Macau to Amsterdam 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 Amsterdam

The capital city of the Netherlands, Amsterdam, is recognised worldwide for its exquisite tourism and artistic heritage. The city is one of the most chill in the world with a culture and lifestyle that resonates well with the city's character. Not to mention how they favour bicycles over cars and other motorcycles. Amsterdam is recognised worldwide for its cultural heritage and tourism.

Best time to visit Amsterdam

Amsterdam's weather can be super notorious throughout the year with its ambiguity, but April to May and September to November are the two seasons that witness the best the city's weather and vibe have to offer. Although summer is considered to be the season when Amsterdam sees a massive population of tourists, the months before and after summers are when you truly get to enjoy the city's pleasant vibe. Summer does see a lovely melange of festivals and events that keep the city busy. With Holland Festival, Amsterdam Gay pride, Jordaan Festival and Taste of Amsterdam taking place in the summer months, many European travellers find this time ideal for a vacation. If you think perhaps the temperatures ranging from 19 degree Celsius and 21 degree Celsius would be tolerable along with excess tourists, you should choose this stretch. Finding or booking a hotel in Amsterdam during the summer (peak season) would be slightly unattainable. But with some good snooping around on the internet, you might be able to get some amazing flight deals to Amsterdam topped with a convenient staycation.

September to November is basically the onset of winter and an ideal season for a vacation in Amsterdam. The temperatures are mild and dangle between 9 degree Celsius to 18 degree Celsius. Plus, the city also witnesses lovely events such as Amsterdam Light Festival, UNESCO World Heritage Weekend, TCS Amsterdam Marathon and Amsterdam Fringe Festival. During this time, you might even be able to get great hotel booking deals in Amsterdam as the establishments tend to slash off prices. It is imperative that you carry necessary layers of clothes and an umbrella as the weather could get unpredictable.

What makes the months April and May a good choice for a trip to Amsterdam is the fact that the tulips bloom and the Keukenhof Flower Garden springs to life. It is one of the highly anticipated events of the year, and many tourists wish to watch the tulips bloom and hence, plan for a trip around this time. Another amazing fact about this weather is how the accommodation rates do not see a spike. In fact, you can actually book a hotel room in Amsterdam during this season without worrying about exorbitant euros you assume you'll have to spend. The months would be like carnivals with events such as Liberation Day, King's Day, National Restaurant Week and of course, Tulip Festival, that take place in the city.

Places to visit in Amsterdam

Amsterdam's laidback lifestyle with all the vice it is associated with, makes travellers wonder if there are any tourist sights and attractions that can be found in the city. Amsterdam does have some of the best and eccentric museums with world-class stature. The Rijksmuseum Museum is the city's largest museum which celebrates the Dutch history and traces their tales from the Netherlands to around the globe. It is most certainly a fascinating place and definitely should be on your itinerary list. A gorgeous museum has been built to honour the works of legendary artist Vincent van Gogh. Visit the Van Gogh Museum and take in his odd yet real take on art and life. You can continue with your history tour and add Anne Frank's House to the list as well. The artefacts within the premise include belongings of the 15-year-old, documents, images and photographs. The list goes incomplete without the addition of Amsterdam's biggest highlight, Keukenhof, also known as the Tulip Garden. The lush fields with multi-hued tulip bulbs are quite a sight that you simply cannot miss during your trip to Amsterdam.

Interestingly, the city also entertains extremely bizarre museums such as the Kattenkabinet (Cat Cabinet) and The Mouse Mansion. The true essence of these places can only be comprehended once you visit them. If the museums get too weird for you, a little detour to attractions such as Concertgebouw (a concert building) and the Royal Palace Amsterdam. You should know that Amsterdam also comes with a coast that touches the Atlantic. You simply cannot miss their beach, Zandvoort, which is not quite far from the city centre. While backpacking and couch-surfing are a big culture in the city, you can book a hotel within Amsterdam and get some good prices for it. The flight tickets to Amsterdam aren't all that expensive, but the trip overall could be steep.

