When you find yourself in Hong Kong for a vacation, a detour to Macau is definitely a must. Even a day trip is enough so you can explore a place where East meets West. And if you want to see what is dubbed “Sin City of the East” in all its shimmering glory at night, then you have no choice but to extend your stay. If you’re a fan of Vegas, then you’ll surely enjoy visiting Macau.

First time in Macau? You don’t have to worry about getting lost. The moment you get of the terminal, there are buses lining outside that will take you to the casino of your choice. Just remember to arm yourself with maps so you’ll know where you want to go to next. Below is a list of the top 3 casinos you should visit while you are there.

Grand Emperor Hotel & Casino

If you’re a fan of Jackie Chan, you’ll enjoy dropping by his hotel, which showcases decor that reflects British influence. Last year, Chan had announced that he was retiring from action movies, stating he was becoming too old for them. He also wanted to concentrate more on his philanthropic efforts. His hotel, the Grand Emperor is indeed grand with gold furnishings, including genuine gold bars lining up the floor. The bars apparently belong to Chan and with 78 of them lining up the lobby of the casino hotel, it makes sense why the place is heavily guarded.

The City of Dreams

One of the very things that first captured my attention when stepping down from the bus and going inside the lobby of the City of Dreams is the mermaid. Yes, this casino has a mermaid, albeit an artificial one. At the entrance you will find a huge virtual aquarium where a larger than life mermaid is swimming. It’s so lifelike that from afar you would think it’s real. Aside from the casino, the City of Dreams’ major attractions include a bubble show and a dancing water theatre which boasts of one of the world’s largest commercial pools.

The Venetian

One of the biggest draws of this place for me are the gondolas, which gives off that feeling as if you were in Venice, Italy, as they cruise along small canals constructed inside the building. To make your gondola experience complete, the gondoliers even serenade you while you enjoy your ride. The casino itself is huge, connecting to a mall and of course the hotel rooms. Walking in the Venetian will make you feel as if you are in a maze, trying to figure which way is out and discovering great shops in the meantime. The food court had an entire ceiling painted like the sky. It was so realistic, it made me think it was roofless for a while and that it was really the blue sky I was looking at. After a closer and longer look, you will realize that the clouds are static and unmoving.

There are over 30 casinos, but in my opinion, these three are in the top of the list. They offer more than the other regular casino hotels, so be sure not to miss them!

Based in San Diego, California, Tiffany Matthews is a social media contributor for Sycuan. When she is not writing, she likes to travel and watch movies with friends.