Flat in Tsim Sha Tsui in September?
Jul 20th, 2012, 11:43 AM
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Flat in Tsim Sha Tsui in September?
My husband, adult daughter and I will be in Hong Kong from Sept. 22 - 27. I need affordable 2 bedroom accomodations that must be within walking distance of Tsim Sha Tsui. There are lovely hotels but mercy! the prices for 2 rooms are astronomical. I thought about a vacation apartment. Any ideas about where to find something very clean and convenient?
I tried VRBO. There were very limited possibilities.
We are experienced travellers but this is the first time in Hong Kong. Thanks, in advance, for your wisdom.
I tried VRBO. There were very limited possibilities.
We are experienced travellers but this is the first time in Hong Kong. Thanks, in advance, for your wisdom.
Jul 20th, 2012, 05:10 PM
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No experience using listings on this site, but may be worth a look:
https://www.airbnb.com/s/hong-kong
https://www.airbnb.com/s/hong-kong
Jul 20th, 2012, 05:54 PM
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The five 2-room suites at the YMCA are called "2 single room" suites. Not sure if they really mean a single bed or not. Rate for those dates (if avaialble) are between HK$1850 to HK$2150 per night + 10% service charge.
Jul 21st, 2012, 07:51 PM
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Do you need a hotel or do you want an apartment with a kitchen, self-laundry etc?
Why do you need to be in "walking distance" of TST? There are many other areas of Hong Kong that would work and should be cheaper in terms of hotel rooms. TST is tourist central and has prices to match. Hong Kong has an excellent, cheap and efficient public transport system, so even if you need to be in TST for work, you can stay elsewhere and commute in.
There are "serviced aparments", with kitchens, self-laundry and maid service in many parts of town. Some, but not all of these are available for short-term lets. For serviced apartments in Hong Kong, sort of in descending order of price, on Hong Kong Island, try the Four Seasons Place at http://www.fsphk.com/, the Pacific Place Apartments at Parkside, go to http://www.pacificplace.com.hk/living/live_index.html. I am not sure either will rent for such a short period. I believe that the Parkview apartments, which is a very nice luxury flat complex up on top of the hill above Happy Valley has some serviced apartments which they let on a short-term basis, go to http://www.hongkongparkview.com/. Some of the best walking and hiking in Hong Kong would literally be out the front door, there is a pool, kids play area and grocery store in the complex, and a free shuttle bus to Central. There is also the Convention Plaza in the Grand Hyatt Hotel complex, (go to http://www.conventionplazaapartments.com, again I am not sure they would rent for very short term like a few days or a week).
I would certainly recommend the serviced apartments at Two MacDonnell Road (at http://www.twomr.com.hk). They have a nice location near to Bowen Road, quiet, green (for Hong Kong) and close to a good walking flat walking path, and a grocery store across the street. These would not be at quite the same luxury level as the ones above, but not as pricey either.
Ice House Service Apartments may work., These have kitchenettes. They are also in a rally good location in Central near to tons of restaurants and boutiques and things like the Star Ferry and Peak Tram. I have not seen these rooms, but do know people who have stayed there, and thought they were OK. It’s hard to beat this location for access to things. See http://www.icehouse.com.hk
There is a chain of serviced apartments with various location on Hong Kong Island, take a look at http://www.thev.hk/. I don't know anything about this group or the quality of the apartments. Most of these are in the Causeway Bay area or Happy Valley, two areas on Hong Kong Island, both convenient for seeing sights and more in the mainstream for tourists.
On the Kowloon side, the only service apartment I know of in the main tourist area is The Gateway, which is at the Star Ferry Pier and would be a nice location, I have never seen the rooms so don't know anything about them. See http://www.gatewayapartments.com.hk/. Again, I don’t know if they would let for only a week. The Langham Place Hotel has serviced apartments, see http://hongkong.langhamplacehotels.com/en/index.html, not sure of your price range, it’s a very densely populated busy area, but overall might be OK. Close to a subway.
Try Oakwood, which is a US operator of serviced apartments which has several serviced facilities in Hong Kong, see http://www.oakwood.com. Many of their properties require a 30-day stay.
