Hi guys,
we re (2 brothers) going to hk this winter (12-17-2008->01/11/2009) and we re looking for a cheap ,but safe, apt with 2 beds ,bathroom and small cooking area (more important is a fridge). We don't know where to look at, cause we checked some hotels (we like the MetroPark Hotel Kowloon,which will cost 20000HKD) but they are quite expensive.
Can you help us to find a cheap apt clean and safe not so far from Mongkok/Sheun Wan/ Causeway Bay?
Our budget is 11000-13000HKD.
We don't want a shit-hole with indians (no offense) around. We found some website for short terme staying but they dont have real photo
thx!

[ Last edited by  fiol77 at 4-8-2008 20:52 ]

Try.....

http://hongkong.asiaxpat.com/property/serviced.asp

http://www1.gohome.com.hk/service_apt/list/list.php?lang=eng

http://www.geoexpat.com/classifieds/index.php/cat/11

http://hongkong.craigslist.org/apa/

Some examples listed as above.......

As you are staying for just the 1 year. I think a serviced apartment probably will appeal to you more......just move in.
Not only cleaner but most mod cons and furniture provided.
However there is other options of lots of estate agents in the areas whatever area you want to live in...in chinese though but i am sure there english is pretty basic and ok to understand. Most of these agents have cards on the windows and it will show the sq.ft of the  property and the price. The price advertised is negociable......

Most need a contract...min 1yr....and 1 months advance payment is needed aswell as something like $1000 deposit for electricity and water. Both calculated by meter and electricity has a 10% charge on top of monthly usage.....

If you do see a flat you like and unfurnished......?
Looking for all the things you need is relativley cheap.....look in the 2nd hand stores like in MK...some good condition things sometimes and some things are brand new and a massive saving......but new is quite cheap anyway.
Even try the geoexpat site i listed......some expats will be moving out so they could be selling everything.

Location: You may want to look in 'Whampoa Gardens' or newer flats with lifts in 'To Kwa Wan'.....
Whampoa is really convinent transport, shopping, restaurants all nearby and a ferry which goes to Wanchai i think...
To Kwa Wan is a little downmarket from whampoa but transport is just as convienant and shops too. Rent will be alot cheaper here and also there is a ferry which goes to North Point at the bus terminal.....

"We don't want a shit-hole with indians (no offense) around."

i know you added "no offense" but this kind of brings to mind a phrase involving bolting horses and shutting gates ...

   yes, I agree with you.  It would have been better left unsaid, but then he wouldn't have got his point across.

Good response from PuffDaddy

Strongly recommend googling for "Serviced Apartment Hong Kong" and checking out what you find - there are lots of options, and if you come up with a shortlist us locals can comment on location etc for you.  

At this moment the best option I'm aware of is a new development right next to Hung Hom KCR station - they're still promoting it heavily so you can sign a contract for min 3 months or longer, and the rates are very reasonable.  If I recall a 2 bed place was around 14k - close enough to haggle for a 1 year contract.  Sorry I can't recall the name - maybe another Bro knows the one I'm thinking of? - otherwise will look out for you and get u more info.  

Another suggestion, since you still have time to search: put an advert in AsiaXpat.com
There's a chance you can find a private landlord willing to let for 1yr, or someone who's travelling.  With the economy getting a bit uncertain you might get lucky and move into a place where an expat is being repatriated and there's time left on the lease ... a long shot but for the cost of an online ad it's worth trying, and you'll get a much better deal than the serviced apartments.

But they say they'll be here from 12-17-2008 - 01/11/2009. A funny way to write dates but I assume
they're putting the month first and that's only 25 days - too short for a serviced apartment. And I guess
their budget of 11000-13000HKD is to cover the rent for the 25 days.

A very bad choice of words but I'll give them the benefit of the doubt and assume the 'no Indians' remark
was to avoid recommendations for Chungking Mansion.

true O King may you live for ever!  I was caught by the American date format and an earlier reply.  

13k is very ambitious for a 1 month commitment - $400 per day - no idea how to get that.  
Could possibly get two rooms in a Lonely-Planet recommended guest house for that sort of budget - as it happens I stayed like that in a place in New Lucky Building in Jordan a loong time ago.  But that's definitely not an apartment.

Just wondering ... do Indians live in 'shit holes' in Italy ?  or do you believe this is so only in HK ?

