FIRST TECHNICAL WORKING MEETING
OF THE GEF IW:SCIENCE PROJECT, 2528TH JANUARY 2010
GETTING TO MACAO
Participants are responsible for making their own travel arrangements from Hong Kong to Macau; please see the
following travel options and instructions. Reimbursement of a flat rate of $US 55 will be handed out at the workshop
to each participant whose flight arrives/departs in Hong Kong. This is enough to cover a return economy ticket on the
direct ferry from the Hong Kong airport to the Macao Ferry terminal.
You can get to Macao by ferry from Hong Kong to the Macao ferry terminal, or through the Chinese border gate in
Zhuhai, or by flying to Macao International Airport. You will probably arrive at Hong Kong Chek Lap Kok airport.
Direct Ferry to Macao
A possibility is to get a ferry directly to Macao from the airport. To do this you need to find the ticket desk for Sky Pier
BEFORE you go through passport control. It is not very well marked, so ask staff to direct you to Sky Pier or Macao
Ferry. The boats are not very frequent, and you need to be there one hour before a sailing as they have to go and
find your luggage. So you will probably have to wait a while before you will leave the airport this way. The ferry from
the airport takes 45 minutes to reach Macao. You need to compare with getting to Macao through Hong Kong, which
will take you at least 2 hours, probably 2.5, and involves carrying your luggage on and off a bus or train and into the
Macao ferry terminal. An economy ticket to Macao costs 215 HK$, so this direct route is also the cheapest, but not by
very much.
You can check the sailing times at the Sky Pier http://www.turbojet.com.hk/eng/schedule/airport.html or see below:
This direct route means that you do not have to enter Hong Kong, i.e. you do not pass Hong Kong passport control.
So if you come from one of the few countries where you need a visa to enter Hong Kong, this route would be useful
for you. But make sure your flight arrives in plenty of time for the last ferry! You must be at the ticket desk an hour
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before the ferry leaves, and not a minute less, so don't rely on this unless your flight is due to arrive at least 1.5 hours
before the last ferry.
If you intend to use the direct airport ferry, I kindly remind you to double check whether you need a transit visa
because some passport-holders are required to hold a valid visa for Hong Kong for whatever purpose (including
those who are in transit and remain on the airside). If this requirement has been inadvertently overlooked, you get the
chance to be stuck in the airport and may be repatriated to the place where you come from. Additionally, the
regulations say that you can only take a ferry on the same day. For instance, you are not allowed to take the last
airport ferry at 20:15 from Macau to Hong Kong, intend to stay overnight in the airport in order to take the flight in the
following day. Please contact us if you have any questions about this.
Helicopter
If you’re really short on time, Sky Shuttle Helicopters Ltd. (Sky Shuttle) operates aircraft between the helipads on the
Macau and Hong Kong Ferry terminals. Each flight takes only approximately 16 minutes. Macau to Hong Kong
service operates from 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. and the Hong Kong to Macau service operates from 9:30 a.m. to 10:59
p.m. Passengers can enquire for flight details from Macau (853) 2872 7288; Hong Kong (852) 2108 9898, or
http://www.skyshuttlehk.com
Macao via Hong Kong
You will be taking a bus to the Macao Ferry Terminal on Hong Kong Island (about 40 minutes), and then a ferry to
Macao (1 hour).
1.
Once you have gone through passport control, fetch your luggage, and clear customs. (Take a trolley, which
is free and can be wheeled all the way to a bus or taxi.)
2.
After customs you can:
1.
Exchange money - at least 400 HK$ per person. One US$ is 7.73 HK$. You will probably need
change for the bus fare (40 HK$ per person) and for phone calls (1-2-5 HK$). Macao Patacas
(MOP) are worth 3% less than HK$. HK$ are freely used in Macao, but MOP cannot be used in
Hong Kong. You may obtain MOP after arriving in Macao.
2.
Obtain Hong Kong Tourist Information
3.
Obtain Macao Tourist Information from separate counters.
3.
The next step is to get a bus, taxi or train to the Shun Tak ferry terminal, also called the Macao Ferry
Terminal. Follow signs to Taxi/Bus in the "Ground Transportation Centre", across from the Arrival Hall.
4.
The airport bus is much cheaper than a taxi and takes about the same time (typically 40-50 minutes,
depending on traffic), has plenty of space for luggage, and runs frequently. Airport Bus A11 goes from the
airport to the Shun Tak ferry terminal - there is often one waiting at the airport. They are intended to be used
by tourists, and have automatic announcements about stops in English as well as Chinese. The A11 runs
every 12-20 minutes.
The fare is 40 HK$ per person. No change is given. If you do not have change, you can buy tickets at the
travel information desk in the Arrivals Hall.
5.
6.
A taxi usually costs about 350-400HK$. Ask for "Macao Ferry" or "Shun Tak" (and preferably both, to be
sure the driver understands). Or show the driver our address written in Chinese - see the end of this page.
Airport bus A11 stops at the entrance to the Shun Tak Ferry Terminal. Note that the Ferry terminal bus stop
is the first stop after going through the Western Harbour Tunnel, which is the second tunnel the bus goes
through.
7.
Taxis stop at the foot of the escalator and elevator.
8.
The Airport Express train travels between the airport and Hong Kong Station. The journey takes 25 minutes
and the fare is 100 HK$. Trains are frequent (every 8 minutes). Tickets can be bought at the Customer
Service Centres in the Arrivals Hall or the Ground Transportation Centre. Hong Kong Station is about a 10
