I will not leave Macau without visiting its grand casinos which make the city famous. After a hefty lunch with Day Leen, Jelo, Kimmie in a restaurant near Real Casino Hotel, we boarded a free shuttle service going to the Venetian Macao in Cotai Strip. This is the first casino on my bucket list to visit. Surprisingly, after all the walking from Senado Square down to Golden Lotus Square, we were all still giddy with excitement to proceed to the last leg of our Macau tour.

The trip to Cotai Strip, a largely reclaimed land connecting two islands, Coloane and Taipa took us almost thirty minutes. This is where big and famous casinos were built. Getting there was a breeze as the bus sped off along the cable-stayed bridge, Sai Van Bridge. 

Casinos we explored:

The Venetian Macao - is a 39th story luxury hotel and resort casino owned by the American Las Vegas company. Said company also owns Sands Casino in Macau, the Marina Bay Sands in Singapore, and the Venetian in Las Vegas. What I was yearning to see in this casino is its replica of the Grand Canal that originally came from the Italian city of Venice. As of date, it is now the most famous and largest casino in Macau and even the largest in the world. Imagine that!

We had a hard time roaming inside the casino hotel as it was packed with people. But it was fun mingling with the crowd from all walks of life. We went to the Grand Canal, the highlight of our tour in The Venetian. Again, a crowd welcomed us and we waited for several minutes before we had a good photo with the Grand Canal. Day Leen showed me the spectacular sky ceiling, a man-made sky that is actually the ceiling of the building. 

It was so delightful to walk beside the canal and to the romantic alleys while looking at the mesmerizing sight. It was really one of a kind and I was like a child gazing at the blue sky above.

We went to the main staircase for a grand view of the Grand Canal. Minutes later, a lovely couple riding a gondola passed by while a white-skinned gondolier was singing a lively tune. I was surprised when he looked at me and shouted. “Mabuhay!” He knew me as a Filipina and I can’t help but laugh.

It’s time now to say goodbye to Jelo and Kimmie whom we met inside the bus going to Senado Square. The sweet couple was met by Jelo’s cousin in the casino and they will stay in Macau till midnight.

Day Leen and I went to explore more the luxury resort. I was fascinated seeing the interiors which were inspired by Italian architecture. The Grand Canal and The Grand Canal Shoppes are located on the third level.

The casino offers dining, shopping, and entertainment. For those who love to spend money to buy branded items, there are a wide array of popular fashion boutiques to enjoy the shopping experience.

Finally, we went to the main gambling area situated on the first level of the building. Photography is strictly prohibited inside. I had only a snapshot of the entrance while riding the elevator. Amidst the crowd, we roamed a bit and watched people who were busy playing on various slot machines.

Our visit to Venetian Macau was amazing amidst the maddening crowd.

Galaxy Casino is owned by Galaxy Entertainment Group. This is just across Venetian Macao. In getting there, we boarded a free shuttle bus and in few minutes I was hooked looking at the exterior of this casino which resembled a grand palace. On top of its two towers are six cupolas painted gold.

As we entered the hotel, we were welcomed by a unique smell of glamor. Was it an air freshener or an expensive perfume?  Aside from gambling, the casino had many attractions. One of my favorites is the Crystal Gallery where crystals float over the water through advanced motion sensors.

Another popular attraction was the Galaxy Laser Show which we failed to watch because we were so busy walking around and taking pictures with various Christmas displays inside the hotel. Galaxy Macau is less crowded and we were tempted to explore more because of its sweet aroma.

We watched the Fortune Diamond Show in the lobby of the casino. How fascinating to see a giant diamond risen out of the top of a fountain that turned into a giant roulette wheel. This show is being watched every thirty minutes.

Just like Venetian Macao, Galaxy Macau also offers shopping, dining, non-stop entertainment, leisure, and relaxation.

I should have enjoyed more the grandeur of Macau at its best if we book a night in the city. We have to get back to the port by 5:00 pm because we will explore Tsim Sha Tsui at night. With my hectic schedule, I was deprived of seeing the glitzy night of Macau that draws visitors to stay. Anyway, I had my fill of the beautiful sky of Venetian Macao and the sweet-smelling aroma of Galaxy Macau.

I should be thankful for our fast and short stay in Cotai Strip. We left having seen enough.

These casinos are within reach from the airport and Outer Harbour Ferry Terminal through free luxury bus services.

Operating hours: Opens 24 hours throughout the year and no entrance fee.

Next destination ->Victoria Harbor in Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong

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