[olivert]

One piece of advice regarding currency:

If you are traveling to Macau through the Hong Kong International Airport (transferring to the TurboJet Sea Express ferry, which does NOT require you to clear Hong Kong passport control), change a small amount of your currency in Hong Kong to Hong Kong dollars while you are waiting for your shuttle bus to the ferry terminal or while you are waiting for your ferry.

Most establishments in Macau accept Hong Kong dollars at par versus the Macau Pacata, which is pegged to the Hong Kong dollar at a 1:1 ratio.

The shuttle bus driver and the bell hop at the hotel who help you with your luggage expect to be tipped. HKD$10 (USD$1.30) is about right.

When getting change in Macau, ask for change in Hong Kong Dollars rather than Macau Pacatas.

If you were to end up with any Macau Pacatas at the end of your trip, change them before you leave Macau. Why? Banks in Hong Kong generally apply a 20% discount when they are asked to change Macau Pacatas back to Hong Kong Dollars.

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The two most common ways to get to Macau from the U.S.:

1. Fly nonstop to Hong Kong from either San Francisco (United, Cathay Pacific, or Singapore Airlines) or Los Angeles (Cathay Pacific) and transfer to the TurboJet Sea Express ferry at the Hong Kong Airport Ferry Terminal.

2. Fly EVA Air from San Francisco or Los Angeles to Taipei, and change to an EVA Air flight from Taipei to Macau.

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I personally will be going through Hong Kong on United. United's fare sale ends on October 31.