Macau to Almaty AirChina Flights

  About Macau

Macau is nestled along the Pearl River Delta on the South China Sea. The city is bang opposite the city of Hong Kong and is recognised as one of the top tourist destinations. It is also known to be one of the most populous regions globally.

Best time to visit Macau

Macau's location on the coast makes it susceptible to extreme heat and humidity. The proximity of the coastal city to the South China Sea further brings over monsoons that could get really ugly. The monsoon is between April through October with July to September receiving maximum rainfall. The torrential rains could put a damper on all your tourist plans. They are so bad that the city streets get flooded and even bring over typhoons. The peak monsoon season is also recognised as typhoon season as the city witnesses a lot of natural calamities. This easily makes for bad weather that is definitely not ideal for vacation. More than ideal, it is actually quite risky as you could get stranded in the city or you might also have to deal with the repercussions of typhoons and heavy rains. Investing for a trip to Macau during this time of the year would only be a waste of money. Although it should be noted that the city's hotels see a drop in prices. But irrespective of the cheap hotel bookings you can make in Macau, it is not worth the money as you wouldn't be able to enjoy the city.

Summer is just as bad. The extreme heat and humidity can get quite annoying. You would have a tough time having fun in the city as the heat would irk your senses. While the water is right there for you to soak in and cool down, it is still not the best season. You should know though that summers are actually peak season for Macau. There are many tourists flocking over to soak in the sun and salty breeze. A majority of the crowd come from the winter locales of China and other countries. The outdoor activities are also enabled during this time, making it an ideal spot for summer vacation. The hotels do see a surge in prices during summers. Booking a hotel in Macau during summers would be splurging far more than your speculated budget. You could get some lovely online deals, but for it, you'll have to make advance reservations. Winter season in Macau, from December to February, is the best and most favourable time to plan a trip to Macau. Not just the weather but even the city's spirits turn happy with festivals and events, which would give you a good opportunity to indulge in their culture.

Places to visit in Macau

Macau has a beautiful balance of ancient architecture and modern skyscrapers. You can start your touristy rendezvous by checking out the Ruins of St. Paul's. It was originally a Catholic religious complex which also had a college in the complex. The 17th-century structure has been recognised by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. The Monte Fort is another UNESCO World Heritage Site that was originally constructed to safeguard the city's Jesuit properties from invasion. For some quaint time in the neighbourhood, you should visit Coloane, an island close to Macau. The place is exquisite with Portuguese architecture. While you're here, you can further visit Taipa, another island in Macau that is famously acknowledged for the slew of casinos and interesting structure. The bridge connecting Coloane and Taipa is actually a famous tourist attraction in Macau that deserves some attention. The city does have many beautiful Chinese temples with the construction that will leave you spellbound. Do ensure to visit the many temples.

Things to do in Macau

Macau has some really cool indulgences that you simply cannot miss. One of the biggest attractions is the casinos that are prevalent in the city. You should visit the Venetian Macao casino resort. The estate is owned by the American Las Vegas Sands organisation and is the biggest attraction for many tourists. The huge casino hotel is one of the most posh and luxe structures in the city. The City of Dreams should definitely be on your list of attractions to check out in Macau. The exquisite water fountain show is captivating and too beautiful an experience. Hanging out at the Hac Sa Beach is something you should not miss. The quaint waters touching the shores with a quiet vibe is also a good place where you can relax. For more Portuguese architecture, you should visit the Guia Hill Fortress. The white structure with yellow and orange borders is a lovely space and especially has an exquisite landscape. Make sure that you continue with your food excursion as the city does have a slew of lovely restaurants and food establishments.

Food and restaurants in Macau

Macau's big competition in the culinary field Hong Kong, stands juxtaposed with the South China Sea playing a spectator. Although Hong Kong is recognised to be one of the most hi-tech cities with a thriving food culture, Macau also offers fusion food in this department. The coastal city has a slew of cuisines ranging from Portuguese to Chinese, all of them available with exquisite ambience. Predominantly, Macau favours Portuguese cuisine and has many restaurants and food establishments of the same descent. However, that doesn't mean they do not favour any other cuisine. Macanese cuisine, which is basically fusion food, is quite popular in the vicinity too. The mix of Chinese and Portuguese cultures on a platter is something you might have never encountered. Well, Macau gives you the opportunity to do the same. You can start with your food rendezvous in Macau by visiting the Clube Militar de Macau, a Portuguese restaurant which even has a very colonial-style vibe and decor. Make reservations for this place and definitely indulge in some of their lip-smacking Portuguese food and wine.

