For a good time, Macau doesn’t hold a candle to Las Vegas

This article on Macau appeared today in the Las Vegas Sun, For a good time, Macau doesn’t hold a candle to Las Vegas.

I think Adam Lasker did a good job at capturing the essence of the casinos there. It is quite true the Macau casinos are quiet, serious, and getting a drink is not easy. The thing that bothers me the most about the article is the title. The Chinese opinion of a "good time" is not the same as the American one. Most Chinese visitors are there to gamble or get a prostitute. Whichever it is, they want to get right down to business.

Regarding the craps story, it is true that the Hong Kong dollar is the standard currency in the casinos. However, as I was told, there is a law that requires every casino to have at least one table that uses Macau patacas. That is usually a low-limit baccarat table in the corner somewhere. Also, I'm sure the writer could have easily exchanged his patacas for HK dollars at the cage. That was not something worth getting belligerent over. No wonder American tourists get a bad rap overseas.

He did complain about the exchange rate at the cage. If it was unreasonable (I've seen 10%+ in caribbean casinos), I would have been pretty grumpy. I doubt I would have gotten myself kicked out, but I agree it's annoying when tourists forget that they've left their home country.

Quote: dwheatley

I agree it's annoying when tourists forget that they've left their home country.

If only there was a Wizard of Macau that he could have consulted before he went!

HEY, WAIT! I think there is!

Quote: Wizard

Also, I'm sure the writer could have easily exchanged his patacas for HK dollars at the cage. That was not something worth getting belligerent over. No wonder American tourists get a bad rap overseas.

I'd call it bad planning. If you know beforehand what curency is used where you're going, you ought to bring it along for expenses when possible. Tourist spots, as I expect you know, abound with places where the local fleece tourists with the exchange rate.

As to the last, all to many tourists from too many palces think things will be as they are at home, and are unprepared to deal with differences. And dont' get me started on the language! If anything American tourists are 1) more plrevalent and 2) more justified in the assumption that they can get along using English everywhere.

One example, mexican tourists are notorious for traveling without first botehring with miniutiae like hotel reservations. A coworker once regaled me with a story about arriving in Vegas late on Friday, and being astonished about not finding a room on the Strip.

I missed the part about the unfavorable exchange rate. I'd be interested to know what it was. My first trip to Macau I used an ATM before my hitting the tables. The machine asked me if I wanted Macau patacas or Hong Kong dollars. I thought to myself that I'm in Macau, of course I want the local currency. Big mistake. When I presented them at the table I had the same problem as the writer of that article. So I went back to the same ATM to get Hong Kong dollars. I had some difficulty getting rid of the patacas, and still have some of them. The casino restaurants and stores also are priced in Hong Kong dollars.

My general philosophy of traveling overseas is to be extra patient and summon my best manners. I always try to respect the fact that the rest of the world doesn't necessarily speak English or do things the same way as here.

Quote: Wizard

No wonder American tourists get a bad rap overseas.

In 1988, my former girlfriend wanted to travel someplace exotic, but where there wouldn't be a language barrier.

After suggesting several locations, and having her turn them all down, she came up with London. I'm thinking London? Exotic? And the language issue isn't so bad that he has to stick to England. Whatever.

One day she wanted to complain about the noise coming from other people on our floor. We went to the front desk where she complained to a manager about the "damn foreigners".

She wouldn't try any of the local food, insisting we eat at American style restaurants. Once, she was unhappy with her food and sent it back SEVEN TIMES!


I was planning my escape / breakup strategy on the flight home. I was single just a few days later....

Quote: Nareed

... If anything American tourists are 1) more plrevalent and 2) more justified in the assumption that they can get along using English everywhere. ...

Probably 25 years ago, I had a business visitor from Japan. One of his comments to me was, "It must be wonderful to have English as a native language -- I travel the entire world, and everywhere I go, I conduct my business in English."

My international travel experience is limited. So long as I have been interacting with business professionals or with people accustomed to tourists, I have never encountered any difficulty conducting affairs in English. Yes, I am the stupid American who only speaks English. On a few occasions in several countries, I have wandered into areas normally frequented only by locals and encountered non-English-speaking people. I have always found them to be extremely accommodating to my shortcoming and willing to help me. Maybe I have just been lucky.

