Areas to live in HK advice please?

[vbraddon28]

My husband and I along with our little boy (19 months) will be relocating to Hong Kong from the UK in January. We really have very little knowledge about the different areas in Hong Kong to live in and would greatly appreciate any advice. I have read a few of the other posts but our situation seems a little bit different. My husband will be working from home but also flying from HK to other countries in Asia 1 or 2 times a week so good links to Central aren't necessary but a reasonable journey to the Airport is. We are pushing for a budget for our apartment rental of 40,000hkd. We would like somewhere that is near to a park or outside space, there are some playgroups/toddler groups where we can socialise and close to local amenities. I want to be able to quickly throw myself and my son into expat life and not feel too isolated or homesick!! We are coming over for a weekend soon to look around HK to start trying to workout where we might like to live and have no idea where to start currently so any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

[imparanoic]

discovery bay sounds ideal for you, close to airport, ok to central, quiet, no cars, some space, very expat orientated area

[MovingIn07]

+1 for Discovery Bay.

But if you dislike that (and some do), try Gold Coast. You can get a Beach House in the Residences for that budget, some of them have little gardens even, overlooking the marina and GC Residence has grass for playing on, squash, tennis, beaches nearby, hills behind, decent shopping for daily groceries and a scheduled bus to the airport. (30 mins).

There are also a couple of kindergartens and an International School in the area.

There is an active expat community here (not quite as big as Discovery Bay, but also not so intense!).

Best bet is to come and walk around various areas and get a feel for what you like.

[TheBrit]

Avoid Gold Coast if you don't want to feel isolated, which you specifically mention in your post as a criteria. It is based in the middle of nowhere, isn't on the MTR and you're forced to catch buses to get anywhere. Not fun with a stroller and a toddler. We spent a month there on similar advice and hated it, and that was before we had children - would have been even worse with a toddler on the buses.

Kowloon station would fit your bill and budget nicely.

Specifically addressing your points:

Green space - few little patches of grass on the podium area, plus a large playground which toddlers love. You often see kiddie football classes and suchlike on the communal green spaces.

Also the Waterfront Promenade (large Government park) over the road, and Kowloon Park close by in Tsim Sha Tsui. Both very toddler friendly

Commute to airport - 20 minutes on express train, plus you can check in at the station directly - saves lugging your luggage and gives you piece of mind you're checked in early.

Playgroups - dozens nearby. Can give you specific recommendation if you ask. Some of the buildings have huge indoor playrooms which work well for letting children blow off steam when it's too hot or wet to play outside - which is a lot of the time here. You have lots of kindergartens nearby - again dozens within a few minutes walk. Several of the buildings have swimming pools too which is great in the summer.

Expat lifestyle - it's very clean, modern facilities and you're able to get about very easily. You are directly on the MTR which is one stop and 4 minutes to Central (figure 20 mins total commute), close to Tsim Sha Tsui and Mongkok (30 minutes walk or 5 minutes/US$4 in a taxi each). Lots of expat families there. Very much close to the action, yet the station area is raised above ground and quiet - best of both worlds.

40k will get you a nice place in any of the Kowloon station buildings.

[HowardCoombs]

OP, areas for you to investigate : DiscoveryBay, TungChung, GoldCoast, ParkIsland

[Trance Omega]

I would go with the Brits advice. Kowloon station or Olympic which is one stop further from Kowloon station.
I would avoid DB and south Lantau like the plague unless being cut off from the heart of things.


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[Mat]

OK......... The Brit - Moving round 568...no winner.

OP for reference those two can't see eyes with each other and will consntantly recommend where they live etcetc...

Anyway to answer your query and since you come over to check the place for a few days, try to look at:

On Lantau: DB, Tung Chung, Park Island
Easy commute to Airport but out of Lantau: Olympic, Kowloon Station

40 K will give you a much bigger flat in DB, Tung Chung, Park Island than in Olympic, Kowloon Station but if size isn't too important and you focus more on shopping/access to the city etcetc then Olympic, Kowloon Station are a better fit.

All in all, come and look around those areas (and a few more that I am sure we forgot to mention)

[imparanoic]

I would go with the Brits advice. Kowloon station or Olympic which is one stop further from Kowloon station.
I would avoid DB and south Lantau like the plague unless being cut off from the heart of things.


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depends what you prefer, relatively quiet, tranquil yet friendly place which is very expat orientated, but slightly out the way, ie, 35mins ferry to central, discovery bay is ideal

but if you like to closer to action, but less free space, then Kowloon, Olympic is good, note that Kowloon station/elements complex has very extensive building work with the new rail station which sounds noisey

[TheBrit]

note that Kowloon station/elements complex has very extensive building work with the new rail station which sounds noisey

I lived near door to that for three years, and there was no noise from the construction audible in the apartment, at all. May be more of an issue in some of the other apartment buildings, but easy to check when you do go there.

[bibbju]

depends what you prefer, relatively quiet, tranquil yet friendly place which is very expat orientated, but slightly out the way, ie, 35mins ferry to central, discovery bay is ideal

+1 for Discovery Bay. It sounds like it's exactly what the OP is looking for.

Just to add that's its a 25 min ferry ride to Central (not 35 min as stated earlier). Ferries run 24 hours a day.