About
The WAS#5 Event was kindly hosted by Redtea Mobile at the Sheraton Grand Macao Hotel.
Getting to WAS#5 Macau: How To Guide
There’s a few ways to travel to Macau once you arrive at Hong Kong airport. Since my helicopter transfer wasn’t waiting for me as hoped, I chose the most popular option - an easy 1 hour ferry trip to reach the Las Vegas of the East. You simply skip customs and immigration at Hong Kong Airport and follow signs to ‘Mainland/Macau Ferries’ within the airport terminal.
TurboJet and Cotai Water Jet are the two main companies that service this route. Ferries departure times are displayed on the screen in the ticketing area and leave every 30-60minutes (just check which company has the first ferry out). No need to worry about your bags for now. Just give your luggage tags over when buying your Ferry ticket, they’ll re-tag your bag for your collection in Macau - so remember when you check-in at your origin to keep those tags handy. If you fly in with Emirates it usually takes 10 minutes extra to re-tag your bag and load it onto the ferry. Once you have your ticket, you’ll go through the ferry gates, take a quick train shuttle to the ferry boarding area and start your trip to Macau. You don’t leave the airport, it’s all under the one roof. The ride across is enjoyable enough, calm waters (though bring sea-sickness tablets in case) and enough empty seats to relax after a long-haul flight. There’s a choice to buy first class or general seating. Prices range from €20-€45 depending on time, availability and seat selection.
On my return to Hong Kong I travelled in first class, the main difference was less people and a basic meal service including drinks. The most deluxe option is the VIP Cabin for 4-6people and will set you back HKD 3,136 or about €380. You will arrive at either Taipa Ferry Terminal which is close to the Macau Airport and Cotai Strip or the Outer Harbour Ferry Terminal (30mins travel time to the Cotai Strip). From both there are frequent courtesy buses available to take you to your hotel.
Easy enough. Though next on my list is to try the HKD 4,300 (€530) 15 minute helicopter ride between Hong Kong and Macau. Though it sounds convenient, the 'faster' 15 minute option involves clearing immigration and customs, grabbing your bags, a 30 minute drive to the heliport in downtown Hong Kong and then finally getting the helicopter ride across the bay. When you factor in the extra 30 minutes needed to arrive before your helicopter ride, and then passing immigration in Macau, the whole procedure could take over 2 1/2 hours. Maybe I'll stick with the ferry for now. Tried and tested. See you soon at WAS#5 in Macau by sea or helicopter.
*for late night sailings after 10pm, you must make your way to the Hong Kong Macau Ferry Terminal where 24/7 ferries service the route to Macau. Steps: Take Airport Express (MTR train) downtown to Hong Kong Station (30minute ride, 3 stops). Then walk (500m along a boardwalk) or take a taxi (2min ride) to the Ferry Terminal at168-200 Connaught Rd Central (MAP Link: https://goo.gl/maps/zoWHNkS4Muk) or take a taxi direct. Also a 30 minute ride, costs about HKD 300
Venue
Sheraton Grand Macao Hotel
Cotai Central,
Sands Cotai Central,
Estrada do Istmo. s/n,
Macao
+853 2880 2000
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