Advice on renting a serviced apartment
 For stays of a day, a week, a month or a year, serviced apartments offer a spacious, flexible and cost effective alternative to restrictive hotel rooms, with an average saving of 15 - 30 percent on an equivalent standard hotel.
All about location
Serviced apartments are located throughout central Hong Kong and also in more remote or secluded areas for those who prefer to "get away from it all". The first thing to decide is whether you prefer to be in easy reach of the Central Business District (CBD) or whether you are prepared to put up with a commute. Importantly most serviced apartments outside the CBD provide direct shuttle services into town, so it's possible to have the best of both worlds.
Home-away-from-home
Furnished serviced apartments are a unique and affordable alternative to hotels by providing the spaciousness, comfort and conveniences of a home, and at a lower nightly cost than a hotel room. Ubiquitous feature include 42-inch plasma TVs, home theater systems and state-of-the-art bath and kitchen appliances.
Hotel-style service
What you want when renting a serviced apartment is hotel-style service, so be sure to ask about the amenities on offer. It goes without saying that you will have concierge and maid services. Most serviced apartments also offer fine dining and sport facilities. Serviced apartments, attached to hotels - of which there are many in Hong Kong - boast extras like three-layer pillow mattresses, and offer residents use of the hotel's pool, health club and lounge.
Designer décor
In order to accommodate longer stays, serviced apartments are often more attractively decorated than even the top hotels. Shop around until you find a style that suits your tastes and needs. Most of Hong Kong's serviced apartments are upscale and ultra-contemporary often with an Asian flavour in the artwork or soft furnishings. Be aware that you get what you pay for: single suites are well planned and comfortable, while the penthouses can offer private lap pools and aromatherapy Jacuzzis with the Hong Kong skyline as the backdrop.
Ultimate flexibility
Whether you are visiting Hong Kong for work or play, on your own or with the family, serviced apartments are ideal for people who don't have the time to make a new home. But they are also give you the space and independence to do your own thing. There's a fitted kitchen so you can enjoy catering for yourself - when and if you want to. There's also generally more space than in a hotel room so you can bring as much computer or baby equipment with you as you like.
Brand loyalty
For executives who travel frequently, the standard of accommodation has become a major factor. It's important to find a place you like, somewhere you can return to again and again. Serviced apartments afford that option and since many have a global presence it's possible to create a sense of homecoming wherever you are in the world.
Short-term lease
Of course one of the main benefits of a serviced apartment is that you can stay for just a few weeks or a month. But not only are serviced apartments cheaper than hotels, room rates are reduced for longer stays. As a result many people choose to stay long term (for up to a year or more).
Relocation
A serviced apartment is an ideal base from which to explore Hong Kong if you are relocating here from overseas. With every practical need taken care of, you are free to get to know the various different districts, and find an apartment you like, and a school for the kids. Many people choose to live in serviced apartments until their belongings are shipped out. This can be a rewarding experience not least because many of the other residents will also be expatriates in search of a new social network. |
