What do you know about Macau?

Bright flashing lights beckon you. There's an energy in the air. There's the unmistakable smell of money and the promise of unrivaled riches. Lady Luck whispers you should take a gamble: Place a bet, roll the dice. The faint sound of slot machines wafts through the air. Thinking of Las Vegas? This growing casino playground is not the brilliant desert mirage we've all come to know and love as Sin City – it's on the other side of the world. This money mecca is Macau.

A brief history of Macau
Macau is a delicious mixture of old and new. At every turn, there seems to be a juxtaposition of the two that surprises and delights. Past and present collide here, its rich history standing strong amidst the development and 21st-century progress that surround it. The Portuguese settled Macau, the last European colony in China, in the 16th century and the island was handed back to China in 1999. Now, along with Hong Kong, Macau is considered a Special Administrative Region (SAR). An SAR is an area that straddles autonomy and inclusion in China as a whole, under the principle of "one country, two systems," proposed by politician Deng Xiaoping. Today, Macau is a wonderful combination of Chinese and Portuguese food, culture and customs, making it a unique and intriguing place for travellers to explore.

Where to stay
Casino hotels abound in Macau and the smaller neighbouring island, Taipa. Though all are huge, impressive structures with distinctive selling points, not all are equal. The variety certainly means choice and can accommodate most any taste. However, the MGM Grand Macau stands out among the others. Its avant-garde design and colourful, mirrored exterior make for a warm welcome and the friendly staff echoes this sentiment immediately upon arrival. This hotel has 35 stories, 600 rooms, 300 table games in the casino and 1,000 slot machines. (It sounds enormous but isn't when compared to the mammoth Venetian in nearby Taipa – which clocks in at a whopping 10.5 million square feet.) The lobby is bright and colourful and the adjoining atrium feels like something straight out of a fairy tale, full of brilliant oversized flowers and butterflies hanging overhead. The rooms are generous in size and are modern, too. The hotel has 12 restaurants, bars and lounges, a 222,000-square-foot casino and a spa. The Six Senses Spa's menu has everything from body massages to facial treatments, Thai massage, hot stone therapy, acupressure and Indian head massage. After you've totally blissed out at the spa, head over to the outdoor pool where you can order freshly barbecued food and sip cocktails poolside as you gaze out at the South China Sea.

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