Another famed Portuguese-inspired restaurant is Albergue 1601. Hidden away from the city's bustle in Macau is this lovely two-storeyed restaurant which offers a quaint vibe and serves Portuguese and Macanese dishes. You can upscale your dining experience in Macau by opting for a Michelin-starred establishment by visiting Robuchon au Dôme. Make sure to carry enough money for this is going to be quite some indulgence. Also, their 14,500 labels of wine are quite a trip. The city also has restaurants that favour Indian cuisine. Golden Peacock is recognised for its perfectly cooked Indian food with a nice modern touch. You will find dishes such as butter chicken, skewered chicken, biryani and of course, vegetarian dishes too. Macau's Urban Kitchen is another perfect food establishment that you should check out without fail. The place boasts Asian, Japanese and Korean grub with special focus on seafood. You will not be disappointed here, and the all-day buffet system further adds to its perks. For a kaiseki meals setting, you don't have to travel to Japan but can find it in Macau's Yamazato.

How to reach Macau

Even though Macau is quite close to Hong Kong, a dedicated airport has been built to lure more tourists to the coastal city. The flight connectivity to Macau from Indian cities is decent as it is technically not too far. But there are no direct flights connected to Macau from India. Despite the demand for the city as a tourist haven, airlines have not reserved direct flights to the city. Hence, you will have to take flights which have layovers in other cities. Singapore Airlines, NokScoot, Air Macau, Silkair, Cathay Pacific, Korean Air, Eastar Jet, Asiana Airlines, to name a few, have flights that have connectivity to Macau. The most popular route chosen to reach Macau is often the one from Singapore and Hong Kong. A transit visa is required to travel as the flights connecting Macau have layovers in cities such as Singapore, Seoul, Bangkok and more. The airports of these cities have made it mandatory for the passengers to carry a transit visa. You can apply for one at the embassy, or you can opt for an easy online application.

The international route to Macau from Singapore and Hong Kong is actually favoured. However, often people choose to take flights to Hong Kong directly and use the means of sea to reach Macau. There are daily ferries that can reach Macau from Hong Kong. As tourists wish to check out both the cities in China, they often pick this option over the others. This is also convenient in many ways as the duration to reach Macau is reduced drastically from Hong Kong by the water body. Not to mention how it also saves a lot of flight ticket cost. You can make your flight bookings to Macau online, but finding cheap tickets would be tough. The city, especially during peak season, sees a lot of crowds. Hence, when you're booking flight tickets to Macau, make sure that you do it in advance to get the peak season ticket without splurging too much. There are always many online flight deals to Macau that you can avail, as long as you are able to find them on time. You can also make your hotel reservations in Macau well in advance to avoid expensive room prices.

  About Almaty

Kazakhstan's largest metropolis, Almaty, is the capital of the country. The gorgeous city is nestled on the foothills of the Trans-Ili Alatau mountains. It is considered to be one of the perfect places for skiing, snowboarding and other winter sports. It is located in Central Asia and holds tremendous historical and cultural significance. Not to mention, it is soon rising to be one of the best tourist destinations in the world for winter.

Best time to visit Almaty

Almaty's geographical features make it a cold city that is best visited during their summers. The average temperature in Almaty ranges from 22 degree Celsius to 27 degree Celsius. The city is known to see extreme winters that often see a negative temperature too. Hence, winters would be quite risky and unfavourable for a trip to Almaty. In contrast, the summers get rather hot with temperatures that could reach a high of 30 degree Celsius too. November to January see a massive drop in the city's temperatures and are not favourable for a trip. You might have to deal with the consequences of excess cold such as frostbites, difficulty in breathing and other such health hazards. Hence, these months need to be avoided. The city's tourism continues to see action as many folks who wish to indulge in winter activities do flock over to the city. You will find many tourists opting for skiing and other winter-related activities, head to the city. The city is not completely shut during winters as there is scope for tourism-related activities.

However, there are fewer hotels open for business. The hospitality industry doesn't see a tremendous dip as such because tourists who want to indulge in adventure sports do arrive in the city. The winters often stretch to April too. You should know though that April is the onset of monsoons in the city. April to May sees rainfall in the city. These two are the wettest months in the year and receive quite heavy rainfall. The summer months are very pleasant with temperatures often reaching 30 degree Celsius. Since a majority of the crowd visit Almaty for their winter sports, the summer sees less tourism. But it does open avenues for more adventure activities as many take to the trekking trails or indulge in the food and cultural heritages of Almaty. The summers do get very hot as it is humid as well. However, June to September is considered the best time to visit Almaty. The weather is pleasant, and you can explore more of the rocky terrains and other lovely locales of the city. It is ideal for sightseeing and other tourist activities.