Quote: DJTeddyBear

She wouldn't try any of the local food, insisting we eat at American style restaurants.

I've tried the local food. I don't recommend it. I stayed in Cambridge one month at language school, so I mostly hung out with other foreigners. An Italian guy told me when the English slaughter a cow, they throw away the meat and eat the remains. I woulnd't go that far, but they do show an unhealthy propensity for eating cow organs rather than beef.

On the plus side there were several very good Indian and Arab restaurants. With the school buddies, though, we ate mostly at Pizaa Hut and burger joints.

Imagine that, some other country might have different customs than we do! How on earth did he manage to cross the street considering they drive on the left?

I'm surprised he didn't complain about the chips coming in unfamiliar denominations and colors. (Some places have HK$10, 50 and 250 chips, in addition or instead of the 5/25/100/500 units more familiar to Americans.)

Craps tables are not certainly not easy to find, but he overstated their rarity there. Most of the bigger casinos have one or two. And they deal the game in English, including all the jargon. I doubt he came to appreciate this; after all, they must have 86'd him in English too.

I like some of the ways it's different over there. People don't act like they hit Powerball when they win $5 on a come-out 11. There's less that gets in the way of gambling.

"Our odyssey lasted an hour, and from what I recall, we saw only one restaurant. That¡¯s right ¡ª one restaurant."
I wonder where he looked for restaurants because Macau has quite a lot, some with Michelin stars and some with decent prices. The exchange rate in big casinos for currencies like patacas, RMB or USD is actually quite good and I am quite surprised he didn't notice everyone was using hong kong dollars after spending half a day in Macau. As for 'quiet' gamblers, I'm also guessing he didn't check out the baccarat tables where everybody yells at the cards and try various rituals to try to bring luck on their side. I have been to 5 major casinos in Macau and they all had a craps table that was very easy to find. If he had done some research before his trip I'm pretty sure he would have enjoyed his time a bit more.

Quote: dwheatley

He did complain about the exchange rate at the cage. If it was unreasonable (I've seen 10%+ in caribbean casinos), I would have been pretty grumpy. I doubt I would have gotten myself kicked out, but I agree it's annoying when tourists forget that they've left their home country.

I developed the habit of NOT changing dollars for the local currency until my arrival after I ran afoul of some countries' regulations about "importing" or "exporting" anything more than a very small amount of their currency. One time, I had to pay a "tax" of 50% of the money I was carrying (which probably got no further than the customs officer's pocket).

Of course, this usually happened in countries like The Glorious Republic of Frobnia, or Nutjobistan, or Uggawombamingombo. In some countries, you can breeze in and out with as much of the local money as you want, but the exchange rate is horrible. And in some other countries, you're crazy to exchange dollars at the official government rate beforehand, or for that matter, to exchange them at all. In 1999, I visited the Ukraine, and obtained a four-course meal, a very nice hotel room, a personal taxi for three days, and the services of a young lady, who served as my, um, "interpreter" (wink wink nudge nudge) for the weekend, all for $100 US.

Quote: HKrandom

I have been to 5 major casinos in Macau and they all had a craps table that was very easy to find.

He obviously didn't check my page on craps in Macau.

I never bothered to check that page before.

Quote: WoM - Craps In Macau

Interestingly, the box man calls the game in English.

Being called in English doesn't surprise me. But the BOX MAN calls the game?

Anyone who travels to any foreign country and does not do a little homework, such as checking out the acceptable casino currency, deserves all they get.

Asia is all about attitude, that is your attitude to the people who live there. Its easy to get by with a smile and politeness.

Macau is probably not like Vegas, but as I have not been to Vegas, I am no authority. But in Macau there is plenty of opportunity to enjoy a stay, get good beer and meals at good prices, I have been doing it for years.

I also change money or use an ATM from time to time, and the rates are quite acceptable.

>This article on Macau appeared today in the Las Vegas Sun ]For a good time, Macau doesn’t hold a candle to Las Vegas.
Yeah, that is what I would expect to appear in a Las Vegas newspaper.
In a Macau newspaper I would expect, For a good time, Las Vegas doesn't hold a candle to Macau.

