TOWNS WELL HOTEL - MACAU

Searching for cheap lodging in Macau is hard work. Ever since booking our flight to Macau, I've been asking around (forums) for good hostels/hotels near senado square but most recommendations aren't cheap and those that I do found are shabby at best. Luckily, I stumbled on this hotel by chance while looking around Agoda.com

Towns Well Hotel is located at No 6-6A Calcada das Verdades, Macau City, Macau

Tel: +853 2835 6868

TOWNS WELL HOTEL

TRIPADVISOR REVIEWS

We booked their triple room for around P4000/night. Room has ensuite bathroom, dresser, cabinets, kettle, cups, table chairs, slippers, hair dryer, shampoo and body wash. Strong water pressure and towels are available. Pillows are a bit soft and beds are quite hard but serviceable. Beds are big as it can fit 2 people per bed. Aircon is good though the remote is in chinese so you may have a bit of problem with this one. Wifi is available in the lobby. They didn't clean our room for the whole of our stay but we preferred it that way. If needed, maybe you could ask the hotel personnel for that. There are vending machines and  a restaurant at the 2nd flr. They offer free luggage service so you can leave your things here after check out.

hall ways at the 7th floor

our room

vending machine at the 7th floor

2 elevators service the building

triple room

triple room

As for the area, the hostel/hotel itself is very near Senado Square - St Dominics Church (just 2 - 3 blocks away). Its uphill the opticall 88 store and below the hotel is an Esprit Store. There are small eateries around the area which serves good food. Maxims is just around the corner while taxis/bus stops is a few blocks away in senado square.  

the hotel

The front desk staff don't speak english well but are nice enough. Prepare 300HKD for the security deposit, they'll return it during check out. No casino within the area but can walk 5 mins to Wynn/Lisboa for that. Theres a McDonalds nearby so we usually take our breakfast there (most shops/restos in senado open only around 11AM). Food range from 25HKD - 32 HKD for a full meal. 

Lunch/Dinner can be had at a small resto below Mannings - no english name so will try to post the chinese name here later. Opens between 11AM-12PM onwards and closes before 10PM. Take out / To go food can be requested. Servers hardly speak english but food served is delicious and in big servings. They have an english menu so ask for it. Coke/Colas are 9HKD, no outside food allowed. Lots of locals eat here so be prepared to fall in line.

Overall, out of 5 stars I'd give the hotel 4 stars. They were able to deliver what we needed which is a good nights stay during our vacation. Very near the tourist spots and just a few minutes walk to the free shuttle buses offered by the big hotels. Food is available near the area and environment is quite safe. This is a good alternative as long as you don't expect 5 star hotel ambience/service. Will stay here again when we go back to Macau.

BALER - SURFING HOTSPOT

Surfing is probably the first thing that comes to mind when Baler is mentioned. Just 5-6 hours away from Manila, this place is becoming quite popular nowadays. So back in a long weekend in August, Me and my friends found ourselves in Baler Aurora, basking in the sun and enjoying the waves.

welcome to baler!

We stayed in AMCO beach resort which is a 5 minute walk from the beach. This is a nice place to go home to after a full days worth of touring and surfing. Don't expect 5 star hotel-like ambience though, they only offer basic A/C rooms for around 1000/night. 

We got the package via goodvibes tour for P2500/pax inclusive of tour and van transfers. Meet up was in monumento. You can reach them via their fb page HERE. Van used was ok, medyo masikip pero ok na rin since mabait naman yun guides. These are the place we went to:

- Mother Falls
- Baler market (for pasalubong)
- Diguisit Beach
- Yellow Sand
- Ermita Hill
- Quezon Museum
- Dona Aurora Museum
- Baler Church
- Centennial Tree
- Sabang Beach

For mother falls, before reachings the falls, you'd trek for 30-45mins muna and the path is quite hard. Definitely not for kids and senior citizens. Sobrang worth naman pag narating mo ang Falls, it was breathtaking.

trek to mother falls

Mother Falls

museo de baler

dona aurora quezon museum

 Surfing at the Sabang Beach
- you can hire an instructor for surfing here, 350/pax inclusive of board and instructor. If board lang 200/hour. Waves when we were here were not that big, so it suited us beginners.

diguisit beach

centennial tree

All in all, the trip was worth it. But next time though, we'll probably stay there for 3 days 2 nights so we can enjoy the sights more. Mala - amazing race kasi ang ginawa namin. ^__^