Places to visit in Almaty

One of the biggest highlights of Almaty is the Big Almaty Lake. The exquisitely blue water is a natural reservoir and surrounded by the Trans-Ili Alatau. The place is too beautiful for words. Kok Tobe is one of the most famous attractions in Almaty. The recreation area is perched atop a mountain and makes way for several outdoor activities. YOU should also visit the Park 28 Panfilovtsev. The place has been reserved to honour some soldiers from the Almaty infantry who perished during the German invasion in Moscow. The place has historical significance and should definitely be explored. Another lovely place to check out would be the Zenkov Cathedral. It is constructed in the complex of Panfilov Park. The cathedral has been constructed by wood but without the use of nails. You should definitely visit the First President Park. The gigantic complex is beautifully constructed and has been opened for the public recently. It is an open space that is aesthetically gifted with exquisite fountains, bushes, green grasses and more.

Things to do in Almaty

To indulge in some of the fun ice skating and skiing, you should visit the Medeo. The place is perfect for those who wish to get their adrenaline-charged by taking up winter sports. Medeo is actually on the outskirts of Almaty and located about 1,691 meters above sea level. The place is always freezing with snow and hence, is ideal for winter sports activities. Shymbulak is another such place where you can have some winter sports fun. The ski resort organises some ski trips and is easily one of the largest ski resorts across Central Asia. The resort is located close to the Medeu Valley and is in the Zailinsky Alatau range of icy mountains. One of the fun things that you can do is explore more of Kazakhstan history and cultural significance. The Central State Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan is your place to check out. The museum brings life to some of the stories and cultural references that make up Central Asia's history. Do not miss the Ile-Alatau National Park, which is massive and has the sparkling blue Chemolgan River flowing.

Food and Restaurants in Almaty

Almaty is the commercial and cultural centre of Kazakhstan and hence, sees a thriving food culture. There are charming, quaint cafes and restaurants that will blow your mind. Much of the architecture boasts Soviet influence and the eclectic spread of cuisines is definitely worth checking out. From small food establishments to a sophisticated setting, the city has room for all kinds of tourist audience. Interestingly, much of Almaty has heavy Russian-inspired dishes. So you will find some interesting meals from the Russian kitchen with a twist of Almaty. You can start your food rendezvous in the city by checking out Gosti. It is the perfect restaurant which boasts Russian culture in its interiors and dishes. The black tea here is a speciality that you simply cannot miss. Kishlak is another cosy food establishment in Almaty that you would fancy. The decor is inspired by Central Asian designs with motifs on the walls. It has a very basic house-style cafe with an interesting spread of Central Asian cuisine ranging from Kazakh, Uygur and Uzbek cuisine.

Kishlak has exquisite dishes such as manti and shorpa, all made from lamb meat. El Mirador is one of the few international restaurants where food is served with a Kazakh-twist. The place specialises in seafood and has an array of dishes that would get you excited. They also have grilled meats with Argentinean style delicacies. If you do not wish to indulge in their style of meat and non-vegetarian dishes, then you should visit Alasha. The restaurant is on the outskirts of the city and has been constructed in the classic Timurid style, which comes from Turkmenistan. They have some exquisite dishes and fresh salads. Meat is also prevalent, and you will find them accompanied by fun Uzbek music. For a low-key restaurant and coffeehouse, you should go to Chukotka, a quaint establishment which is known to attract the hip crowd. The place has Russian, Central Asian and even European cuisine with a bar and an area dedicated to dancing. It is the perfect pub/coffeehouse you can ask for. You can further expand your culinary list by visiting Cafeteria, Traktir Medved and Gakku.

How to reach Almaty (Transportation)

As the capital of Kazakhstan, Almaty manages to receive good flight connectivity with international cities. Although there are no direct flights to Almaty from Indian cities, there is some good connectivity that can be found in other international cities. The most popular route to Almaty from India is via Dubai. Airlines such as Emirates, flydubai, Turkish Airlines, EgyptAir, Asiana Airlines, Lufthansa, to name a few, have dedicated flights to Almaty. However, to reach the city, it is essential to find the right international route to Almaty to avoid spending too much time in transit. There are many few flight options that have less time duration to reach Almaty. Often many airlines take a roundabout international route to reach Almaty, which could be very time-consuming. Hence, it is essential to pick the right airlines and route that would reduce the travel time and other concerns in terms of flight connectivity to Almaty. Emirates has the best flight connectivity to Almaty with a slew of flights that fly to the city.