I've yet followed the link to read the article (still slurping coffee, still trying to figure out if I just mainline the caffeine instead of drinking it), but I do tend to favor serious gamblers: no gawking at marble floors, no stage shows, no fancy restaurants with famous chefs, no whooping and hollering, no foreplay with the dice, no playing castanets with your chips, just place your bets and accept the results with a cheerful equanimity whether you win or lose. Be happy about the good fortunes of other players but not exuberant and overly noisy about it. Sure a casino is a place for a festive atmosphere, but festive does not mean fanatic. I think a casino should be a place where its easy to get a drink, but not if you become a loud drunk or a morose drunk. Just place your bets and remember that having a nice time with the dice means having a nice time with the numbers that result not with some sort of prolonged interaction with them before you finally throw the darned things!

Quote: mkl654321

In 1999, I visited the Ukraine, and obtained a four-course meal, a very nice hotel room, a personal taxi for three days, and the services of a young lady, who served as my, um, "interpreter" (wink wink nudge nudge) for the weekend, all for $100 US.

All of which would have been available in the local currency as well but the locals most definitely prefer US Dollars since they probably know more about exchange rates and what holds value than any tourist does.

Quote: DJTeddyBear

In 1988, my former girlfriend wanted to travel someplace exotic, but where there wouldn't be a language barrier.

After suggesting several locations, and having her turn them all down, she came up with London. I'm thinking London? Exotic? And the language issue isn't so bad that he has to stick to England. Whatever.


She wouldn't try any of the local food, insisting we eat at American style restaurants.
....

I never understood people doing that, espically for short-term vacations. Not that you have to go 100% local, but most places will have something familiar enough for you to try. Once on a business trip in Mexico one of our managers wanted to go to McDonald's. Said he had been there a week and simply needed a "regular" meal. I gave him a pass because right off he said he had tried a lot of local places. Some guys wanted to go to McD the first day. Idiots.

I go into a McDonald's in every country I visit. It's just something I do. Mind, I still try the local stuff. But it interesting to see how each country tweaks it differently. For example, Japan has shrimp burgers. A lot of European ones will give you mayo for your fries. As Vincent Vega would say: "Little differences."

By the way, Malaysia has the cheapest Big Mac in absolute dollar terms. :)

Quote: teddys

I go into a McDonald's in every country I visit.

It works the other way around, too. I don't go to McDonald's, Burger King or Carl's Jr. in the US because I can go at home :) I do go to Wendy's because it closed in Mexico.

Quote: FleaStiff

>This article on Macau appeared today in the Las Vegas Sun ]For a good time, Macau doesn’t hold a candle to Las Vegas.
Yeah, that is what I would expect to appear in a Las Vegas newspaper.
In a Macau newspaper I would expect, For a good time, Las Vegas doesn't hold a candle to Macau.

I've yet followed the link to read the article (still slurping coffee, still trying to figure out if I just mainline the caffeine instead of drinking it), but I do tend to favor serious gamblers: no gawking at marble floors, no stage shows, no fancy restaurants with famous chefs, no whooping and hollering, no foreplay with the dice, no playing castanets with your chips, just place your bets and accept the results with a cheerful equanimity whether you win or lose. Be happy about the good fortunes of other players but not exuberant and overly noisy about it. Sure a casino is a place for a festive atmosphere, but festive does not mean fanatic. I think a casino should be a place where its easy to get a drink, but not if you become a loud drunk or a morose drunk. Just place your bets and remember that having a nice time with the dice means having a nice time with the numbers that result not with some sort of prolonged interaction with them before you finally throw the darned things!

Macau is about gambling, not drinking and shows. Yes they have free shows at the major casinos, but they, and the bars, are treated with passing contempt by most Chinese visitors. The bars are seldom busy in my experience, and the shows receive scant attention.

Most Macau visitors are one a 24 hr or shorter visit by bus from mainland China, and drinking and watching shows is not on the agenda for most of them. I have noticed a deterioration in the quality of the shows over the past few years, simply because I think management realise its not worth spending the money on them - they are of little interest to the Chinese who are 98% of the customer base.

The Venetian has a lavish auditorium for shows, but these (such as Zaia) are not free and are a different concept entirely.