minute walk from the Shun Tak Centre, so if you have luggage it is better to get a taxi (15-20 HK$).
9.
At Shun Tak ferry terminal proceed to 3rd floor. Buy single (one-way) ticket to Macao on the "TurboJet" (24
hours a day, every 15-30 minutes). Price varies with time of day from around 130-170 HK$. We recommend
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economy class. Entrance and ticket check for the economy class is to the right of the ticket office (facing it),
and the first class is to the left.
There are actually two kinds of ferries operated by TurboJet: Jetfoil and Turbocat. On both the journey takes
1 hour. The Turbocat seating is a little more comfortable, but the Jetfoil ride is smoother, so prefer it if you
are very prone to seasickness, or it is windy. Before you purchase the ticket, you can ask the ticket office
which kind of ferry is being used and choose the next ferry if necessary. They typically use Jetfoil and
Turbocat alternately. If you are coming to Macao only for a day or so then you can buy return tickets in Hong
Kong - but you need to know exactly when you will be leaving Macao, as tickets are for particular sailings. It
is generally quite safe to buy a single ticket for each journey, unless you are returning from Macao at a busy
time, particularly late Sunday or public holiday evening. You can also buy standby returns but you will not
save much and you take the risk of having to wait in Macao for a boat with standby space available.
10. At certain times you may experience 1-2 hours delay, usually on Friday evenings and during the week-end,
when many people go to Macao for the casinos. If you have to wait you can either take a meal in the Shun
Tak Centre or go for a walk across the street to the nicely restored Western Market Building. There are left
luggage lockers on the 2nd floor (1 floor below the ticket office).
11. At the entrance to the ferry terminal, at the foot of the escalator and elevator, there is a bell and interphone
on the left of the elevator. If you need help with your luggage, press the bell and ask for the porter service.
The porter will come within a few minutes and deliver your luggage to the luggage counter behind the ticket
check. It costs 30-40 HK$ per item, depending on weight. When you reach the luggage counter you go with
your luggage a few steps to the custom desk, and then your luggage is taken away to be put on the ferry,
while you proceed back to the luggage counter and then down the escalator to passport control.
If you take your own luggage, then after you have bought your ferry ticket and passed through the ticket
check, you reach the luggage counter and may be charged for large luggage items at 20-30 HK$ per item.
This charge includes porterage of the luggage to Macao. As with any luggage delivered to the porter service
at the entrance, they will take it with you a few steps to the customs desk, then put it on board while you go
down the escalator to passport control.
Luggage taken on for you in Hong Kong will also be carried off for you in Macao. The luggage usually goes
on the same ferry as you, but it is not unknown (especially if you only just catch the ferry) for it to be put on
the next one, usually 15 minutes later. You have the option of carrying your luggage on and off the ferry
yourself, but you still have to pay the charge if asked at the luggage counter.
At the Macao ferry terminal, you collect your luggage after passport control and before customs from a
counter on the right. You may again ask for porter service to the taxi rank. It costs MOP10 (or HK$10) per
item.
12. After checking your ticket, go down the escalator to passport control, which is often time-consuming, so be
in good time, 20 minutes before departure. But don't panic if you are sold a ticket for a boat leaving in 10
minutes. Just check in immediately; the queues tend to move miraculously quicker just then. And at worst,
once they have let you past the ticket check they will put you on the next boat.
13. After passport control proceed down to the main waiting lounge.
14. About 15 minutes before departure, get a seat assignment sticker put on to your ticket from the desk beside
your departure door, and then wait for boarding.
15. Upon arrival at the Macao Ferry Terminal, if you need help to carry your luggage -- and did not check it in in
Hong Kong -- then ask ferry and/or pier attendants. They will call for a man to come. He will come after a
few minutes, and you will pay him 25 MOP (or HK$ 25).
16. Checked-in luggage is collected just after Immigration Control, from a counter on the right near the "Visa"
window.
Arriving in Macao
1.
If you come to Macau directly from Macau international airport or the Border Gate from the Mainland China,
please simply take a taxi to go to Rio Hotel. The taxi fare from the airport is around MOP80 and from the
Border Gate around MOP40. Hong Kong Dollars can be freely used in Macau at the equivalent value of
MOP. If you change HKD to MOP in Macau, you will get 3% more in its value.
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Getting to Rio Hotel from Macao Ferry Terminal
1.
Rio Hotel is located approximately 1.4 km from the Terminal, on Rua Luis Gonzaga Gomes 33. Chinese
2.
address: 澳門新口岸高美士街33 號
See maps below if you feel comfortable with walking to the hotel (B) from the ferry terminal (A).
3.
If you arrive in Macau at the ferry terminal, there is free shuttle bus provided by Hotel Rio from the ferry
terminal to the Hotel. The bus is parked at the left hand side after you walk out from the ferry terminal
building and it departs at the 15 and 45 minutes every hour during 11am-8:30pm. If your arrival time is not
close to these two times, please simply take a taxi which costs you around MOP20 (or HKD20) from the
ferry terminal to Hotel Rio. If the taxi fare is far above MOP20, please ask for assistance from the Hotel
staff: (853) 28718 718.
Chinese Glossary & Tips



