Macau? Young kids? Sure or not? Yes of course! We went to Macau just 2 years ago and we did a Macau day tour in a super cool looking limousine.
Because transport service from the hotel was just as expensive. So we decided to to go for this once a lifetime experience. We really gained a lot of attention everywhere we went.
We went again this year, also around the the Lunar New Year holidays for a short trip because we couldn’t think of anywhere else for the trip. But this round we went without any plans. We pretty much saw all of Macau during the last trip so there wasn’t anything else we really wanted to do. Just go and relax and enjoy the cool weather we never have here in Singapore. To our pleasant surprise, the hotel where we stayed do have a lot to offer for the kids. If you are not planning to go around Macau, you could consider these activities.
Getting there.
Because of the recent air traffic scares, we really only wanted to go with our most trusted airline, Singapore Airlines. Too bad it doesn’t fly to Macau direct, so our plan was to transit at Hong Kong international airport and take the ferry to and fro to Macau. Taking the ferry from the airport also means that we probably escaped the hustle and bustle at the other ferry terminals outside since it was the super peak festive season.
We indicated to the ground crew that we are travelling to Macau and they helped to collect our luggages and send to us before we continue the next part of the trip on ferry. Good service! The ferry was rather empty on both the trips so I guess it was quite a smooth ride. We also found out later on that we are exempted from the airport taxes since we were only in transit.
For Kids
1. Hotel – Sheraton Cotai Deluxe Suite
We felt that Sheraton was a good choice for staying in Macau because it’s part of Sands Cotai Central and several hotels here are linked to a shopping mall with lots of family friendly facilities and activities around. It was also not as overcrowded as Venetian.
The rooms were almost full but we manage to book this super cool deluxe suite comes with 2 rooms, 1 living and 1 dining room. The 2nd room is meant to be an entertainment room but equipped with sofa bed. The kids were thrilled zooming across rooms and popping into sofas and beds. The nightly bathtub shower was also a must. We love the dining room the best. Most of the time, during the peak season, food places were filled with crowds. We can then pack our food back and enjoy the meal in the comfort of our room.
2. Hotel – Sheraton Cotai Magadascar Family Themed Suite. 
We finally managed to book this Family room at Sheraton Cotai. But only for 2 nights, so we stayed in the deluxe suite first then move in after this room is available. The room rate is considered exorbitant during the lunar new year period but we didn’t have much choice as the we didn’t plan much activities for the kids. So here’s what they have in the family suite. This suite has an adjoining bedroom for the adults. So the kids can have their own world while the grown ups can have some peace next door.
- Magadascar themed kids room
- Wii Game Console
- Kids bath robes
- Kids bunk bed
- Kids furniture
Everything that kids love. Wish they had 1 of this room back at home. They can’t even bear to go anywhere outside after this.
We didn’t really plan for this before we came. When we saw the posters and adverts at the hotel lobby, we went to book it immediately. Honestly, we didn’t really get to eat breakfast properly. Most of the time we were busy rushing to queue at the stage to take photos with characters or posing for photos with characters at our table when they came around.
The breakfast spread variety was a lot but spread out over the whole function room, making us walk round and round the room while we were also busy looking out for character table visits and onstage photo invitation. It was a no-peace breakfast in summary. But the kids didn’t really care for the food anyway. They were only on the constant lookout for the next character appearance. Poor mummy and daddy and grandma then. Huh huh.. At the end of the breakfast, the kids were given a goodie bag packed with magasdascar goodies and a game book. All we had to do was to follow the instructions and collect all the game cards and collect a surprise gift at the end of it. This game easily took up the whole morning until afternoon as the card station was wide spread across different parts of the hotel.
Guess who did all the running after a while? Must be the daddy right? Thanks hubby for collecting all the cards. Here’s ‘your’ reward.
