Here I am again with another rave review of the Holiday Inn. Though pricey than what my wallet can usually handle, I’ve always liked Holiday Inn, because they’re one of the best hotels my cheapskate self has been in, and they always go the extra mile with their service. I’m sure other hotels do the same thing for their guests, but I just feel a little bit extra special when I’m stepping inside a Holiday Inn.
We stayed at a room for the night as a treat to ourselves at Holiday Inn Macao Cotai Central. Having stayed at a small and simple private room in Hong Kong and a three-star hotel in the first few days of our Macau-Hong Kong trip, we wanted to end the trip with a nicer, more memorable stay. Since Holiday Inn was within budget as compared to other options, so it became our default choice. Glad with our decision though.
Holiday Inn Macau is located within the Cotai Strip—its entrance is connected to a sort of hybrid mall and casino complex. I couldn’t quite remember exactly where it was located in that vast area, but we did ask around and were led to the lobby with minimal effort. Once there, we checked in. To my surprise, they upgraded our room to a deluxe for free, since I am an IHG One Rewards member, so it was more spacious than the superior one we originally booked.
The room we were in had a view of another casino as well as some towers that were under construction. We had a pretty wide window, which bestowed upon us a magnificent view. Our room had the staples: a vanity table-cum-work desk, a huge flatscreen TV, personal safe and minibar. It also had a spacious bathroom, with a huge mirror, bathtub and hairdryer. The bed was huge, plush and comfy.
Breakfast was really good at Yum Cha, the hotel’s Chinese restaurant. I have a shrimp allergy, which one of the potstickers served to us contained. When I told one of the servers about it, she immediately changed the dish, free of charge. Yum Cha had a separate dining restaurant and a lounge. I had my welcome drink at the latter.
The only regret I had was not being able to stay at the hotel much. We were out all day, and we could have enjoyed the amenities more. According to the IHG website, the hotel has a spa and fitness center, an in-house casino and heated indoor pool. I regret missing all that. At the time, I also didn’t know that the hotel also offered a free shuttle from the Hong Kong-Macau Ferry Terminal so that was another missed opportunity.
I will always admire the hospitality of the staff at Holiday Inn, and will continue to patronize their hotel and services. For the price, staying at the hotel is absolutely worth it. Wish I had stayed longer.
