[sheila australi]

Hi I am thinking of taking a job offer in Hong Kong. I will go over in March and try it for three months. I need to rent a place or share accommodation with someone.

I am a professional female, non smoking non drinking. Job is in central Hong Kong so I would appreciate knowing where the place to look for somewhere is.

I'm very new to all this so I really would apprciate all the advice you can offer.

Thanks

[PDLM]

Originally Posted by sheila australi

non drinking

As an expat in Hong Kong? Hmmmm. I guess there might be one or two other like you, but not many!

[gentlebob]

Hi Sheila,
As a single person you have a big advantage. If you're only staying here three months (to start with) I recommend getting a studio or 1 bdrm right smack dab in the middle of the excitement of HK island. Later, if you relo here, you should consider outlying areas for more peaceful homelife, but for now I would go right to the heart of matters and learn about HK.

I would consider Central- it's really quaint and there are a lot of great spots for eating, etc. One bdrms will run you in the 20K/month and up, but you might only need a studio.

Best advice: look at this website,- they the best viewing website of all,- they also have agents, but if you find where you want to live, you can go to any agency in that area. Hong Kong Property For Rent And For Sale - Hong Kong Realty

If you DO want peace and quiet at night, you might consider Tung Chung, Discovery Bay or even Sai Kung, all have lots of expats and conveniences, and are cheaper than right in town.

You could also be adventurous and live in a purely local area like North Point, Fortress Hill or any of a number of urban epicenters built around MTR stops in Kowloon. It will be convenient, close to Central and cheaper, but not that thrilling culturally or aesthetically.

[carang]

funny, "quaint" would NOT be a word i'd use to describe Central...

[Skyhook]

Ha Ha Carang, indeed lol.

Sai Kung, Discovery Bay, Gold Coast, Clearwater Bay, Stanley, Shouson Hill, Pok Fu Lam, Repulse Bay, Red Hill and Shek O are quaint, umm the other area's that bobby mentioned would be the complete opposite of said dictionary depiction. Not unless you love the sound of KMB buses, impatient taxi's blowing their horns in the evening hours and doing your shopping amongst 40,000 other people per km2 as a quaint neighbourhood.

Quite funny.

[dow13000]

I suggest renting a place in Sheung Wan near central, where the rent is cheap and atmosphere not as noisy and smoged by cars, althou they are everywhere. WAlking distance and easy to take taxi or van. any other questions Im sure there are others who is more knowlegdeable

[psf]

I have a decent room available for sharing the accommodation located in Diamond Hill and it takes around 30 mins to Central. If you are still looking for a room, please email me at pangwendy@hotmail.com for futher discussion.

[gentlebob]

To be honest, if you want a cheap place and beautiful, non-crowded surroundings, Tung Chung is really beautiful and CHEAP. smallish 3 bdrms for under 10K and one and two bdrms for even less, and the facilities are FANTASTIC. I live in Caribbean Coast and we have five pools, two indoor, squash, gym, and lots of walkways and roads near mountains and sea. HIking is nearby as is beach. Let me know, I can show you around.

[Richack10]

If you're not wanting to paint the town red every night and don't mind a 45 min to 1 hour commute to central each day then tung chung is a good place to live for the reasons gentlebob says. facilities are good, good access to the countryside and beaches and you get a lot of space for not too much money. there is a bit of airplane noise (and that bloody dog that the neighbours seem to let on their balcony for about an hour each night) but generally a lot more 'peaceful' than the city.

[carang]

central is 25 minutes by MTR from central, not an hour.