Cotai Strip Hotels
If you’re still with me now, perhaps it’s because you think the Strip is right for you and you just need a place to stay.
Let’s fire up the Maven Meter then, a power ranking all of the hotels on a scale of 1 to 10, based on the following criteria: Hotel Room, Casino, Dining, Pool, Gym, Spa, Entertainment, Shopping, and Bars.
The Maven Meter: Cotai Strip Hotels
Here’s a rundown that explains the rankings, outlining reasons to both stay at the hotel and to visit it.
Galaxy (90/100)
Why to stay:
-For the Grand Resort Deck, the Cotai Strip’s best hotel amenity by far and what sets Galaxy apart from all of its competitors.
-Five great hotel options for travelers on all budgets, headlined by the best hotel in town, the marvelous and magnificent Ritz-Carlton Macau.
Why to visit:
-Fantastic array of dining headlined by three can’t miss restaurants: Lai Heen, Urban Kitchen and the Ritz-Carlton Cafe.
-Amazing whisky, cocktails and live music at Macallan Whisky Bar and Ritz-Carlton Bar.
-Catch the latest films at the only movie theatre on the Strip: UA Galaxy Cinema.
-Great casino with the best player benefits in town.
Four Seasons (90/100)
Why to stay:
-A more intimate luxury hotel experience with out of this world service and outstanding spa, pool, gym and common areas.
Why to visit:
-The Plaza Casino, Macau’s best gaming venue (if you can afford it).
-Exquisite Cantonese cuisine at the 1 Michelin star restaurant, Zi Yat Heen.
-To drop a fortune at The Shoppes at Four Seasons, the highest grossing mall per square meter in the world.
City of Dreams (80/100)
Why to stay:
-Four hotel options for travelers on every budget, including the Countdown, which offers great value for money rooms.
Why to visit:
-To see the most successful show in Macau, the House of Dancing Water, which has been packing audiences since 2011.Â
-Wide range of dining options headlined by two Michelin star restaurants: Jade Dragon (***) and Alain Ducasse (**)
-One of the coolest food courts in existence, Soho, which sometimes has live music.
-The Hard Rock pool, which lets outside visitors use it for $150 on weekdays and $200 on weekends.
MGM Cotai (80/100)
Why to stay:
-It’s the most sophisticated property on the Strip, perfect for those into art or couples looking for a quick romantic getaway.
Why to visit:
-The free art tour that happens 4 times daily, an excellent overview of their Ming Dynasty rugs, lacquerware, sculptures and pop art.
-To gawk at the Spectacle, Macau’s only hybrid art and technology space.
-For drinks at Bar Patua, a throwback to the 70’s with its antique furnishings and charm.
Venetian (80/100)
Why to stay:
-It’s an iconic hotel and the anchor of the Cotai Strip.
Why to visit:
-The Grand Canal Shoppes: full of gondolas and gondoliers, gorgeous storefronts and roaming performers, it’s like going from Macau to Venice in 60 seconds or less.
-Contribute to the cause at the largest casino in Asia, where billions of good dollars go to die.
–Golden Peacock, only one of seven Indian restaurants in the world with a Michelin star. If you’re in the mood for Italian food instead, Portofino offers some great lunch deals.
-The frequent home of excellent shows, exhibitions, and entertainment.
Parisian Macao (7o/100)
Why to stay:
–Affordable new rooms that only go for around $1200 per night. And did I mention they were new?
Why to visit:
-A half scale replica of the Eiffel Tower – either take a lift to the top or watch it explode with color at night.
–La Chine and Brassiere, two of Macau’s best new restaurants.
-For a mock shopping quarter that replicates the City of Light, full of singers, mimes, jugglers and living statues.
Studio City (70/100)
Why to stay:
-Because you need a place to crash after rocking Macau’s hottest nightclub Showhouse until 4 am.
Why to visit:
-Marvel at one of Macau’s most memorable building designs that’s already become a landmark in itself.
-For great entertainment geared specifically for children: Golden Reel, Legend Heroes Park, Batman 4D Knight Ride, and the Warner Bros Fun Zone, Macau’s best interactive playground.
-Fun little shopping quarter, where visitors can take a quick trip to Times Square and Beverly Hills.
Broadway Macau (60/100)
Why to stay:
-If their Room and Grand Resort Desk Access Package is available, Broadway guests get full use of the Grand Resort Deck next door at Galaxy Macau.
Why to visit:
-Restaurant hop on the Broadway Food Street and sample some of Macau and Asia’s most well known dishes and snacks.
–The Roadhouse Bar, one of the few venues left in town that still offers live music.Â
-The 3000 seat Broadway Theater might be playing something of interest.
Sands Cotai (60/100)
Why to stay:
-From a cost versus quality perspective, the Holiday Inn might be the best hotel on the Cotai Strip. Unfortunately, it’s currently closed.
Why to visit:
-The Dreamworks Parade that happens every day at 4 pm in the retail Promenade. Oh wait, that’s finished too….
-So maybe it’s to get lunch or dinner at Grand Orbit, one of the better buffets in town??
-Or perhaps better yet, just wait until 2021 when it becomes the Londoner Macao. There should finally be good reasons to visit it then.
Wynn Palace (60/100)
Why to stay:
-The rooms are really big. (I’m sorry, but that’s all I got.)
Why to visit:
-Some of the flower creation designs are nice and worth seeing.  Â