Things to do in Amsterdam

The city has far too many awesome things to do, especially for youngsters and backpackers. The city favours bicycles over any other mode of transport. You can simply rent a bicycle and go on a tour of your own. Explore the Nine Little Streets for alluring canals, boutiques and shopping souvenirs. You can also walk around Leidseplein, which has a plethora of options for entertainment ranging from nightclubs to casinos to quaint coffee shops. The city's hub has everything, including hotel bookings in Amsterdam. You can book your stay in the city centre, or you can take up hostel life and make friends with complete strangers. Similarly, you can also take a personal trip to Jordaan with a guide or a map. The neighbourhood thrives with lovely eateries and gorgeous Brouwersgracht, Prinsengracht, Leidsegracht and Lijnbaansgracht canals. It is an experience that certainly cannot be replaced with any kind of sentiment.

You can also take up cruise trips that leave from the city and sometimes even return on the same day. Depending on what travel package you have chosen, you can accordingly head out of the city on a cruise. You can also take your bicycles or book a tour of the city's countryside with charming cottages and lush green expanses. There are boat tours that traverse from the canals of Amsterdam. The impressive canal system is quite interesting, especially if you pass through it.

Food and Restaurants in Amsterdam

A quintessential Dutch cuisine includes the traditional raw herring, Dutch pancakes with stuffed or topped bacon/blueberries, krokets, bitterballen, poffertjes and erwtensoep, to name a few dishes. They are a melange of the meals as well as savouries. However, Amsterdam is not known for Dutch delicacies, at least not when it comes to fine dining experiences for tourists. The city celebrates food as multi-ethnic cultures coagulate with their best cuisine. Amsterdam is a haven of multitudes of international cuisine. Interestingly, the city actually has thriving Indonesian restaurants in the city. Places such as Restaurant Blauw, Restaurant Jun and Sampurna are some of the Indonesian establishments that have made quite an impact on the city's food culture.

In fact, many of the locals also prefer the array of meals from around the world over their own traditional Dutch food. The de Pijp neighbourhood is actually quite famous among millennials and backpackers as the place serves some of the cheapest and tastiest food. Many of the tourists who visit Amsterdam are predominantly backpackers or solo travellers. Hence, they prefer to keep a set budget for their expenses, this majorly caters towards them being careful around extravagant spending on food. However, if you wish to splurge on a lavish dining experience, you should try out Negen Straatjes (Nine Streets) where you'll find some of the most exquisite fine dining establishments. In fact, you will also be pampered with world-class quality cuisine and hospitality at restaurants located in the Reguliersdwarsstraat areas. Elandshgracht Street is another amazing space in Amsterdam that boasts top-notch food. Overall, food will not be a big disappointment to you. You should also check out Distillery 't Nieuwe Diep to get a whiff of the lovely Dutch gin.

How to reach Amsterdam (Transportation)

The Amsterdam Airport has immaculate flight connectivity from India. As one of the most visited cities in the world from the country, Amsterdam is constantly on demand. Many Indians flock over to the beautiful and quaint city regularly, making the availability of flights also easier. In fact, there are regular flights that fly to Amsterdam from India. There are direct flights also that fly to Amsterdam from India. Operated by KLM Royal Dutch Airlines and British Airways, these flights fly to Amsterdam on a regular basis and have great flight connectivity. Depending on the availability of cheap flight tickets, it is determined whether you will be able to snag a nonstop flight to Amsterdam from India or if you will have to book a connecting flight or one with long durations of a layover.

Flights to the Netherlands from India use the Middle Eastern international routes to reach Amsterdam. Usually, layovers take place in cities such as Munich, Zurich and Paris. Sometimes even Brussels witnesses flights coming in from India with Amsterdam as the final stop. In India, the most popular route to Amsterdam is from Mumbai as the flight connectivity, a number of flights and even nonstop and direct flights are easily available port city.

  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.