As a resident in HK, we have visited Macau many, many times and in the past we had often preferred to stay in one of the luxury hotels in the Cotai Strip area. While the Galaxy block or the Wynn's Group would definitely give you the convenience and the hustle bustle of the shops, entertainment venues and restaurants, this time we decided to try something different. A hotel in Taipa, the Altira Macau.
Altira belongs to the same group as the City of Dreams and the Studio City. People would often prefer the latter two as they have more to do and eat there. For example, Studio City even comes with the latest and largest water park in Macau, where youngsters often flock to in the summer.
Altira, actually pales behind in the location as well as the facilities. It is situated in Taipa so it is not next to the big hotel complex in the Cotai Strip. It is a standalone building and it doesn't have any large venues or events or eye catching gimicks like cable cars, water parks or ferris wheels. To make it worse, it doesn't even have a connecting shuttle directly to the ferry pier or the airport. (you have to take the shuttle to City of Dreams or Studio City first)
BUT, for the same price or even cheaper, I got a massive 54 sq. Waterfront view room with a gigantic bath tub and a view of Macau and the bridges, I got to swim in the award winning infinity pool with a panoramic view over the Macau Peninsula, and i got to mingle with the locals in the residential area of Taipa
