Hotel Sintra

With a pink
and maroon exterior sporting a large butterfly and floral motif, the upper-middle-range Hotel Sintra won't win any style awards from the outside. The lobby is more attractive, however, with checkerboard marble floors, iron railings, high ceilings, and a chandelier -- the look is classic and sharp, with bellmen standing at attention under a glittering chandelier. Guests can dine at Sintra
Restaurant, where large windows shed light on
the dining room with green carpeted floors and maroon and white table linens. Bright pink circles on wooden chairs add pops of color to an otherwise sedate color scheme near the bar. There are few other places in the hotel for guests, and this hotel is best for travelers who plan on spending most of their time out enjoying the entertainment in Macau. The atmosphere is traditional and there's a welcoming vibe that draws a mix of families, couples, and groups of friends.

This hotel is
located in the city’s Central Business District, less than a five-minute walk to
the iconic Grand Lisboa Hotel and several casinos. The hotel sits just outside the densely packed warren of streets and alleys that make up the city's UNESCO-designated historic core -- it's a five to 10-minute walk from the hotel depending on the destination. The
restaurants and bars that drive the nightlife on Senado Square are six minutes away on foot, while the Ruins of St. Paul’s, a 17th-century landmark, is within a 15-minute
walk. The city's fort and museum both sit adjacent to St. Paul's. The Hong Kong-Macau ferry terminal is a seven-minute ride on
the hotel’s free shuttle, and from there a ferry ride to Hong Kong takes about
an hour. Both the Macau International Airport and the Cotai Strip, which is full of
casinos and hotels, can be reached within a 15-minute drive. 

Spacious rooms start at 26 square meters, or 280 square feet, and the look is homey and modern, with comfortable beds, wooden desks,
armoires, and sitting chairs set next to the windows. Decor can feel a bit
tired, especially in some rooms with dated carpeting and louvered oak furniture, and there is an abundance of patterns on display, from the rugs to curtains to bed runners. That said, rooms are pleasant enough, especially given the hotel's reasonable rates. All rooms have electric kettles for coffee or tea, wall-mounted flat-screen
TVs, air-conditioning, free Wi-Fi, and mini-fridges. Bathrooms vary in design. Deluxe Room bathrooms are covered
in light marble with shower/tub combos while higher-category rooms are sharp and contemporary. They have
black granite walls and countertops plus rainfall showerheads, modern fixtures, and hardware. Some higher-category bookings also have separate rainfall showers and whirlpool tubs. Slippers, glass scales, and generous amenity kits with toothbrushes are nice touches in
all rooms.

Like most three- and three-and-a-half pearl hotels in central Macau, the on-site offerings are fairly thin here, and the hotel is more of a place to sleep at night and recharge for a day in the city. There's a restaurant serving
Chinese Dim Sum, steaks, Macanese cuisine, and a weekend buffet. Portuguese
wines are available, and there’s a 24-hour coffee shop as well. Room service is available around the clock, but breakfast is not included in room rates. The hotel
provides a free shuttle to Macau Maritime Ferry Terminal. Meeting rooms are
available for private events, and valet laundry service is available for a fee. Wi-Fi is free throughout.