There are some serviced apartments in Tolo Harbour area called the Horizon Suite Hotel, go to http://www.horizonsuitehotel.com/eng/index.html. I don't know these apartments at all, but you might take a look. It is not close to the city parts of Hong Kong, probably 30 minutes by subway. This is not a tourist area, I don’t know what you are looking for; it would certainly be a very local experience. Hong Kong is very safe, so I would not have any concerns with this area with regard to that, but as I don’t know if you want to be close to main tourist sights or not, it is hard to advise. However, I know the area fairly well, and the countryside there is probably the most beautiful in all of Hong Kong (or in a tie with the Sai Kung area certainly), and there is some great walking nearby (including the easy and scenic Bride's Pool walk), and there is a bike path all around Tolo Harbour and across Plover Cove dam that is a lot of fun. The town area is quite built-up, but you can get to green areas quickly, and there are lovely water and mountain views.
You could also consider a “holiday chalet” type place on Lamma Island, just a short ferry ride from Hong Kong Island. Lamma is a lovely, green, quiet island with some nice beaches and a really fun laid-back atmosphere. Some good walking, some good local restaurants, esp in Yung Shue Wan. You can ferry into Hong Kong for a day when you want to see some city sights. You can take the wonderful local wooden kaido ferries to Aberdeen and from there go to the south side of Hong Kong Island for its beaches and walking. Take a look at
http://www.lammabali.com/index_en.html, http://www.lamma.com.hk/ and http://www.lammaresort.com/ for rentals. These are going to be fairly simple places.
Finally, you could also try the classified sections of the <i>South China Morning Post</i> (http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/) and <i>The Standard</i> (http://www.thestandard.com.hk), the local English-language newspapers. They have on-line classifieds which may have short-term lets. See scmp.com
Yes, VRBO.com is quite limited for Hong Kong.
Why do you need to be in "walking distance" of TST? There are many other areas of Hong Kong that would work and should be cheaper in terms of hotel rooms. TST is tourist central and has prices to match. Hong Kong has an excellent, cheap and efficient public transport system, so even if you need to be in TST for work, you can stay elsewhere and commute in.
There are "serviced aparments", with kitchens, self-laundry and maid service in many parts of town. Some, but not all of these are available for short-term lets. For serviced apartments in Hong Kong, sort of in descending order of price, on Hong Kong Island, try the Four Seasons Place at http://www.fsphk.com/, the Pacific Place Apartments at Parkside, go to http://www.pacificplace.com.hk/living/live_index.html. I am not sure either will rent for such a short period. I believe that the Parkview apartments, which is a very nice luxury flat complex up on top of the hill above Happy Valley has some serviced apartments which they let on a short-term basis, go to http://www.hongkongparkview.com/. Some of the best walking and hiking in Hong Kong would literally be out the front door, there is a pool, kids play area and grocery store in the complex, and a free shuttle bus to Central. There is also the Convention Plaza in the Grand Hyatt Hotel complex, (go to http://www.conventionplazaapartments.com, again I am not sure they would rent for very short term like a few days or a week).
I would certainly recommend the serviced apartments at Two MacDonnell Road (at http://www.twomr.com.hk). They have a nice location near to Bowen Road, quiet, green (for Hong Kong) and close to a good walking flat walking path, and a grocery store across the street. These would not be at quite the same luxury level as the ones above, but not as pricey either.
Ice House Service Apartments may work., These have kitchenettes. They are also in a rally good location in Central near to tons of restaurants and boutiques and things like the Star Ferry and Peak Tram. I have not seen these rooms, but do know people who have stayed there, and thought they were OK. It’s hard to beat this location for access to things. See http://www.icehouse.com.hk
There is a chain of serviced apartments with various location on Hong Kong Island, take a look at http://www.thev.hk/. I don't know anything about this group or the quality of the apartments. Most of these are in the Causeway Bay area or Happy Valley, two areas on Hong Kong Island, both convenient for seeing sights and more in the mainstream for tourists.
On the Kowloon side, the only service apartment I know of in the main tourist area is The Gateway, which is at the Star Ferry Pier and would be a nice location, I have never seen the rooms so don't know anything about them. See http://www.gatewayapartments.com.hk/. Again, I don’t know if they would let for only a week. The Langham Place Hotel has serviced apartments, see http://hongkong.langhamplacehotels.com/en/index.html, not sure of your price range, it’s a very densely populated busy area, but overall might be OK. Close to a subway.
