Venetian, Macau

[lojo]

Has anyone read or heard of the potential impacts of the Olympics on Macau? Does the Mainland govt. allow casino advertising or PR in Beijing? Do you think the casino groups will incorporate the Olympics in their marketing campaigns abroad? Just curious...

[spearmaster]

Originally Posted by chuchu59

Spear,

Sorry, almost missed this. No, I havent gone there yet. Unless I go secretly (hehe), I will need to wait till the next batch of public holidays, probably near X'Mas as my wife wants me to take her and the kid to go there. Well, my wife is a teacher and she should start her holidays around the 20th Dec.

Just go for the day... it's only an hour each way

I think you better book now for Dec if you're going to stay there, I think they're quite busy!

I'm going to try and go over Tuesday afternoon (possibly Monday depending on the flight) - if you want to go have a peek let me know. I have an appointment at Immigration on Tuesday morning.

[chuchu59]

Originally Posted by lojo

Has anyone read or heard of the potential impacts of the Olympics on Macau? Does the Mainland govt. allow casino advertising or PR in Beijing? Do you think the casino groups will incorporate the Olympics in their marketing campaigns abroad? Just curious...

The Chinese authorities clamp down on all gambling activities. I am pretty sure Beijing wont allow this sort of thing but its entirely different in Macau as their livelihood depend on gambling. University grads are shunning all sorts of jobs to become dealers at the Venetian, Sands etc. where the pay is twice or 3 times better than being a teacher for example. Well, the land casinos dont really need much advertising. They rely on tourist agencies to bring customers from the mainlanders many of which have gottn very rich these few years. Then they get their commission through asking their clients to play at the casinos with junkets. There have been a couple of murders over disagreements on the distribution of junkets or that sort of thing.

[chuchu59]

Originally Posted by spearmaster

Just go for the day... it's only an hour each way

I think you better book now for Dec if you're going to stay there, I think they're quite busy!

I'm going to try and go over Tuesday afternoon (possibly Monday depending on the flight) - if you want to go have a peek let me know. I have an appointment at Immigration on Tuesday morning.

I cant take the day off. I shall see if I can make it in the evening.

Spear, if you go see if you can travel by Super Jetfoil. Much more comfy.

[Simmo!]

Originally Posted by chuchu59

I cant take the day off. I shall see if I can make it in the evening.

Spear, if you go see if you can travel by Super Jetfoil. Much more comfy.

Is that the TurboJet? Thats what I am taking from HK to Macau in November. I need to get over to HK for a day too actually.

[chuchu59]

Simmo, this should be the turbojet ie the red and white creatures. However, there is a supersized turbojet that runs every 3 or 4 hours and its very comfortable and stable.

[lojo]

You guys are killllling me with envy!!

[spearmaster]

Don't think I've been on the Super Jetfoil - but I am always in Super Class these days and have never really been bothered by the ride.

Must figure out what times the Super Jetfoil sails, though, might be interesting.

Simmo - it's a pretty smooth ride, you won't be bothered a bit.

Chuchu - would be nice to meet up. Let me know.

[chuchu59]

Originally Posted by lojo

You guys are killllling me with envy!!

Nope. Not this one. The one I am talking about is purely red and white and is very steady even when there are typhoons. Tried it myself. The one in the picture should be OK but might not be as steady as the conventional one which rises about a metre above sea level.

[spearmaster]

Very brief trip report:

Went to the Venetian. Lost HKD1600 but that's just because I was being greedy and tried to do a Simmo! in 30 minutes

22 total VP machines in the Venetian. 14 are Bonus Poker. 8 are Joker Poker. My instinct says that these were the least popular machines in the Vegas Venetian so they shipped them out here to take up some floor space.

Slots - 70% old Aristocrat with 1980s graphics. Fine for local crowd but those who have been to Vegas will be disappointed. The other 30% had some quite decent machines, but again they will not be recognizable to players in the US.

There are more machines in the Venetian than any other casino in Macau - by far. But slots still occupy less than 1/10th of the total floor area.

Jetfoils - on the way to Macau, traditional one. Sat super class which was up front. On the way back, upstairs was all economy - and seemed larger, perhaps this is the Super Jetfoil that Chuchu referred to. Personally, didn't notice much difference in the ride. Sat economy because my colleague bought the tickets.

The major difference is that super class gets to board and alight first, plus they get a pretty strange meal served to them (always ask for a hot dog instead, at least you'll recognize what you're eating). Difference in cost is betwen HKD 80-100 depending on schedule as price fluctuates. For the most part I'd recommend economy, after all it's only an hour and the seats are basically the same.

Didn't go look at anything else at the Venetian, though on my reconnaissance mission I passed by a restaurant and did a double-take - Morton's Steakhouse. Definitely on my list of things to do in November.

When arriving from Macau, there are free shuttle buses to take you to the Venetian (or you can spend MOP 60 for a taxi, up to you). You must cross the street directly across from the ferry terminal - do NOT follow most people who will go out the left-hand side where MOST other casino shuttle buses are.

The wait this time was 20 minutes. This will vary according to day of week and how many buses are on the route (today they were still running additional buses hired from China Travel Service in addition to their own fleet).

The Wynn, for which you will go out the LEFT exit and go all the way down to the end, must have had some promotion going on today - the line was at least 200 people long.