Four Seasons Hotel Macao

If the Four Seasons Hotel Macao, Cotai Strip looks a bit like something straight out of Monte Carlo, the resemblance is not entirely accidental — the Cotai Strip is Macau’s answer to Monte Carlo, or perhaps Las Vegas. From the exterior this Four Seasons is perhaps more Vegas than French Riviera, but once inside the lobby, under the rotunda, you’ll certainly be struck by the heavily European Casino Royale atmosphere of it all.

In fact you’ll want to look slightly further west for its inspiration. This Four Seasons is designed in a Portuguese-Chinese hybrid style, an expression of Macau’s unique history. The 360 rooms and suites, spread over 19 floors, are perhaps a little bit more Asian in aspect, the décor rich in golden tones. Underneath, however, the rooms are as modern as they come, with the current standard 42-inch plasma screens and another LCD screen over the bathtub. We wouldn’t expect anything else but classic looks and state-of-the-art comforts from the Four Seasons.

If there’s a departure from the Four Seasons template it’s in the scale. No fewer than five pools serve the guests here, as well as three restaurants (two of them Cantonese and Portuguese, naturally) and two bars. There’s a full-service spa as well, and the services are so comprehensive it’s easy to imagine never setting foot off the grounds. Unlikely, though — it’s a rare guest who will resist the call of the Cotai Strip’s casinos, starting with the connected Plaza Casino.