In Macau, living like a rockstar need not be a fantasy. The southern Chinese city is known as the Las Vegas of the East – a playground for China’s rich – and, in this city, just about anything goes.
From palatial hotel suites with their own in-room swimming pools to rooms you can only stay in by invitation, and even a mansion that’s decorated in honour of the late king of pop – nowhere else does extravagance quite like Macau.
Michael Jackson mansion, anyone?
Starting with the Sofitel Macau at Ponte 16, this luxury five-star hotel situated on Macau’s picturesque waterfront has more than first meets the eye. Tucked away in a separate wing of the hotel lies its top-tier mansion suites.
Reserved for its VIP guests, the four mansions are in a league of their own. Each mansion is designed as a fantasy world with its own unique theme. The standout is the ‘MJ Mansion’. Upon opening the doors, you are greeted by a huge picture of Michael Jackson in a mid-moonwalk pose. Clearly, staying here would be an MJ fan’s dream.
The theme continues with a duvet cover and cushions with the initials ‘MJ’ emblazoned on the front and various other bits of Michael Jackson memorabilia. The 2,000-square-foot mansion suite is decorated in mostly black with gold and diamante trimmings – perhaps this was the favourite colour scheme of the late pop icon.
Other features of the MJ Mansion include a very large size bathroom with a Jacuzzi, a private karaoke room that comfortably seats eight people, a very grand dining table dining and living hall, a comfortable king-size bedroom and 24-hour butler service. Essentially, it’s an all-singing, all dancing mansion suite that is the stuff of rock star dreams.
If all that wasn’t enough, mansion guests have access to a private swimming pool, separate from the hotel’s main swimming pool, where you can luxuriate and enjoy the exclusivity as if you were the newly anointed king or queen of pop.
For those eager to experience the mansion lifestyle, but not the MJ variety, Sofitel offers other mansion suites, including Blanc Romance – an all-white mansion; Avant Guarde – cutting-edge opulence, and Eternal Glamour – a duplex mansion that is dripping in elegance.
Sofitel Macau at Ponte 16, Rua do Visconde Paco de Arcos 999078, Macau, +853 8861 0016
Rooms with a pool inside
Swimming pools at hotels are pretty standard these days. Nothing special. However, at Banyan Tree Macau, outdoor swimming pools are already so last decade. Instead, their suites come with a relaxation pool inside the room. So if you fancy a quick dip in the privacy of your own room, you only need step out of bed and your own indoor pool awaits. You also get a generously sized bathtub (so you’re pretty much spoilt for choice for how you choose to get wet). A little over the top, but over-indulgence is the name of the game for Macau hotels.
Banyan Tree Macau, Avenida Marginal Flor De Lotus, Cotai, Macau, +853 8883 8833
Secret mansions
Known as the Paiza Mansions, you won’t find these ‘mansions’ available for booking on travel websites or advertised online, as you typically need an invite to stay here. Hidden away in a private wing of the gigantic Venetian Macao casino, the Paiza Mansions are like mini-hotels within a hotel. They are reachable only by private elevator, and after navigating a series of secret corridors you reach these palatial 7,000-square-foot suites that come with personal butlers and a masseur.
The suites are often free to invitation-only guests who can splurge large sums downstairs at the casino. They also double as a place for visiting VIPs to stay when they’re in town. When international stars like David Beckham, Mariah Carey and Katy Perry visited the resort, this is where they stayed.
The Venetian Macao, Estrada da Baia de Nossa Senhora da Esperanca, Macau, +853 2882 8888
So forget your penthouse suites, presidential suites and luxury villas, why not book an entire mansion? In Macau – anything is possible. After all, if you’re going to stay, might as well stay in style!