Bel-Air Phase III

My husband likes it but I'm not so sure. We have 2 young children who will be attending schools at the Peak. I understand that the current occupancy rate at Phase III is low and it seems awfully quiet. Anyone with small children living there who can comment??


My husband only likes brand new apartments (unfortunately he is still not quite aware that he is in HK.) Thanks.

Please, don't even consider it! We moved here from the UK in April and have had 4 fairly miserable months in phase 3. The noise is unbelievable - HK may be known for drilling, but of course a new building has more work going on then an established one, so expect to listen to drilling from neighbouring apartments not only all week, but also at the weekends (despite the rules). As you said, it seems pretty empty. The management told us that this phase 3 is filling up more slowly than phases 1 and 2, meaning that the noise will be spread over a longer period. Dealing with the staff is painful, they can be friendly but are absolutely clueless. Nothing happens when it should - e.g. the indoor pool was extremely late opening, so although the Club looks great, half of it doesn't work.


You will need to get a bus to phases 1 and 2 for most activities - tennis, squash, outdoor pool, spa, etc - so if you want to live in Bel-Air you are better off in phases 1 or 2 (another reason why phase 3 seems empty). However, they also had to suffer the closure of the outdoor pool for half the summer, without any explanation from management. At phase 3, the indoor pool and gym are at last open, but management won't open them early enough for people to use before work, as they would need to pay more for staff. There will be no outdoor pool on site until 2008 (not 2007, as we were told before we moved in).


All phases offer great views (depending on which tower you choose), but 1 and 2 are within easy walk of shops, unlike 3.


As far as children are concerned, we have 2 daughters of 7 and 4, who go to Kellett School, just around the corner. There are play areas on site, which are pleasant enough, but they really want to be in the outdoor pool most of the time. None of their classmates live on this development, so they spend most of their time with friends at Scenic Villas, Baguio Villas, Replulse Bay, etc. There are an increasing number of children here, but you are right to say that it is pretty empty.


The main benefit of phase 3 is that you get more for your money than phases 1 and 2. However, if we had our time again, we would not move here.


As far as your husband's preference for new apartments goes, we think in a similar way. However, I understand that most landlords will refurbish apartments to a high standard before you move in, so perhaps this is not so important. Anyway, the workmanship here is so bad that they do not seem new for long.


Sorry for such a negative answer, but I want to make sure that you don't make the same mistake as us. As I said, if you like the idea of Bel-Air, find something in phases 1 and 2, which are established and are where all the facilities are.

Thanks ABCGG for giving so much information.

Actually, we visited P1 and P2 on a weekday and thought it was rather crowded at the bus stop and the club area. An agent showed us six apartments in the 1700 sq ft range but they all seem not as bright as the apartments at P3. You are right about the convenience at P1 and 2. Now I have to convince my husband to look elsewhere. It is tough because there simply aren't many brand new apartments ( inside and out ) around that are within our budget.

Hi ABCGG, can you elaborate what do you mean by "you get more for your money than phases 1 and 2"? I know you are in Ph3, but would you say whether your comments may be equally applicable to Ph1 and Ph2?


thanks

My husband is clearly attracted to the clubhouse facilities at Bel-Air. It provides ample choices of sports, game and beauty facilities such as basketball/vollyball courts,a ping-pong room,a salon,a spa, 2 restaurants, 2 indoor pools, 1 outdoor pool ( and another one to be opened in 2008 ), a game room, a playroom ( a blaster ball playroom ), Kids Gallery classroom, a computer room , music room,2 gyms etc,etc. My family loves sport activities. We will check out The Belchers this weekend.

I sympathise with the love of sport and know that many people are seduced by the look of the Club facilities. When they all work to the residents' convenience, they will be even more impressive. For now, the shuttle bus timetable is our master, which is a drag, but if you are comfortable with that, fair enough. I would also wonder how many of the more peripheral facilities most people actually use, if they want to have a life outside Bel-Air (school-related activites, a social life, seeing Hong Kong, etc). I have to confess that we could not see a 2nd outdoor pool that might be ready in 2008 as a positive, this is way too long term for us.


Nevertheless, it sounds like you and your husband are still keen, so there is no point in me being continually negative. If you do move here, then welcome, let's hope that things improve.


Regarding the question from C, I was talking primarily about phase 3. My boss lives in phase 2 and is happy there. I do not know if things are perfect, but the fact that it is established and working removes many of the problems. Getting more for your money refered to size of apartment - we could afford a larger apartment in phase 3 than in 1 or 2, with 4 bedrooms instead of 3.


Mumofeleanor, the thin walls would explain a lot!

I live in Phase 3 and have not run into many of the issues ABCGG has. For instance, I've not had any noise issue at all and despite the fact that all three units on my floor are occupied, I almost never hear them other than when the kids get out of the elevator once in a while and if I happen to be walking near the front door.


