Ho”, a 218-carat diamond that he purchased for millions of dollars. If you need more proof that Ho is a man of extravagance, the hotel exterior sees the largest LED dome in the world made up of more than a million dazzling bulbs. Within the hotel is one of the best restaurants in the world, Robuchon au Dôme.
Pic: Hong Kong Hotels Network
The Landmark Macau
For those who lean towards classic luxury, The Landmark Macau is a great option. It opened its doors in 1997, and in Macau, is perceived as a veteran in the casino hotel circle. Situated in the pulse of the city, The Landmark is within a short drive to some of Macau’s heritage sites, such as the St. Paul’s Cathedral. The hotel’s vicinity to Macau’s office district also makes it popular among business travelers. But the clincher here is its 24-hour casino, dubbed Pharoah’s Palace. It’s shaped like the inside of a pyramid and fits a larger-than-life statue of a Pharaoh King and Queen. Embrace it in all its loud, kitsch glory.
Source: travelwireasia.com