香港國際機場
Hong Kong – Macau Ferry Terminal 香港上環港澳碼頭
Hong Kong International Airport
利澳酒店
Rio Hotel
Address: 33 Rua Luis Gonzaga Gomes, Macau
in Chinese:

澳門理工學院
Macao Polytechnic Institute
Address: Rua Luis Gonzaga Gomes, Macao
in Chinese:


澳門新口岸高美士街 33 號
澳門高美士街
澳門外港客運碼頭
Macau International Airport 澳門國際機場
Macau Maritime Ferry Terminal

Tourist destinations & pronunciations:
A-Ma Temple - Ma Kok Miu
Civic & Municipal Affairs Bureau - Man Zheng Zhong Chu
Av Almeida Ribeiro - San Ma Lô
St. Paul's Ruins - Tai Sam Pá
Lisboa Hotel - Pou Keng
Macau Ferry Terminal - Kong Ou Má Tau
Barrier Gate - Kwan Tchap
Guia Hill - Tchong San
Cultural Centre - Man Fá Tchong Sam
Airport - Kei Cheong

There are two kinds of taxis: the black with cream roof ones and the yellow ones. The flagfall charge is
MOP$13.00 for the first 1600 meters. MOP$1.50 will be added for every 230 meters afterwards. Waiting on
passengers' request will be charged for MOP$1.50 for every minute. There is also radio-taxi-service - tel.
(853) 2851 9519, 2893 9939, 8500 0000 & 2828 3283.

If you would like to use your mobile phone while in Macau, contact the information services below:
1000 (CTM)
1118 (Hutchison Telecom)
1628 (SmarTone)
1888 (China Telecom (Macau) Co., Ltd.)
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Total distance by car:
approximately 1.4 km
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Emergency numbers
1.
If you have any problems or questions, please contact Andrew Dansie, reachable by mobile phone at (+1)
905 518 4330
2.
Rio Hotel contact information: Rio Hotel & Casino
Rua Luis Gonzaga Gomes 33, Macau
Tel: (853) 28718 718
Email: info@riomacau.com
A Tourism Hotline (+853) 2833 3000 is available for immediate assistance.
Dial 999 for police or other emergency services. There are also two new 24 hour emergency hotline
numbers (110 and 112) meant to facilitate emergency calls by tourists from the mainland and abroad.
3.
4.
5. During your visit in Macau, if you require any assistance, please contact any of the following: Macau
Government Tourist Office, open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily or call the 24 hours Tourism Hotline: (853)
28333000; the Macau Consumer Council Hotline: (853) 89889315 or the Police at: (853) 28573333 .
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