In January, I stayed at the Altira Macau Hotel. My adventure in Macau centred around two main activities: enjoying Portuguese tarts and exploring attractions outside of the casinos. Unfortunately, during my time in Hong Kong, a day trip to Macau wasn’t possible, so I decided to return and spend a few days in the city. I had done very little research about the area beforehand, so I wasn’t sure what to expect upon my arrival. Staying in the city was a great choice, as Macau offers numerous things to see and do.
The Location
Nestled in the shadows of Cotai, the tranquil area of Taipa is home to several hidden gems and smaller hotels. One such gem is the Altira Macau, located in a peaceful residential neighbourhood offering stunning views of the outer harbour and the iconic Macau Peninsula. The calming views and the hotel’s hidden location give a tranquil and secluded vibe.
The hotel is just a short 10-minute taxi ride away from the airport, or guests can opt for a longer journey using the free hotel’s shuttle buses, which stop at City of Dreams and Studio City. Once I found the timetable for the shuttle buses, available at most big casinos, the whole of Macau became easily accessible for free, a great way to explore the area on a tight budget. I preferred the Studio City interchange, as all the buses arrive and depart from the same place.
Although the Altira Macau is slightly off the beaten path, it remains conveniently accessible by foot. The flat terrain of Taipa makes it easy to walk from one place to another. I walked from the hotel to the famous Taipa Food Street in about 20 minutes. There are two beautiful parks near the hotel that are worth visiting; I love finding greenery in cities. My favourite was 花城公園 (Garden of Flower City), a traditional walled park complete with a pagoda and koi carp in the pond. During my visit, I enjoyed my breakfast al fresco in the cool morning sun—a welcome sight after the humidity of Singapore.
I became so reliant on the free buses around Macau that it wasn’t until my final day in the city that I realized I was within easy walking distance of the Cotai Strip. The walk took around 30 minutes and passed by the beautiful 龍環葡韻濕地生態區 (Ecological Pond of Wetland). I wish I had worked out this route earlier in my trip; it was serene to walk through the greenery before heading back into the city.
The Room
When I arrived at the hotel, I learned the room I had initially booked was unavailable. However, the staff was super helpful and presented me with some great alternative options. As a non-smoking dinosaur, I happily decided to stay in a lovely King Ocean View room.
Honestly, I cannot even begin to explain how spacious my room at Altira Macau was—the walk-in closet was even bigger than my apartment! The open-plan design was fantastic, with clearly defined areas for the living room, the bedroom, and the bathroom. I felt like I had enough space to enjoy each area separately, which was a welcome change from many hotel rooms where I often feel boxed in.
Every night after my fun-filled day of exploring, I returned to my room feeling exhausted, to find that the bed was turned down, slippers placed perfectly at the side of the bed, and a sweet little gift or foot cream waiting on my pillow. Plus, soft, relaxing jazz music always played gently in the background, making it the perfect way to unwind.
The bed was huge and incredibly comfortable. The pillows and duvet were so fluffy, it was like sleeping on a giant marshmallow. I slept soundly each night during my stay. It felt like I was the only guest on my floor because it was so peaceful! I didn’t hear a thing from the other rooms around me, which gave me such a wonderful sense of privacy and security throughout my entire stay. I also appreciated the little touches by the bed, like an electric clock and chargers. Plus, the light switches were conveniently located on either side of the bed, so I didn’t have to fumble around in the dark looking for them.
The Bathroom
My photographer rated the bathtub a solid 10/10, but I have to disagree—it felt more like a small swimming pool! I cannot believe I forgot to pack my arm floaties! The Altira Macau definitely has the largest bathtub I’ve ever seen; I wonder if any other hotels can compete with it. The only downside was how long it took to fill the tub. However, it was well worth the wait, as the hotel provided bath salts and the most delicious-smelling orange bubble bath.
I absolutely loved the Japanese-inspired layout of the bathroom. It created a spa-like atmosphere, providing a fantastic way to unwind at the end of the day. This made up for my missed opportunity to try the hotel’s actual spa since I ran out of time. The toilet and bath/shower were in separate rooms, which made the sinks and mirrors feel more like a cosy vanity area. Plus, the walk-in closet was conveniently located next to the bathroom, transforming it into a spacious dressing room!
The only aspect I wasn’t keen on was the shower being separated from the bedroom by a lightly frosted glass panel—that might be a bit awkward if you are sharing the space with a friend.
The View
Unfortunately, the Altira Macau did not have a balcony in the room. However, the window was an entire wall that provided unobstructed views of the Macau Peninsula and the Chinese mainland. The view was incredible, and when the haze lifted, I could even see the mountains of Zhuhai and Xiangzhou in the distance. The design of the room allowed the view to be the focal point without overshadowing the overall experience.
I enjoyed everything from the sunrise to the sunset, followed by the twinkling city lights across the water. Although my room had a huge television, I was more than happy to simply sit back and enjoy the breathtaking view.
Dining
I’m sad to report I did not have enough time to try all eight of the hotel’s restaurants or the extensive room service menu in Altira Macau. But I hope to have an opportunity to return one day to sample the vast array of vegetarian dim sum in the Michelin-starred Cantonese restaurant Ying.
