[I have edited this post to break it into paragraphs. It was almost impossible to read before doing this. I've put in the original as a quote, so you can see how NOT to format a post in the future. The questions are good ones, though. -- Gherk]

Have read up some what on the variety of saunas in macau, so getting more familiar with the process, thanks to all for the info, particularly those who gave step by step info on the experience.

a) Having read this I know I dont need to stop at the reception and look lost and can just walk through to the locker /changing areas.

b) I understand you pay on departure, how do you keep tabs on what you have spent?

c) Any suggestions as to which hotels to stay at in macau, prefer to walk to a sauna and am thinking to try sauna at rio hotel (read it has line ups near a pool area which suits me, this being my first sauna experience would be good to know more about each sauna so I can choose better,

d) which other saunas have pool side where you can view line ups rather bustling off to a special room, sounds better to me if the line ups come to you),

e) also interested in a visit to sanado, visit to Full Moon is a must I read, 18 and D1 (with fishbowl) also very interested in,

f) Looking at this selection of saunas (or if you suggest others) is there any advice on reasonably priced hotels, just like clean place, not fussed on too much luxury, just for sleeping,

g) also I should ask, as a non smoker, can I expect the air in the saunas to be thick with cigarette smoke?

h) I read it is best to also bring ear plugs as the music is loud.

i) Back to the hotels, I read it is probably better to just go and enjoy the sauna experience and not be too fussed about having a girl back at the hotel overnight (as I read it can get pricey, though it sounds nice to have the overnight experience), any other thoughts on this from anyone as to whether it is worth asking a sauna girl back (presumably after her shift, in which case I read there are 2 shifts).  

j) Back to the hotel question, is it generally better to buy on the web or are there usually better deals at the ferry wharf in Shun Tak, as I read some packages can include sauna and hotel,

k) I am planning trip in early April 2014, somewhere between 4th and 12th April, any events on at this time that make a sauna trip too crowded?,

l) read it is best to avoid fri and sat nights so may make the sauna visit on a Mon to Thu,

m) read it is best to go around 7 pm to see both shifts of girls, less crowded, but does this mean less girls to select from?, prefer to see chinese girls, viet sound stunning too, read many girls don’t come to work till 9.30pm, any thoughts on the best time to go, less crowed but good number of girls to view?


[ Last edited by  ggherkin at 16-2-2014 06:53 ]

Your paragraph is tough to read - I was going to at least answer some questions but it's so difficult to read it.

Could you please at least make it easier for us to help you by numbering your questions
a) by using hard carriage returns
b) like this.

a) You will need to stop at the sauna's reception desk. For example, if you go to a sauna that is on the 5th floor of a hotel, you do not stop at the hotel's reception desk. You go straight to the elevators, go up to the 5th floor, and stop at the sauna's reception desk. Someone will welcome you there.

b) Yes, usually pay on departure. However, once at Sanado (which has now closed), I was asked to pay up front for some kind of session, and I did so. I dislike this, but it did not cause me any problem. But I never went back to that sauna. The sauna keeps tabs for you, much like at a restaurant. You get a bill at the end, and can question things if there's something you don't like (that has never happened to me though -- I've never had a "bad charge" problem at a sauna). If you are wondering how much you have spent, you can ask a lounge attendant, and someone will show you a total.

c) Agoda.com is good for booking Macau hotels (and elsewhere). I have found that Rio Hotel is very conveniently located for those who want to be walking distance from many saunas.

d) Rio used to do the "special room" line-ups, but most saunas now do the line-ups either at the pool or in the lounge. I like Familia Nobre, where the line-up is brought right to your seat in the lounge. One reason I like it is because you are not competing with other punters. The line-up is just for you. Even if another punter is sitting next to you, you get first pick if you asked for the line-up. After you have picked, he can pick if he wants to. But the pool like-ups are good for those who like the various games and gimmicks that some saunas put into the mix.

e) Sanado is closed, but its replacement, East Castle Spa, has now opened. See the "Macau Punting Map" in the "Macau Hunting Info" sticky thread at the top of the Macau section of this forum.

f) As mentioned above, use a service like Agoda.com to find hotels in your price range. One thing to remember: Fri/Sat nights are much more expensive nights to stay at a hotel. Another thing to remember: You can snooze overnight at a sauna (many posts about this).

g) Thick with smoke? No. Will you smell smoke? Yes. I am a non-smoker, and have never felt that the environment was too smoky for me. Ventilation always seems to be good enough.

h) Earplugs? I've never found the music to be obnoxious. In many sauna lounges, there's none at all, just some TVs. During a "showtime" there can be music. If you are concerned, bring the earplugs. They are portable, and if you don't need them, no worries.

i) Having a girl back to your room costs less than having a girl at the sauna. It's also very pleasurable. However, if this is your first time, why not play it by ear. If you find a girl you want to bring back, ask her. Some will say yes, others will say no.

j) I think you might be trying to over-optimize. Buying everything in a package may well be cheaper, but it may also bring you limitations you don't want. Since you will be spending a lot of money for each day at a Macau sauna (HKD$2k - $4k, depending on where you go), make sure you get the experience you want, not just something someone has packaged up for you.

k) No problem going at this time.

l) No need to avoid Fri/Sat. Those nights are more crowded, but if you go early evening, you'll be fine.

m) Not all saunas do their shift changes at the same time. However, there is often a change from "day shift" to "night shift" that occurs between 7pm and 9pm. Still, for your first time, I don't think it matters whether you see both shifts or not.

My suggestions to you:
- Visit 18 for your first sauna. It's a great introduction
- If time permits, visit Rio and Familia Nobre, maybe Golden, maybe one of the new ones like "The One" or "East Castle", or perhaps something like Big Boss
- Absolutely do not go to Macau without visiting Darling 1

Looking forward to your reports

Gherk

As to hotels - I was very impressed with Casa Real for it's price-value. It's slightly better than the Rio hotel room, located in the central area and is home to East Castle.

Also my last trip to Macau just before CNY - I was unimpressed with 18SN not due to lack of gals but to the number of guys that go there. Rio was much better.

[ Last edited by  mrfast at 16-2-2014 23:25 ]

Thanks all, very much appreciate the time taken to answer my questions, and will post in paragraphs next time, info very helpful as I dont want to feel awkward but do look forward to the new adventure, will ceck out those suggested hotels and websites and now have a better list as to which saunas to I will head to,

@gherkin : what is so special about darling1? Where is its location ?

What is the difference between darling1 and rio spa?

thanks

Mmm. There's so much info in the forum about this, especially in the "Macau Hunting Info" sticky thread at the top of this forum.

Basically, although service at Macau saunas is very good, only Darling 1 has the quality control to provide consistently excellent sessions. The hit to miss ratio for service is highest at Darling 1. But, it's not a sauna, so no lounge, no lounge girls, no showtime, no meals.

Darling 1 is a place where you walk in, choose your girl, pay, do the deed, then leave. Usually a 1 to 2 hour experience.

In Macau saunas, you walk in, use the pools/spa, relax in the lounge, play with the lounge girls, get a massage, do the deed, eat, chat, repeat any and all of the previous as many times as you want, then pay and leave. Often a 5 - 6 hour experience, though you can sleep there overnight too.

IMHO, if you don't read the Macau Hunting Info, you are doing yourself a disservice, and will miss out on a lot.

Gherk