This post aims to give quick facts about Macau. I have included my observation which official tourism board website will not prepare you for a trip to Macau. Hope it will prepare you mentally as you plan for your trip to Macau.
Macau is located at Guangdong, comprised of Macau Peninsula (澳门半岛), island of Taipa (氹仔岛) and Coloane (路環岛). Three bridges connect Macau to Taipa. Although Macau is pretty small, 4 days 3 nights are too rush to really explore Macau. The places of attractions are near or just next to one another, not as far as they seem to be on the map. If you love to explore Macau by walking, suggest you take a look at the suggested Walking Tours from Macau Tourism Website. They are pretty good and cover a good range of places. It provides and helps me to plan my itinery better. If you love to visit Macau World Heritages, it also has a good coverage of these places. It has also come out with an iPhone app "WH Macau" and pretty cool. Another iPhone app "Macau Travel" contains an offline Macau Tourist Map. Both apps can be used without any roaming or WIFI connection. You can consider downloading both apps before embarking Macau.
Language
Chinese and Portuguese are the official languages, Cantonese being most widely spoken. English is generally used in trade, tourism and commerce.
Observation: Almost none I came across converse in English, except at high class shops/restaurant/hotel. Even hotel staff hardly speak English. If you don't speak Cantonese, you should arm yourself with Mandarin. Otherwise you will have difficulties in ordering food and getting to your destination. Serving staff in most of the places are generally impatient and impolite. Taxi drivers are more helpful, so long you can give them the road name or place in Chinese. Don't expect road names in English, all the road names are in Portuguese and Chinese. It will be good if you can jot down all the places you want to visit in Chinese first, as some of the road names are not visible on the map.
Currency
The Pataca (MOP$) is divided into 100 avos and it is Macau's official currency. There are banknotes and coins in the following denominations:
Coins: 10, 20 and 50 avos; 1, 2 and 5 Patacas
Banknotes: 10, 20, 50, 100, 500 and 1000 Patacas
Observation: MOP is not an international trading currency, hence it is useless outside of Macau. That is why not many money changers carry this currency. Moreover the rates given may not be better than Hongkong dollars (HKD). HKD is accepted and commonly use in Macau. It is better to change HKD, as the leftover can be kept and used later in Hongkong. Do note that when paying in HKD, the change may be in MOP. It is wise to pay big notes on your first day, so that you can finish spending the MOP you receive from the change, before leaving Macau.
Climate and clothing
Autumn (October - December) is the most pleasant season. Days are sunny and warm and humidity levels are low. Winter (January - March) is cold but sunny. Some woolen clothes are recommended as well as a thicker jacket or even an overcoat. In April humidity increases and from May to September the climate becomes hot, humid and rainy with occasional tropical storms (typhoons). If the warning signal for typhoon is 8, the bridges between Macau and Taipa will be closed while the lower level of the Sai Van Bridge remains open, and as a preventive measure, sea and air connections between Macau and Hong Kong as well as most flights will also be cancelled.
Electricity
Electricity in Macau is at 220V, 50Hz. The power plugs used in Macau are of the three-pin, square-shaped or round-shaped type.
Safety and Security
24 hour emergency hotline numbers 110 and 112 meant to facilitate emergency calls by tourists from the mainland and abroad.
Internet Facilities
Available at Information Counter at Senado Square, public libraries and major hotels. Macau SAR Government provided "WiFi GO", available daily from 8:00am to 1:00am
Transportation
Bus
For journeys on Macau peninsula there is a flat fare at MOP$3.20. If you travel to Taipa, it costs MOP$4.20. If your destination is Coloane village, it costs MOP$5.00. If you go to Hác Sá, you will pay MOP$6.40. Those wish to go from Macau to Airport or back, the special bus service costs MOP$4.20 per person. Between Macau and Taipa visitors can catch buses 11, 22, 25X, 28A, 30, 33, 34 and MT4. Buses which stop at the airport include AP1, MT1, MT2, N2, 26 and 36. Buses 21A, 25, 26, 26A, 50, MT3 and N3 connect Macau, Taipa and Coloane.
Taxis
There are two kinds of taxis: the black with cream roof ones and the yellow ones. The flagfall charge is MOP$13.00 for the first 1600 meters. MOP$1.50 will be added for every 230 meters afterwards. Waiting on passengers' request will be charged for MOP$1.50 for every minute.
There is a MOP$3.00 surcharge for each piece of luggage carried in the boot; MOP$5.00 surcharge for boarding taxi at the Macau Airport or journeys from Macau to Coloane; no surcharge from Macau to Taipa or from the islands to Macau, but between Taipa and Coloane, a MOP$2.00 surcharge applies.
Macau Pass
A deposit of MOP30 is required for first time purchase of non-personalised macau pass with a minimum stored value of MOP100. An overall total of MOP130 is therefore necessary.
The minimum add value cost is MOP50. The maximum add value cost is limited to MOP300 for each reloading. Unless you are staying in Macau for awhile, owing one Macau Pass for a short trip is not necessary. Beside you may have difficulty in getting the deposit back.
Shuttle Bus
Shuttle bus from hotel to airport, is not common in Macau, except for some high class hotels. However almost all the hotels provide shuttle bus from hotel to ferry terminal. Hence you can take bus AP1 from airport to ferry terminal, and hop on the shuttle bus from ferry terminal to your hotel. If you like to save on transportation, then simply travel around Macau by transferring different hotel shuttle bus at ferry terminal.
