The cultural and entertainment mecca known as Macau is known around the world for having some of the most amazing resorts and casinos. It is really blossoming these days and has grown into its nickname, “The Las Vegas of the East.” It can be hard to decide among the dozens of five-star resort hotels that Macau brings to the table, but I absolutely recommend the Grand Lapa Macau as the place to visit when you go to this incredible city.
Although every resort you find in Macau is going to be way above standard, there are some that hold the key to the hearts of many people in a way that sets them apart from the rest and makes for stories that people will tell to their children and grandchildren for the rest of their lives.
The Grand Lapa in Macau is without a doubt one of the nicest hotels in all of Macau, and for good reason. Macau has a thriving economy, and there’s a great deal of money in its market, which allows amazing resort casinos such as this one to flourish and succeed.
Macau is leading just about every city in the world in terms of money; in fact, it has one of the biggest economies in the world and has the highest GDP per capita. Macau is also the second wealthiest city in the world. It has multicultural roots that go back about 450 years, the time when Portuguese settlers found the island and decided they were going to stay there.
Over time, Macau came to be known as a mecca of gambling and generates about seven times more money than Las Vegas each year. The Grand Lapa just blows everything that Las Vegas has to offer out of the water!
Here is everything you need to know about Grand Lapa in hopes that you get over to Macau and see what all of the fuss is about!
Keep Your Expectations High—They’ll Be Met!
You can go into Grand Lapa with high expectations if you are a person that can truly appreciate luxury. The amenities that are available to the guests of Grand Lapa make for an experience that is truly memorable.
If you’re going on a vacation, it’s important that you give yourself the deserved relaxation that your body needs. We have a tendency to work hard and play hard and miss out on the rest that our body needs to operate at its fullest potential.
If you stay at Grand Lapa, you will be in a non-gaming resort hotel, so it will force you to have to fall into the pool sooner or later. The pool and spa are two of the amenties that are a must-see at the Grand Lapa.
Created as a holistic sanctuary for the mind, body, and soul, the Spa at Grand Lapa Macau treats guests like they’re royalty. The massage therapists there are experts in their fields and will spend quality time to prepare a completely individualized approach to your treatment. Arrive to your appointment 30 minutes early so that you can soak in a variety of different heat and water treatments available at the spa.
The world class facilities at Grand Lapa will keep you busy from dusk until dawn. There is a whole slew of water- and land-based activities available at this fine resort hotel, too. Work out in the fitness center with the different resistance training and cardiovascular equipment available to you.
There are a variety of classes that Grand Lapa offers its guests, including step, tai chi, kickboxing, and spin class. Whatever you’re looking for, I bet you the Grand Lapa Macau has it.
The Grand Lapa Is a Piece of Macau History
The building that is now the Grand Lapa has gone through a lot of different changes over the last few decades, dating back to 1984 when it opened its doors for the very first time. The property has seen a lot of changes to its physical appearance from the day its doors opened all the way up to today. And I have to say that it’s probably much better for all the renovations it’s had.
The hotel was partially purchased by Stanley Ho in 2009, a big name in the Macau casino industry. Ho is known for having a very sentimental place in his heart for Portugal and its culture and is known throughout Macau as the “casino king.”
When designing the interior of the hotel, one of the main objectives of the architects and designers was to merge the cultures between the East and the West, creating a vibe that not only embraces cultural fusion but does so in a way that is timeless, stylish, and comfortable.
The property chosen for the Grand Lapa is perfectly situated for beautiful views and allows you to see all of this amazing land right from your hotel room.
When you’re sitting comfortably in your room, you can catch a glimpse of the South China Sea, as well as views of other wondrous features in Macau. In an interview featuring Rutger Verschuren, the hotel’s manager, he says,
“The hotel welcomes guests in an ambience that embraces Macau’s Portuguese-Chinese cultural identity and spirit.”
Grand Lapa, Macau, previously known as Mandarin Oriental Macau, was named Excelsior when it first opened its doors. Beautiful water ran really close to the building, giving it an atmosphere that you really just can’t beat. It is very much an oceanside resort.
Few still recall the early days of Macau, and photos are the only real proof of the remains of the Excelsior (Grand Lapa) as a waterside hotel. This is actually pretty common. There are many other hotels in the region that have undergone significant changes.
As a significant hotel in Macau, this property was built in the ‘70s and can be found in international magazines that talk about some of your best options when trying to find the perfect hotel in the region.
Opened under the name Excelsior on April 13th, 1984 and eventually changing its name to The Oriental, then again to Mandarin Oriental, it finally became Grand Lapa Macau in 2009.
It was managed by the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group until January 2014. On February 2014, Artyzen Hospitality Group took over the management.
What’s Close?
Getting around while staying at the Grand Lapa is easy and convenient. The transportation in Macau is very efficient, just keep in mind that the area as a whole is one of the most densely-populated regions in the world, but don’t let that deter you from going there.
The abundance of people isn’t a bad thing. It’s kind of like going to New York City. There’s a lot of people, and that’s the fun of it all. You would definitely have a good time people-watching in Macau.
Grand Lapa is located in the Macau City Centre, so it’s in a location that provides easy access to other popular, tourist-friendly destinations. To get to the Macau Ferry Maritime Terminal, you’re looking at only a two-minute shuttle ride. Macau International Airport is only a 10-minute drive from the hotel.
If you want to go check out the world-famous Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau bridge, it’s only a 10-minute drive. The other islands in Macau, Taipa, and Cotai are only a 15-minute drive.
I know that most of you are going to Macau to see what all the hype is about over their casinos. The world-famous Sands Casino is literally a one-minute walk from Grand Lapa. The free shuttle bus that Grand Lapa’s guests have access to give free rides to the Cotai Strip, Taipa Ferry Terminal, and Border Gate, as well as other parts of Macau.
As far as other things that are walking distance, some popular places in Macau that are close include the Macau Fisherman’s Wharf, the Macau Museum of Art, Macau Cultural Centre, and tons of other tourist-friendly cultural attractions.
All the Celebrities Love This Resort—And You Will Too
There are plenty of things that you can say about Grand Lapa that I have not had the time to mention. One last cool fact about Grand Lapa is that years ago, when the Portuguese still governed Macau, the hotel hosted several very well-known celebrities.
From Audrey Hepburn and Sean Penn to Madonna and boxing legend Muhammad Ali, it’s no surprise that these well-known celebrities made Grand Lapa their hotel of choice when staying in Macau.
It has a level of luxury that is ideal for celebrities, so just know that you are going to be treated no differently! Every guest that walks through their doors is going to be treated like nothing short of royalty.
Have you stayed at Grand Lapa and have some things to add to what I’ve already mentioned? Please drop a comment with your experience in the section down below!
Michael Stevens
Michael Stevens has been researching and writing topics involving the gambling industry for well over a decade now and is considered an expert on all things casino and sports betting. Michael has been writing for GamblingSites.org since early 2016. …