I dined at Aurora twice because I didn’t realise reservations were needed for the restaurants. Aurora offered fine dining at reasonable prices, and I thoroughly enjoyed the innovative vegetarian options on the menu. My favourite dish was the Pumpkin and Ricotta Ravioli, the way simple ingredients were turned into the most delicious dish. The restaurants are also open to people not staying in the hotel, as there are two entrances. I would definitely recommend visiting for dinner when exploring Taipa.
The hotel staff went above and beyond to ensure I had everything I could want during my stay. As I did not include breakfast in my stay, choosing to opt for my usual travel hack of instant porridge and my flat-pack bowl. The hotel staff provided a fruit bowl, coffee, tea and a kettle in my room. The food supplied was a lovely touch as it allowed me to enjoy an in-room breakfast each morning whilst I enjoyed the beautiful view. I felt like a VIP dinosaur sipping TWG tea whilst having a private breakfast and watching the morning haze lift to show the most stunning view.
To my surprise, the minibar was included in the price of my room. I am so used to paying high prices for food and drinks that I usually avoid using hotel minibars. However, one evening, after a fun-filled day of adventures, I treated myself to a drink. Additionally, Altira Macau provided four bottles of water per day, which I believe every hotel should offer, especially in places where tap water is not drinkable.
The Facilities
The Altira Macau Hotel offers a wide range of facilities, making it easy to spend an entire weekend without ever needing to leave the hotel once. I truly appreciated this, especially since Macau doesn’t come alive until lunchtime.
One of the highlights of my stay was the indoor infinity pool, which boasts stunning views across the outer harbour. Each morning, I started my day with a relaxing swim. Located on the 16th floor, I initially expected a small, crowded hotel pool, but was pleasantly surprised by the serene experience. The large pool seems to spill over into the Outer Harbour, thanks to the floor-to-ceiling windows that provide unobstructed views of the Macau Peninsula. The water was a balmy 30 degrees, and whilst swimming, I enjoyed the music playing overhead and underwater—something I had never experienced before (and no one could hear my out-of-tune singing!). After my swim, I loved lounging on the comfortable sunbeds beside the indoor pool. Some loungers were available on a small balcony. I opted to stay inside, as living in Singapore has turned me into a cold-intolerant dinosaur.
The gym on the 16th floor was incredibly well-equipped and also offered a great view, which (almost) made me wish I had packed my workout clothes. The Altira Macau definitely has many incredible facilities and I love how many are included in the price of the room.
The changing rooms had all the necessary amenities, including a Dyson hairdryer. There was also a small spa area behind the lockers, featuring a large jacuzzi, steam room, and sauna, all complimentary for guests. However, spa treatments are available at an extra cost. I appreciated the privacy of the sauna and jacuzzi since I often feel uncomfortable in mixed-gender facilities.
Safety is a top priority at this hotel. The swimming pool has a maximum capacity of 25 people. I had to sign in each time I used it, allowing staff to monitor the number of guests. This system also ensured that the lockers were assigned to me and linked back to my hotel room. I loved that the locker key was a rubber bracelet, enabling me to swim without worrying about losing a key or someone accidentally taking it from the poolside. Staff were present at both the poolside and in the changing rooms.
One of my favourite safety features was the restricted access to the hotel rooms. Guests must first go to the lobby and reception on the 38th floor before taking another lift to their room floors. This arrangement gave me peace of mind, knowing that only hotel guests and staff could access the rooms. Additionally, there are concierges and security personnel on both the 1st and 38th floors to ensure that only those staying at the hotel can use the lifts to the guest rooms. Visitors to the casino and restaurants must use external lifts that only grant access to those specific areas.
Yes, the hotel has a casino, accessible only from outside the hotel. This setup made me feel especially safe—I think I’ve watched too many action movies set in Las Vegas. Although I didn’t use the casino during my stay, I noticed slot machines, table games, and high-stakes gambling, which seemed quite popular, with people frequently entering and leaving.
Transport
There is a public bus stop located about 600 meters from the hotel. However, I didn’t feel the need to use public transport. The hotel offered a free shuttle service, which connected me to various locations in Macau through the shuttle bus depot at Studio City. Each casino hotel operates buses that travel to numerous destinations, and you don’t need to be a hotel guest to use them. I took full advantage of the shuttle buses and explored most of Macau. The only downside was the limited service hours; the buses typically don’t start running until lunchtime and operate on a half-hourly or hourly schedule.
Overall
This is, without a doubt, the best hotel I have ever had the pleasure of staying in. I’m not being paid to say this; the hotel has created a calm oasis of luxury just a short distance from the glitz and glamour of the Cotai Strip. Altira Macau made sure I had everything I needed during my stay. I had always avoided 5-star luxury because I was worried I wouldn’t feel posh enough to fit in. However, this hotel proved me wrong. Every single member of the staff was incredibly welcoming and kind, and being greeted by name was a lovely personal touch.
Honestly, I had never considered a relaxing city break. However, this hotel has created a space where wellness and relaxation are perfectly balanced with the excitement of high-stakes gambling. I, for one, cannot wait to return.
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