
Macau: Asian luxury on another level
mall perhaps, but a millionaire, too. Though technically a special administrative region of China, Macau has made it to the top three richest countries in the world—thanks largely to its dazzling casinos. Only Qatar and Luxembourg rank higher, according to a Global Finance Magazine study. Newly opened resorts such as the Parisian Macau, 19 Michelin-starred restaurants and shopping malls with everything from Dior suits to diamonds, make Macau a coveted destination for VIP vacations.
First, accommodation. And it is hard to choose. The Venetian Macau is a classic, recently celebrating ten years as a benchmark in Macanese luxury on the Cotai Strip. Inspired by its namesake in Las Vegas, it is double the size, with more than 3,000 spacious 70-square-metre suites. The Shoppes at the Venetian are connected to the uber-luxurious Four Seasons mall, which belongs to another illustrious Macau resort. With a bouquet of beautifully appointed rooms and suites, the Four Seasons Hotel invites you to relax before hitting the town. The Grand Lisboa Hotel takes you around in style with a luxury limousine service.

The Most Luxurious Hotel in the World
Due to open in Macau next year, The 13 is set to be the most opulent hotel in the world, with 200 villas, four restaurants and an invitation-only shopping mall. Guests will also have a fleet of 30 customised Rolls Royce Phantoms at their disposal.
And from the veterans to one of the most recent arrivals. The Wynn Palace uses top-notch technology to further enhance the experience. Each of its 1,706 rooms is fitted with a Bang & Olufsen Bluetooth System, touch-screen-controlled curtains, lighting and temperature, and high-speed Internet. This is no ordinary level of opulence; the difference is in the details, like the Egyptian Cotton sheets and even a bespoke tea service.
The still undecided might want to check out one of the newest entrants on the ultra-luxe hotel scene in Macau. The much-awaited Grand Lisboa Palace will house Asia’s first Palazzo Versace and the first hotel designed in its entirety by Karl Lagerfeld. Morpheus at the City of Dreams is an original—and dreamlike—project from the Zaha Hadid studio, with 40 floors and around 780 rooms.

Most top-class restaurants are located inside the resorts. Grand Lisboa leads the pack with Robuchon au Dôme and The Eight, each holding three Michelin stars. Macau’s gastronomic delights range from Cantonese dim sum to Portuguese cod, with forays into Indian (The Golden Peacock at The Venetian), Italian and French cuisine. Lovers of Japanese fare are catered to with sushi at Mizumi at Wynn Macau or tempura at Tenmasa, at the Altira Macau.





Only one experience is more glamorous than dinner at a fancy restaurant. Take off the designer outfit. Throw on a bathrobe and spend an indulgent Spa Day at Grand Lapa. Set in an idyllic tropical garden, the spa offers exquisite personalised pampering. Try the Macanese ritual involving massage with oil and fresh grapes, followed by a revitalising sangria bath. What more could you ask for? Whatever it is, if Macau doesn’t have it, it can get it.