Wynn Palace: Cotai Travel Guide (4.6★)

Riding In Over the Water

Most resorts make you walk in. At Wynn Palace you can ride in on the SkyCab, a free gondola that carries you over Performance Lake to the hotel’s entrance. Through the glass you look down on the fountain jets and over to the rest of the Cotai Strip.

The building is the red-and-gold curved tower on Avenida da Nave Desportiva. It opened in 2016 as Wynn’s second Macau resort and has stayed one of the most-reviewed properties on the strip. It is well-visited at every hour, so expect company.

What to See Without Spending

All of the main sights are free to walk into:

• Performance Lake fountain shows: water, music and lights, best seen after dark from the lakeside promenade. Showtimes are posted at the property.
• Floral sculptures: large displays built from fresh flowers fill the lobby and atrium and are changed with the seasons.
• Art collection: pieces are placed through the public areas. The best known is Jeff Koons’s Tulips.
• The shopping arcade: a quiet run of luxury boutiques, good for cooling off in air-conditioning.

The resort has 12 restaurants and cafés. Wing Lei Palace serves Cantonese food and Sichuan Moon serves Sichuan cooking; both are on the pricier side, so book ahead. There are also cafés for something lighter, and the spa takes bookings separately.

Moving Around Cotai

Wynn Palace runs free shuttle buses from the ferry terminals and the border crossings. Routes change, so check the current timetable on Wynn’s official site before you set out.

The Macau Light Rail Transit’s Taipa line runs through Cotai, and taxis queue at the main entrance around the clock. MGM Cotai is next door, while the Venetian, City of Dreams and Studio City are a short ride away. Wynn Palace fits easily into an evening of crossing the strip.

Casino Floor Manners and Fountain Timing

The doors are open 24 hours every day. That makes the fountain your scheduling anchor:

• Shows: aim for the lakeside after dark, when the lights are on, and take the SkyCab before or after.
• Age limit: you must be 21 to enter the casino floor. Security checks ID, so carry your passport.
• Photos: keep your camera away from the gaming tables. Photography is fine in the lobby and by the lake.
• Dress: smart casual works everywhere. Beachwear and sleeveless vests for men are likely to be turned away at the casino entrance.
• Money: Hong Kong dollars are used at the tables and widely accepted at outlets. Cards work at the restaurants and shops.
• Tipping: restaurants usually add a service charge, so look at the bill before you leave extra.

Because the resort is so popular, weekend evenings and Chinese public holidays bring the biggest crowds. On those nights the queues for the SkyCab and the dining reservations fill fastest. Coming midweek, or by the lake during the day, gets you the floral displays with far fewer people in your photos.