Must admit for 13k these days to get a serviced apartment and get the comforts of back home are going to take a lot of shopping around......
As for flats for example on getting a good location but then rent is over budget and then rent within budget but shit neighbourhood......
But 13k a month is an ok budget for flat...furnished/unfurnished......and in the areas on my previous response....

I was staying in TKW 6months back and although it was a 1 bedroom old building flat...but had 1 brm, kitchen, shower/toilet and decent enough size living room...
Okay okay i must admit neighbours above the floors or below were much to be desired......too noisy, shouting at 2am and also the place had no lift..
There was indians in the building....no offense but i do find them the worst neighbours to date.....
Anyway when i moved in...it was unfurnished so that was easy enough as a lot of neighbouring furniture shops which could deliver up 5 floors..for a small fee...np..
Monthly rent was $2800.....water$50.....elect$400.....I did have all mod cons inc the washing machine.
So it wasnt bad at around $3300 a month and location was ok......
Never spent more than $40hks on taxis then to get into kowloon area. Didnt need to as minibus/buses around the corner at Kowloon city ferry terminal....
Commuting to central was great....either cross harbour tunnel bus or the better option of ferry to North Point....then a few stops on the Mtr to Central...ferry less crowded and always guaranteed a seat. Either way just as quick...



[ Last edited by  puffdaddy at 5-8-2008 15:50 ]

the indian thing is not a racist one, let me explain to you ^_^, maybe i was a bit rough ^^
we don't hate or dislike indian ppl, but everytime i was in HK and in particular in Yau Ma Tei they always break my balls with "do you want this? do you want that? where do you come from"etc"... very annoying and when I said "No" to one than suddenly another came and asked the same damn thing... it's that the reason i'd like not to have a lot of indians around, not because they are not white or whatever ,it's just cause of the annoying asking thing ^^
we re clear now?
we're not racist at all maybe we where a bit rough with that "We don't want a shit-hole with indians (no offense) around." so sorry for that

anyway we found this "THE NEST" ( http://www.thenest.com.hk/ )  that can provide rooms (a twin room for ex) per 25nights for 16000HKD,which is i think a reasonable price.
Does anybody know something about this "Nest"? I can't find a lot of review on the net, the only one I found was "good,clean,safe..." .

About the apt...if we could spend, let say 16000HKD it'd be easier to find a good apt (you know 2 beds , a bathroom w shower..furnished) clean and safe in a good position like "The Nest" (?)?


[ Last edited by  fiol77 at 5-8-2008 15:19 ]

Not bad as it looks...The nest......

$16000 should give you a decent 2 bedroom flat........do search the links or as bro Dartagnan said is advertise since you have time....

Btw...Why in MK......mongering...

What you save ...the more to spend...



note: Put a thread in Geoexpat.....usually a great response and alot of private flat owners.....

[ Last edited by  puffdaddy at 5-8-2008 16:01 ]

i already put t a thread there..waiting for the answer also there xD
Why mongkok? cos i'm really familiar with that place (not whores tough,never tried one there) and i like it
I found others cheap rooms but they are too small for me and my brother and the photos look terrible

Yep....understand why.....MK is very convienant and amongst the centre of all things....

Still got lots of time......good luck..!!!

It cost me 500 USD a month, two tiny rooms ( barely fit a bed ), tv, refrigerator, shower/toilet combo and even a washing machine (I did not use).  This was 2 years ago, introduced to me by a local friend who was on vacation.  For me, it was just a bed and shower.  I never did that again, I now look for bargain hotels through travel agents.

By any chance, could anyone go and check a twin room in The Nest for me? Cos i'm willing to book it at the end of the week.
The pics on the website looks great but you know, it's always better to have a real opinion.
Thx

Booking so early......?

Keep other options open......shop around

i know but if someone could find out if the pics on the website are like the rooms in the real life, i can consider to book this hotel, not now of course but it would be an option

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowT ... view-Hong_Kong.html

Above link was the only comments i found but no reviews.....
Hard to say if your standards say compared to any other bros in the forum will be the same.....maybe judge yourself.

Why not contact the hotel directly via email and ask them to video the room and why not in the process is to negociate a better rate than as advertised.....since you could be staying there a long time...

i already read that review xD
i think i'll ask some pics or videos of the room.
Unfortunately. i cant judge myself since i'm not in hk but i'm in italy right now eheh
Let's see if they can send me the stuff!