I traveled 18 hours from Seattle to Macau, most of it spent trying to find a comfortable position in my airplane seat. By midday I arrived at the Sheraton Macao Hotel, Cotai Central, and the first thing I did was head to the hotel’s Shine Spa for some much-needed restoration.
My massage therapist greeted me with a bow and escorted me to the treatment room. I had booked a 90-minute candle massage from the spa’s “fire” category. Shine’s menu is inspired by the five elements of feng shui—metal for ease, water to purify, wood to restore, fire for zest, and earth for balance—each offering a distinct approach to relaxation and healing.
The treatment began with a gentle footbath and an initial foot massage, a welcome relief after the long trip. My therapist asked which areas needed focus and whether I preferred a hard, medium, or soft touch. I chose medium and requested that she work out the knots in my back and shoulders.
As the candle oil warmed the room with a soft, sweet-earth scent, she warmed the oil in her hands and applied it to my back, shoulders, legs, and arms. Her technique directed tension toward my hands and feet, releasing it through my fingertips and toes. The steady rhythm of her firm strokes helped my breathing slow and settle, and I felt the lingering tightness in my muscles begin to ease.
I had never experienced a 90-minute massage before and expected to grow restless, but instead I relaxed deeply, matching my breath to the therapist’s pace. The session concluded with a cup of herbal rosebud tea that further soothed my body and senses. Following her recommendation, I let the oils—shea butter, safflower seed oil, coconut oil, and vitamin E—absorb into my skin for several hours to maximize their moisturizing benefits.
Shine’s menu includes many alternatives beyond the candle massage: pre-natal treatments, Thai yoga massage, sports therapy, and other signature services aligned with the five elements. The spa also offers reflexology, body wraps, baths, and scrubs, plus comprehensive skin, nail, and hair care. Couples can reserve deluxe suites with Jacuzzis, and a six-bed Beauty Zone accommodates groups who want treatments together.
Relaxation lounge chairs © Sheraton Macao Hotel, Cotai Central
Beyond the spa, the hotel provides three spacious pool areas with ample lounging space, a 24-hour fitness center with sauna and steam rooms, and four restaurants offering Asian hot pot, Italian dishes, and international gourmet cuisine. A poolside lounge and café are available for casual outdoor dining and drinks.
I would have lingered longer at the spa—perhaps taken a soak in the locker room Jacuzzi—but Macau’s attractions were calling, and I left feeling refreshed and ready to explore.
The Sheraton Macao Hotel, Cotai Central is an excellent base for discovering Macau. Located in Cotai, between the hills of Coloane and the village of Taipa, it’s a short drive from Macau Peninsula and the city’s historic center.
Macau, a Special Administrative Region of China, is often called the Las Vegas of the East. Gambling is legal here, and the territory is home to many casino-hotels. While Cotai is rapidly developing with new constructions and high-rise resorts, Macau has preserved a rich history as well. The city blends Portuguese colonial influence with Chinese traditions—colonial pastel buildings and Catholic churches sit near Buddhist temples and Cantonese dim sum parlors, with street signs displayed in both Portuguese and Cantonese.
The city’s mixture of Mediterranean and Eastern flavors creates a unique atmosphere. Walk down one street and you feel entirely in China; turn a corner and you could be in a Portuguese town with its plazas and heritage architecture. This cultural overlap reflects Macau’s 450 years under Portuguese rule combined with its Chinese roots.
Macau is also one of the most densely populated territories in the world, with roughly 600,000 residents within about 11.6 square miles. That density makes the city vibrant and full of sensory experiences—bustling markets, historic streets, and a compact layout that invites exploration.
Shine Spa
Sheraton Macao Hotel,
Cotai Central
Estrada do Istmo
Cotai, Macau SAR
People’s Republic of China
tel 853 2880 2000
sheratonmacao.com