4. Character parade!
We almost had Dreamworks overdose this trip. We did all the activities they had and this was 1 of the last, and we came for the parade for 2 days of our trip, chasing them round and round the mall and high-five with the characters. We love the parade because it was indoors! In aircon comfort! Plus we could get really close up with the characters. We can’t really do that back at our Universal Studio Singapore parade. Cool experience.
5. Kids indoor playground at Hard Rock Hotel.
While the old folks were busy at the casino, the kids were running crazy here at the newly renovated Kids City at Hard Rock Hotel. There was strict requirement for long sleeves and long pants. Luckily we had them all.
There was a ridiculously long queue that day due to the festive season and how glad that we finally made it in. We had a huge scare here because the kids were running crazily all around the place, and the worst part was the girls did not stick together. We barely just turned our heads and we lost Nat. We couldn’t find her anywhere even after combing through the place a few rounds. We finally managed to find her hiding inside this bouncing castle, crying because she lost us too. What a major heart drop.
They hold art and crafts session at some fixed intervals, and we attended this session that they were making windmills. the kids couldn’t understand their instructions because they were all speaking in cantonese. But we made it after all.
Another indoor kids playground. This one is located at the very popular Venetian. I think the one at Hard Rock hotel definitely beat this.
Nat loved this slide because it was fast and long. We had a hard time getting Nic to try it but she did it finally and fell in love too.
6. Dreamworks Ice World
There was a special Ice exhibition during the time we went featuring characters from Dreamworks Ice sculptures. We were very impressed. But the place was way too cold for the kids that we didn’t manage to stay for long. Winter jacket were available for loan and we also bought the gloves on the spot but the kids were still freezing cold
This ice slide was super fun but too fast and scary even for me because the cheeky staff gave me a hard push at the top. I slid so fast that I zoomed past the stopping area where they laid some mats. Ok, just once, for the kids to see only.
Very impressive ice sculptures
For Adults
As usual, after satisfying the kids fun time, we also need some fun time for the adults.
Our biggest concern has always been the mode of transport during our trips. Taxi Taking the taxi, by right, is the easiest solution. But is not the case for us. Here’s why. Maximum passengers exceeded It’s really not as easy as in Singapore to get a maxi cab in many places. We can’t find any in Macau as well. Choosy drivers It is quite common that the local taxi drivers choose their customers, especially during the peak season. Many drivers reject if you are only going to travel for a short distance. Pre-negotiated fare Some drivers bargain for the fare before you board. So forget about meter fares. It is actually a known issue and reported in the local media. Let’s hope the government will do something about it.
1. Casino Hopping
I came up with this itinerary, obviously for the old folks, to go around macau and see the nice casino buildings and colourful sights. So we booked a private tour from the hotel and requested to go around macau for sightseeing. Then I got my mother-in-law to apply for member card at each casino and collect the cards as souvenir. She was rather excited at her collection at the end of the day. Its the year of the goat, but obviously, the casinos still prefer dragons.
2. St. Paul Ruins
And we have to make it here for at least 1 shot of the famous landmark. This place is ridiculously overcrowded as well during the festive season. So we rushed back out as soon as we are done here
3. Taipa village
We ventured out the Taipa Village, just 4 of us using the casino provided buses and some walking. It was tiring for the kids and they were complaining. But we managed some shots of the somehow quiet and modest village
This was what we came for. The famous macau pork buns! They had a new shop now and it definitely looks so much better than the previous one. The menu selection increased, but we were just here for the buns. Yummy!
At the end of the trip, both kids and the adults enjoyed themselves thoroughly and almost couldn’t bear to go home. I thought we had an overdose of Magadascar, but the kids had no problem with it. Nic did a show and tell on this trip during 1 of the week where the topic was about the places she visited. Everyone was impressed and Nic was also proudly showing off pictures and souvenirs from the trip.
For the daddy and mummy, who did nothing much except planning for the fun for kids and the parents, we did really enjoy the cool weather there, our food trail and, of course, seeing everyone having a nice holiday.
Baby Adventures 