[egk7]

Hi,

I will be moving to HK soon for work and am in the process of looking for an apartment. The real estate agent I am working with is recommending Convention Plaza or Pacific Place. Is anyone familiar with these places, and if so, are they well regarded? Any other suggestions for places within a reasonable commuting distance from Central?

Any held would be much appreciated!

Thanks.

[KnowItAll]

If Pacific Place is in your budget, you might want to consider Four Seasons Place (a little bit more... but easier access to Central)

[PDLM]

One's a convention centre and the other is a shopping mall. The apartments there are serviced apartments associated with hotels there and are generally used by people staying long enough to want something more than a hotel room, but not long enough to want a real home. If that fits and your budget stretches to the prices then they are fine, but for the same budget you could probably get a bigger normal apartment somewhere else.

You would need to define "reasonable commuting distance" for us to answer the second question - people commute from all over Hong Kong to Central.

[Claire ex-ax]

Four Seasons Place, that KIA mentions, is in Central so the 'commute' would be a very short walk. Pacific Place is a 10-minute walk, 3-minute tram ride, or a 2-minute bus ride depending on the traffic.

Suggest you actually look at the places - and at a map of Hong Kong - before you sign anything.

[egk7]

Thanks everyone for your responses. My office will be in the ICBC tower at 3 Garden Road, and ideally, I would want to stay within a 10-20 minute walking distance (if that's practicable). Any recommendations? I would want a flat on a higher floor (20F+, to try to avoid pest problems) around a US$3,000/month budget.

Thanks again.

[hello_there]

Pacific Place serviced apartments run considerably more than US$3000 per month, but it would be a nice and convenient place to stay for a month or so while you're looking for a permanent apartment. Try looking at buildings in the Mid-Levels (mid-levels central or some places in mid-levels east, the walking commute from mid-levels west will take longer than you said you want to ICBC) on various estate agent sites to get a sense of what you will get in your budget range. There are plenty of places. Some places in Wan Chai (on the south side of queens road east) may also be what you are looking for. There are a number of newer apartment buildings popping up, but don't know the names off hand.

[KnowItAll]

US$3K within walking distance of ICBC tower ... will be tough if not impossible.

Best to adjust expectations once you land.

Pacific Place runs between US$ 9 - 22K / month