The flight duration to Almaty ranges from 7 hours to 12 hours. However, depending on the airlines and layovers, this time could be extended. If you opt for cheap flights, you might end up spending over 22 hours in transit. However, to avoid the extensive travel duration, opt for airlines that has a less layover duration. The flight tickets to Almaty are quite reasonable. They range from INR 28,000 to INR 35,000. Depending on the airlines and the flight duration, the ticket prices to Almaty could change. You can further make amends in the prices of the tickets to Almaty by opting for some online deals. Various airlines have great online flight deals to Almaty that would come in handy. If you make prior bookings to Almaty, you will be able to avail these offers. You can also combine your flight and hotel bookings in Almaty to get more discounts. There are a plethora of platforms that have miles services that you can choose. These would enable you to earn miles and further spend it on a bigger and more expensive trip.

  About Air China

Air China Limited is the official flag carrier and also one of the largest airlines of the People's Republic of China which has its headquarters located in the Shunyi District of Beijing. The airline's flight operations are based in its hub at Beijing Capital International Airport. The airline came into existence in 1988 when the airline's parent company Air China International Corporation was established. In 2002 though, the central government made some reformation plans with respect to the airline industry and decided to merge all the top airlines. This included Air China International Corporation, China Southwest Airlines and China Aviation Corporation to for one company called Air China International Corporation. In 2004, the company went ahead to rebrand itself from Air China International Corporation to Air China Limited. The same year, the airline's company turned into a publicly-traded entity that was listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange as well as the London Stock Exchange. Air China's corporate logo comprises of a phoenix, a legendary bird that is worshipped by the nation for its symbolic reference that calls for luck and happiness.

The symbol is painted in red, which is associated with all things happy and lucky, according to the Chinese culture and traditional beliefs. The main idea behind choosing this logo is to express Air China's commitment towards promoting the development of China's airline industry while offering a slew of facilities and a pleasant experience for travellers. The core belief of Air China is that the airline would continue to soar right and serve the world. Air China is recognised as one of the only national flag carriers to be part of the airline alliance network, Star Alliance. The airline was also associated as the airline partner during the Olympics Beijing 2008. The airline caters to a phenomenal number of international routes and domestic routes as one of the largest airlines in the country.

Further, it also provides special flight facilities to foreign heads, VIPs and government leaders for their travel requirements. This further adds to their exclusive national carrier status. Air China has branches in several cities, including Southwest China, Chongqing, Shanghai, Tibet, Hubei, Zhejiang, Guizhou and Tianjin, to name a few.

In 2010, the airline completed its shareholding deal in Shenzhen Airlines to become the controlling stakeholder in Shenzhen Airlines. This move enhanced Air China's position in the domestic network market across Beijing, Shanghai and Chengdu. In the same year, the airline also received an accolade as the Plaque for Tourist Merit by Spain's highest tourism industry award. Air China became the first airline to receive such an honour given by a Spanish organisation. Further, in the same year, the airline also introduced combined ticket offers that enabled passengers to include domestic flight tickets along with shuttle bus services to nearby cities. With this, the airline once again became the first-ever Chinese airline to combine flight-shuttle tickets. Their first route connected Tianjin via a shuttle bus service whereas the domestic flights passed through Beijing. By 2011, the airline introduced WiFi services on board, making it the first Chinese airline to pull off such an in-flight service. With a view to renewing its fleet, Air China announced in 2015 that it had opted for Boeing 737 Next Generation and 737 MAX for the same.

Fleet size of Air China

Air China's current fleet size stands at 430 aircraft. Considering how the airline caters to a massive number of destinations with both international routes and domestic routes, the fleet is required to be huge and strong. Air China majorly has aircraft compilation of 33 Airbus A319-100, 44 Airbus A320-200, 26 Airbus A320neos, 61 Airbus A321-200, 30 Airbus A330-200, 28 Airbus A330-300, 102 Boeing 737-800, 16 Boeing 737 MAX 8, 28 Boeing 777-300ER, 14 Boeing 787-9 and 14 Boeing 787-9, to name a few. They have a combination of narrow-body and wide-body aircraft to enable easy connectivity with the short-haul, medium-haul and long haul routes. Further, the airline also has about 138 aircraft that have been ordered and are yet to join the Air China fleet. Much of the mixed aircraft have been retired over time with only space for aircraft from the Boeing and Airbus family. The airline also has one Comac ARJ21-700 and Dassault Falcon 7X as part of its fleet. They have further ordered for 34 and 20 aircraft respectively.

