Following on from a previous request for advice:
HI,
Im a 28 year old female UK/Scottish moving to hk on her own and i am looking for any advice, guidance and help in finding a place to live when i get to HK. My work are putting me up for 2 weeks so i have that much time to find my own place.....
Based on where i am going to be working and where i am going to be socializing (central) i have assumed the following areas are best (based on MTR MAP!):
CENTRAL
ADMIRALITY
WAN CHAI
CAUSEWAY BAY
TIN HAU
HONG KONG
OLYMPIC
JORDAN
TSIM SHA TSUI
JORDAN
YAU MA TEI
MONG KOK
PRINCE EDWARD
Can any one help me by saying: forget that area because........ or that area is good because...........
I am wanting to have a bit more space than location and as i like running it would be great if i could live somewhere that is good for that and i like views of the water or forests etc vs another block of flats!
Hopefully based on what i have said i can get some help on this topic:)
Many thanks!
PS I dont want to spend more than 14k a month on rent.
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You probably won't be getting a cuontry view in any of the areas you're looking at but depending where exactly you are you can be taking a run along a country trail within a few minutes in some of those areas. Tin Hau, for example, particularly if you're in the Tai Hang end (the village).
Also consider going a little further Eastwards - Fortress Hill, North Point, Quarry Bay - still very convenient for Central (each MTR stop on the Island Line only adds about 2 minutes to your journey time) and easy to get up into the hills. I used to live right on the King's Road in Quarry Bay but could be on a country trail with the dog off the lead in ten minutes.
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If I were you I would live on the Island and find a small studio/1-bed in a nice building with facilities (pool, gym, etc) in Midlevels, Sheung Wan, Wan Chai or thereabouts. I also agree with dipdipdipper that I would rather go further east on the Island (North Point, Tai Koo) than go north to Kowloon side. Then again I'm not you and maybe we have completely different opinions on what is a nice location. ;)
Just to add:
3) Wan Chai. Some parts are "seedy" (but as mentioned by cara not really) while others like Star Street are not.
Do look at the new West Kowloon area (Kowloon station on the map). It's a gigantic development with several nice apartments buildings (all with great views) sticking up out of an equally gigantic luxury mall. Under it all is an MTR and an Airport Express station. Once station to Central but same deal with connections as Olympic (see below).
The following are probably well priced but mostly VERY crowded, especially Mong Kok. TST is overrun by shoppers most times. Would not want to live in these areas.
JORDAN
TSIM SHA TSUI
JORDAN
YAU MA TEI
MONG KOK
PRINCE EDWARD
Olympic is on the Tung Chung line. While not exactly "off" this does make communications just a tad more time consuming since changing to, say, the Island line involves walking through the entirety of Central/HK Station. The length of that walk stretches the definition of "one station" a bit.
You mention "HONG KONG" but that station is in Central. As mentioned Central and HK Station are technically the same station but with a loooooooong pedestrian tunnel in the middle. Typically when "Hong Kong" is mentioned this refers to Hong Kong Island as opposed to Kowloon or New Territories.
And let's not forget areas not served by the MTR. As mentioned by cara Kennedy Town but also Pok Fu Lam, Sai Ying Pun and Cyberport. There's no rail but there are excellent bus connections. And if you stay four more years there will be MTR. ;)
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Nothing wrong with Kowloon IMHO, it's just that the places she mentioned in Kowloon don't give many opportunities for her stated preference for going for a run in the 'countryside' nearby.
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Quite. Midlevels on the other hand has hiking and running locations in the woods only a few minutes away.
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I used to live in Kennedy Street in Wanchai and every morning I would walk up Wanchai Gap Road and then go jogging on Bowen Road.
You could look at Google Earth to see where I'm talking about and maybe consider getting a place nearby. There are many new apartments on Queens Road East but I'm sorry, I don't know the rental. For $14k, it would be a small place.
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&&&
15 yrs ago
If you live on KLN and plan to do socializing, presumably LKF, Soho, MTR closes around 1 am on weekends, then, you will have to either cab it or wait for those night mini buses. Cabbing to Kln can be costly.
There are some expats in Chaiwan, HungFa Chuen. Cab to Central is around $70 on the very convenient discounted cabs. Hug FC is possible, and has good jogging. 20 min by mtr to Admiralty. Approx time per station is 2.5 min per station. So, you can do some rough calculations.
For a young person, SoHo is best bet, but at that budget, it will be a small apt.
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jgb
15 yrs ago
Try Parc Palais in Ho Man Tin on Kowloon side, great complex convenient to TST mini bus to mtr station and a green complex with a 6 star club house and due to green podium you can run inside the complex or right along the foreshore at tst
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gunk
15 yrs ago
If I were single in Hong Kong and working on the Island, my first choice would be Happy Valley. It has everything.
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As a young, single person I have chosen to live in Mid-levels. Most young expats live here and it's easy to get down to Soho and Central for work/drinks (assuming you will be working in central or admiralty). If you live near the escalator you can get to Bowen road by walking in about 15-20 mins which is very popular for jogging. It has great views and no cars. Happy Valley is also a nice place with easy access to hiking trails or to the other end of Bowen road.
Aside from that, Kennedy Town and Sheung Wan is also popular. I would stick to these 4 places as a newbie in town. Easy to get home and out and about. Don't live on the Kowloon side (not even TST), none of your friends will be living there I can bet and it's inconvenient getting home late at night. Give it a shot somewhere relatively central and after a while you can make up your own mind once you have a feel for the place.
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Hands down, Mid-Levels - above Central. Based on what you said about running and being in the socializing areas - You have many trails around the Peak and Bowen Rd. It is a very easy place to settle into since you are coming alone too.
Property pricing is crazy here, so good luck with your budget.
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i recommand you Jordan,nice place and heart of hong kong,highly recommanded for new comer.
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Ed
15 yrs ago
http://hongkong.asiaxpat.com/property/
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N7HKY
15 yrs ago
Hi tdavidson
I am also moving to HK shortly on my own (31 year old female) so I'd be interested to hear how you get on.
I have been told through a couple of contacts that good places to live in terms of value for money and location are Sheung Wan and Sai Ying Pun.
I am looking for a 2 bedroom appt, possibly part or fully furnished. My top budget is 20k per month. I have been in touch with an agent who has advised that this may not be enough, especially for fully furnished. Does anybody know whether this is just estate agent talk trying to get me to spend a little more, or whether my requirements are unreasonable for that budget?
Can anybody else recommend a good agent??
Good luck with your search!!!
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Negotiate and if they won't budge on price ask for extras, like furnishings for example. Many want to keep the sticker price but are happy to throw in lots of extras. My friend got furniture, a 42 inch flatscreen and so on when he haggled. But the landlord wouldn't budge an inch on the price.
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N7HKY
15 yrs ago
Thanks for the advice - I'm not very good at haggling but I'll give it a go!!
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Your agent works for you so he/she can handle the negotiation.
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Fair enough. However it may be easier to pressure your agent than the opposing party.
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Stanley isn't what I would call cheap.
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Stanley?? Ha ha... though not far away is the very local and cheap Aberdeen where you can have sea & mountain views & you're right by Aberdeen country park. Across Aberdeen Harbour is Ap Lei Chau where there are similar views, but newer places, maybe pool, gym. Try Sham Wan Towers or South Horizons- should be lots in your budget there. Night buses or $70 taxi if you need it (Central/Wanchai)
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For that budget (14k pm) - Sheung Wan and Sai Ying Pun are your best bet. Easy to get to Soho and Central, and still relatively cheap.
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