French/German family moving to HK Island

Hello everyone,


We will be moving to HK Island early July from Bern, Switzerland. My husband is already there and will be working Monday-Friday in Shenzen.


We are looking into a flat with facilities on HK Island because my 2 daughters ( 7 and 2.5) will attend GSIS.


My husband already had a tour with a relocation agent last March but I 'd like to check the Belcher's.

My kids will both attend the compound in the peak for one year then my older will have to commute near Wan Chai. Would the Belcher's be a good place to commute to this 2 different directions?


I also want to join a gym . I work out at least 3-4 times a week. I have checked 2 gyms on HK island : Pure and california? Which one would be the best. I am quite a bit of a Les Mills fan!


I have read on the section about helper that it can take up to 2 months to find someone. Is this common? I hope to start supply teaching work asap so I can't offered to wait so long before I find someone. In Shanghai, I had someone I never interviewed and who did not speak any english. I had to rush as I started a full time job 2 weeks after I arrived. My employer found her and she stayed the whole 4 years with us.


Thank you in advance for all the valuable info.

Olympe.

The Belcher's is no problem. HK Island is a very small place, especially the urbanized areas. As was just noted in another thread, you've become a true Hong Konger once you cringe at a 25 minute commute.


"I also want to join a gym . I work out at least 3-4 times a week. I have checked 2 gyms on HK island : Pure and california? Which one would be the best. I am quite a bit of a Les Mills fan!"


My wife prefers Fitness First to Pure. Pure is a great gym but there are a lot of "pretty people" while Fitness is more fitness focused. Your results may vary. She did not look at California.


Another option is Boot Camp. http://www.bootcamp.com.hk/ . A great way to get in shape and stay that way.



"I have read on the section about helper that it can take up to 2 months to find someone. Is this common? "


Not quite. Finding someone is the job of a few hours on a Sunday normally. However processing the visa does typically take 6-8 weeks. You can however get a local part time while you wait.

Hi Olympe,

I don't live in The Belchers but have just moved back from Beijing to live nearby in The Merton. Traveling to Wanchai by bus might take you 30-45 mins depending on the time in the day. My mum often travels after work from wanchai by 5X to the Merton and it takes her 25mins excluding time takes to wait for that bus route. Not sure about time it takes by bus the peak. Actually you might want to check with the school if they have school bus service as lots of schools have that.

There is a great indoor play area in the belchers shopping mall which is good for when it's too hot or rainy. My samuel loves it. Can't go there every day of course as it charges Hkd100 per kid I think.

There is a park nearby for the kids to run around too.

Re gym, check if the belchers have a gym for residence. Compounds like that normally have. Need to pay and might be a bit small but may be a bit cheaper and more convenient.

Saw a couple of phil/indo helpers agency near the compound but I haven't tried them out.

Btw, how do your husband travels to SZ? Depending on which part of SZ but I think there is some bus service from the sheung wan CHina Travel Services head office entrance to SZ. His company could probably check it out for him.

Good luck!!

Thank you very much for your input. I have checked that fitness first gym. I think I will have to get there and visit all of them. I am also checking that China travel and will certainly pass on the info to my husband on our next Skype talk!