Why Honeymoon in Cotai
Cotai gives you resort comfort without leaving the city. You can wake in a quiet suite, swim in a rooftop pool, take a couples massage and still be eating Macanese food in an old village lane within 15 minutes.
The hotels are the main event. Several, including Wynn Palace, the Four Seasons, the Ritz-Carlton and Raffles at Galaxy Macau, aim squarely at travelers who want calm luxury rather than casino noise. Rooms are often large, service is polished and weeknight rates can be lower than for similar hotels in Hong Kong.
Cotai also has playful touches. The Venetian's indoor canals have singing gondoliers, the Parisian's Eiffel Tower replica has an observation deck and Wynn Palace's gondola cabins float over a lake with dancing fountains.
If you find giant resorts tiring, the cure is close by. Coloane's village and trails feel decades away from the neon.
When to Go
October through December is the best time for Cotai, with comfortable temperatures, clear skies and low humidity. It is ideal for walking between villages and for outdoor pools in the afternoon sun.
January to March is cooler, sometimes gray. The hotels' heated pools become more appealing. Chinese New Year brings dazzling decorations to the resorts, but also big crowds and peak prices.
Spring turns humid and foggy. May through September is hot, wet and stormy, with typhoon risk especially from July to September. Since Cotai life revolves around indoor spaces, a rainy day is less of a problem here than in most destinations.
The November Macau Grand Prix and major Chinese holidays, such as Golden Week in early October, push hotel rates up and fill the streets. For the best value and calm, aim for weekdays in late October, November outside race week or early December.
Where to Stay
Your choice of resort shapes the whole stay, so pick based on mood.
- Quiet luxury: Wynn Palace, the Four Seasons Hotel Macao and the Ritz-Carlton Macau (an all-suite hotel within the Galaxy complex) are favorites for couples who want calm and space. Raffles at Galaxy Macau is a newer all-suite option.
- Big pools: the Galaxy Macau complex has a huge resort deck with a wave pool and lazy river, shared by several hotels including Banyan Tree Macau.
- Design: Morpheus at City of Dreams, designed by Zaha Hadid Architects, has a striking free-form exoskeleton and a rooftop pool.
- Spectacle: the Venetian, the Parisian and the Londoner are themed mega-resorts, fun for a night but busy.
Whichever you choose, ask for a high floor away from the casino entrances and check whether pool access is included. A lake-view room at Wynn Palace or a suite at the Ritz-Carlton makes a fine honeymoon splurge.
Romantic Things to Do
Ride the SkyCab at Wynn Palace, where air-conditioned gondola cabins glide over the performance lake as the fountains dance below. It is free and especially pretty after dark.
Walk to Taipa Village in the late afternoon. Wander Rua do Cunha for almond cookies and jerky, then visit the Taipa Houses, a row of pale green colonial villas beside a lotus wetland. Stay for dinner at a Portuguese or Macanese restaurant in the lanes.
Spend a slow morning in Coloane. Have coffee and an egg tart at Lord Stow's Bakery, visit the little Chapel of St. Francis Xavier on the waterfront and stroll the village. Continue to Hac Sa beach for a walk on the dark sand.
Back in Cotai, book a couples treatment at your resort spa, catch the view from the Parisian's tower deck and finish with a long dinner at one of the resort restaurants.
Getting There and Around
Most US couples fly into Hong Kong and continue to Macau. High-speed ferries run to the Taipa Ferry Terminal, closest to Cotai, in about an hour. Buses across the Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macau Bridge leave from a terminal near Hong Kong's airport and reach Macau's border post in around 40 minutes of driving. Macau International Airport is roughly 10 minutes from Cotai if you fly in from elsewhere in Asia.
Many resorts run free shuttle buses from the ferry terminals and border crossings. The Light Rapid Transit has stations along Cotai and links to Taipa, the airport and the ferry terminal.
Within Cotai, the resorts are connected by covered walkways and bridges, though distances are longer than they look. Taxis are inexpensive for trips to Coloane or the peninsula, but queues can be long at busy times. Public buses reach Coloane village and Hac Sa beach cheaply.
Food and Drink
Cotai's resorts are home to some of Asia's most celebrated Cantonese dining, with several restaurants holding Michelin stars. Jade Dragon at City of Dreams and Wing Lei Palace at Wynn Palace are well-known choices for a special night. Expect beautifully presented dim sum, roast meats and seafood, with prices to match.
For something more personal, walk to Taipa Village. Small restaurants there serve Macanese favorites such as African chicken, minchi and curry crab, as well as Portuguese grilled sardines and bacalhau. Portuguese wine is often a bargain compared with what you would pay elsewhere in Asia.
Do not leave without trying a pork chop bun (a fried pork cutlet in a crusty roll) plus a few egg tarts. In Coloane, Lord Stow's Bakery is the classic stop. Beachside restaurants at Hac Sa serve relaxed Portuguese lunches. End your evening with a cocktail at a resort lounge overlooking the lights.
Honeymoon Tips
Book weeknights. Cotai rates often jump on Fridays and Saturdays, so arriving Sunday and leaving Wednesday can save a lot.
Mention your honeymoon when reserving. Large resorts often have special packages or will consider a room upgrade.
Carry some patacas or Hong Kong dollars in cash for taxis and small shops in the villages. Credit cards work at the resorts.
Wear comfortable shoes. Walking between resorts, through malls and over to Taipa Village adds up to many steps, often indoors.
Check the typhoon forecast in summer and early autumn. If a storm signal is raised, ferries can stop running and you may need an extra night.
Finally, step out of the resorts at least once a day. Cotai is comfortable, but the real character of Macau is in the villages next door and the old peninsula a short ride away.