Try Oakwood, which is a US operator of serviced apartments which has several serviced facilities in Hong Kong, see http://www.oakwood.com. Many of their properties require a 30-day stay.
There are some serviced apartments in Tolo Harbour area called the Horizon Suite Hotel, go to http://www.horizonsuitehotel.com/eng/index.html. I don't know these apartments at all, but you might take a look. It is not close to the city parts of Hong Kong, probably 30 minutes by subway. This is not a tourist area, I don’t know what you are looking for; it would certainly be a very local experience. Hong Kong is very safe, so I would not have any concerns with this area with regard to that, but as I don’t know if you want to be close to main tourist sights or not, it is hard to advise. However, I know the area fairly well, and the countryside there is probably the most beautiful in all of Hong Kong (or in a tie with the Sai Kung area certainly), and there is some great walking nearby (including the easy and scenic Bride's Pool walk), and there is a bike path all around Tolo Harbour and across Plover Cove dam that is a lot of fun. The town area is quite built-up, but you can get to green areas quickly, and there are lovely water and mountain views.
You could also consider a “holiday chalet” type place on Lamma Island, just a short ferry ride from Hong Kong Island. Lamma is a lovely, green, quiet island with some nice beaches and a really fun laid-back atmosphere. Some good walking, some good local restaurants, esp in Yung Shue Wan. You can ferry into Hong Kong for a day when you want to see some city sights. You can take the wonderful local wooden kaido ferries to Aberdeen and from there go to the south side of Hong Kong Island for its beaches and walking. Take a look at
http://www.lammabali.com/index_en.html, http://www.lamma.com.hk/ and http://www.lammaresort.com/ for rentals. These are going to be fairly simple places.
Finally, you could also try the classified sections of the <i>South China Morning Post</i> (http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/) and <i>The Standard</i> (http://www.thestandard.com.hk), the local English-language newspapers. They have on-line classifieds which may have short-term lets. See scmp.com
Yes, VRBO.com is quite limited for Hong Kong.
Jul 23rd, 2012, 06:52 AM
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Kathy, RKKwan and Cicerone, THANK YOU for the detailed info. I really do need to be in Tsim Sha Tsui or possibly Mid-Levels as I need to be within walking distance of a Synagogue on those dates. I know it's not the most common priority when visiting Hong Kong, nevertheless... I will follow up on all leads received. Anyone with other ideas, your input is most appreciated.
Jul 23rd, 2012, 10:59 AM
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I assume the synagogue you mean in Mid-Levels is the Ohel Leah Synagogue on Robinson Road. The Ice House Apartments and the 2 MacDonnell Road apartments would be walkable to the synagogue in 15-20 minutes; however a good bit of this walk is going to be uphill, esp from Ice House Street. I assume that is not a problem for you.
The Kowloon synagogue is near to the Kowloon Shangri-La hotel. From the Gateway apartments, this is probably 20 minutes. From Langham Place apartments, it would be a longer walk, maybe 45 minutes. Most of the tourist hotels in the Nathan Road area or the Salisbury YMCA mentioned about would be about 15 minutes. All these would be a flat walk.
If you don't need a serviced apartment, then IMO the best hotel choice is the Bishop Lei hotel, on Robinson Road in Mid-Levels and maybe a 15 minute (flat) walk to the synagogue. It's not super luxurious, but comfortable. Rooms tend to be very small, so get the largest room in your budget range. See http://www.bishopleihtl.com.hk
The Kowloon synagogue is near to the Kowloon Shangri-La hotel. From the Gateway apartments, this is probably 20 minutes. From Langham Place apartments, it would be a longer walk, maybe 45 minutes. Most of the tourist hotels in the Nathan Road area or the Salisbury YMCA mentioned about would be about 15 minutes. All these would be a flat walk.
If you don't need a serviced apartment, then IMO the best hotel choice is the Bishop Lei hotel, on Robinson Road in Mid-Levels and maybe a 15 minute (flat) walk to the synagogue. It's not super luxurious, but comfortable. Rooms tend to be very small, so get the largest room in your budget range. See http://www.bishopleihtl.com.hk