Baggage Allowance

Air China's baggage allowance is different depending on the international route, Mainland China route, regional operations and more. In terms of international routes, Air China allows a weight of up to 23 kg for premium economy and economy class passengers. Passengers who are travelling from first or business class are allowed to carry baggage weighing up to 32 kg. The rule does have restrictions to certain cities and routes that the passenger will need to check ahead of the journey. The dimensions for the standard checked baggage should not exceed a total of 158 cm. This includes the wheels, handles and pockets. Rules for the hand baggage as specified by the airline include allocation of two pieces of carry-on baggage for first class and business class. The weight of the baggage should not exceed 8 kg per piece. As for economy class passengers, the carry-on baggage should weigh no more than 5 kg with one piece of allocation per passenger. The dimensions for the baggage that is carried onboard should be within 55 cm x 40 cm x 20 cm as the bags need to fit in the overhead bin.

In-flight services

As an airline that is celebrated to be one of the best and largest in Asia, Air China's in-flight services boast exquisite facilities. These include a comfortable seating arrangement that caters to the privacy and convenience of the passenger. With great legroom and armrest teamed that also comes with entertainment systems, the journey is easily one of the best experiences. The in-flight services also include delicious in-flight meals that add to the comfort.

Popular routes and top cities for Air China

Air China's international routes and domestic routes have extended tremendously since its inception. The airline has accommodated various destinations across Asia, Western Europe, North American and the Middle East. With hubs at Beijing Capital International Airport and Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport, the airline now has a significant number of destinations from Shanghai as well. A majority of the international routes operate from cities such as Xiamen, Chengdu, Dalian, Kunming, Chongqing and Hangzhou. Air China is one of the few recognised airlines to cater to all the six habitable continents with a plethora of destinations. The airline's fleet modification and expansion have further enabled adding more routes to its network.

As of 2020, the top cities that Air China caters to Athens, Auckland, Bangkok, Barcelona, Beijing, Busan, Chengdu, Chiang Mai, Colombo, Copenhagen, Delhi, Dazhou, Dubai, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, Geneva, Guangzhou, Hanoi, Havana, Ho Chi Minh City, Hong Kong, Houston, Islamabad, Johannesburg, Karachi, Kathmandu, Kuala Lumpur, London, Los Angeles, Madrid, Montreal, Moscow, Mumbai, Munich, New York City, Newark, Panama City, Rome, Seoul, Shanghai, Singapore, Stockholm, Sydney, Tianjin, Toronto, Vancouver, Wuhan, Yangon, and Zhengzhou, to name a few.

Why travel by Air China?

Air China's illustrious history teamed with its special in-flight services and airport lounge facilities make it one of the most sought-after airlines to pick. The airline is known to offer the best domestic route and international route connectivity in Asia. In fact, Air China is especially ideal for travel plans that are within Mainland China. With their expansion plans over the years, the airline has managed to gather a strong community of loyal customers. Considering the facilities and services that the airline offers, it becomes rather easy to choose the airline. Right from booking an Air China flight online to web check-in services, the airline's website caters to all kinds of such requirements.

Not to mention how you can find Air China's flight schedule and the flight status on their website and other travel portals. Similar facilities have been incorporated on the airline's official mobile app as well. Passengers who are flying from Air China or wish to book a flight ticket from the airline can rake in some benefits on their mobile app. The app is usually full of offers such as discounts on flight tickets and added benefits of booking accommodation and transportation services in the destination. Further, baggage allowance depending on the ticket type can be best understood on their website and mobile app. The consolidated information is mentioned and explained to cater to the understanding of the passenger.

While these benefits do make it a good option, the airline's affiliation with Star Alliance adds to the list of perks. For passengers who are already members of the Star Alliance frequent flyer programmes, they can avail premium benefits when booking Air China flights. Along with the ticket perks, access to airport lounge facilities will also be enabled. Overall, Air China provides world-class services teamed with an excellent domestic route and international route connectivity. Hence, it is one of the ideal airlines to choose, especially when travelling within China.