Faithful, like you, I found Phase 1 and 2 a bit "crowded" even though compared to almost everywhere else it's really not crowded. If you think Phase 1 and 2 are crowded then I'm not sure you're going to like Belchers. I didn't at all.


I do agree with ABCGG that it's a bit of a hassle to have to go to Phase 1 and 2 for things and especially if you just need to run to ParkNShop for something little. There's also no bus stop in front of Phase 3 like there is in Phase 1 and 2. I'm talking about the normal bus, not the Bel-Air shuttles. However, the minibuses stop right in front of Phase 3 as well and it's a quick and easy ride to Causeway Bay or Aberdeen.


As for the staff, I've only found one woman at the service center a bit incompetent but everyone else has been very friendly AND helpful.


Also, when I was looking, landlords "refurbishing" the apartment means paiting the walls and regrouting the bathrooms' sinks. That's it. Most will not tear up the kitchen or bathrooms for you.

My neighbours are also quiet, I was refering to residents/landlords working on apartments before moving in. We've obviously been unlucky. I guess the bottom line - the only fact that we have - is that the management felt the need a couple of months ago to send us all a letter threatening action if we didn't obey the rules on noise!


I didn't question the friendliness of the staff, just their competence. Could just be a language problem - they don't speak any English, I don't speak any Cantonese so, despite lots of smiling and nodding of heads, nothing gets done. Guess we'll need to find time to squeeze in some language classes!


Other facts: outdoor pool closed 5-6 weeks, from end June to early August, indoor pool opened 2-3 months late as the water failed whatever tests are necessary. No information from management in either case until pushed. Gym and indoor pool in phase 3 don't open early enough to use before work, unlike most gyms in HK. These are the most important facilities to us, so this is a very big deal. To others, it may be a non-issue. Each to his own.

I too find it annoying that the gym doesn't open early. I just went over there to ask them today. They said if I really needed it that early, that the earliest shuttle leaves at 6:53 to go to Phase 1/2. I said I know, I take that shuttle to work so I need the gym to be open at 5:30 like it is at Phase 1 and 2.


I was also told the restaurant in the club house would open in August but today they told me September. We shall see.


Despite this, I still find that I prefer the environment here over many other places in HK.

Oh, and if you value hygiene for you and your children, another reason to avoid. No toilet flushing allowed for most of this weekend (and no notice given). Second time in the last few weeks.

ABCGG -- which tower do you live in? I have had no such problem in my apartment at all at Bel-Air. With that said, I used to live in the New Territories and once in a while we would get a notice from management that there would be no water for toilet flushing due to maintenance or something like that.

ABCGG - Despite your obvious dislike for bel air 3. I have also just moved in with 4 year old and a baby. Yes my daughter wants to go to the ootdoor pool all of the time, yes we are at the mercy of the shuttle bus, yes the shops are a little further away. But no we do not hear our neighbours, our toilet has worked all of the time. All of the shops in HK deliver so no biggy. The view is great, the apartment is brand new not just touched up. Having looked at over 50 apartments (call me anal) Bel Air 3 represents great value (by HK exorbitant standards). But most of all we are happy - some times things are right sometimes they are not. I apologise if I come across as smug. We have spent the last 18mths living in India where the toilet not flushing is the least of your problems.

nicksut, good for you, and if I lived where you used to live, then I'd take advice before I moved and adapt my thinking accordingly. I don't, so I won't! The idea of this forum is to share experiences and, on the basis of my experiences, I could not recommend this place to others. At the risk of sounding like a broken record, I have not complained of noisy neighbours, but noisy workmen in neighbouring flats. Please understand the subtle difference.

ABCGG: Sorry to hear you've had such a miserable experience. It seems like your experience is an anomaly though. I didn't move from India but had a custom home in one of the top 50 school districts in the U.S. Like Nicksut, I do feel like Bel Air 3 offers quite a bit of "value" and I too looked at dozens of apartments before choosing this one. In addition to the shuttle bus, there is now a bus stop outside Phase 3 and you can also take the mini buses. That should give you more options. I guess I just have been fortunate to have had no issues with flushing toilet and noisy workmen in neighboring flats.

Your quite right ABCGG, this site is designed to share experiences. I apologise: but for the record Bel Air 3 works for me and I would reccomend it. The only caveat I would add is that the site is still under development and one will have to be prepared for some of the issues that have effected you. But the choice is simple do you want brand new facities, fixtures and fittings or do you want an older but more established property. P.S. visited friends in Baguio Villas recently and the building noise was horrendous.

Hi everyone. I have read all of the above. My partner and I spent today looking at apartments in central and at bel air 3. We love the facilities, the kitchen and the extra space at Bel Air, but loved the idea of being in the heart of Sheung wan too. Can anyone shed light on how easy it is to meet other people and have a social life in Bel Air. We have just moved to hong kong. Is it a hassle to get into town and to get home again after midnight? Any advice appreciated!