Review on Fitness Room only…read more Since my California Fitness membership expired and I have been in a flux between jobs, I could not commit to a gym yet and have been getting kind of restless. Lucky for me, the great LCSD (Leisure and Cultural Services Department) has arrangements that perfectly suit my needs! There are government sport buildings scattered all over the city, and they usually come with basketball, badminton, pools, dancing rooms and FITNESS ROOMS, depending on which center you are at. The Smithfield Sports Centre is relatively new, is right next to the Kennedy Town MTR station, and has a decent fitness room, slightly larger than a residential clubhouse fitness room. Only drawback is there is no barbells. (dumbbells yes, up to 60lbs) In order to use the fitness rooms, you have to take some form of course that demonstrates you have sufficient knowledge of training, i.e. you are not stupid and won't injure yourself. It can be either a personal training license, a course offered by a university and the easiest and most common route is to take a "Briefing on the proper use of Fitness Equipment" class, offered by LCSD fitness centers around town. The class is free, and lasts for 3 hours, ending with a multiple choice test at the end. The catch is that it is hard to sign up and courses in accessible areas are usually snatched right when they are released, leaving you with options in outlying islands. But it is worth it, because once you are done, you are set for life to enjoy the fitness rooms across Hong Kong, and it is ridiculously cheap - HK $14 per session or HK$180 for a month, 50% off if you are a full-time student. So yes, some centers are more ghetto than others, with Kennedy town ones being newer and more decent. But your taxes have already paid for this, might as well sign up and show up. Details at: http://www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/fitness/index.html

One of many sports centers in the HK territory. It has courts that can be used for basketball,…read morevolleyball, dodgeball, badminton, etc. It is air-conditioned and well kept. You can book these courts in person, online, or by telephone. inexpensive to book. The courts are available 10 days in advance at 7 AM in the morning. The popular timeslots all gone by 7:01.

This place is old but functional, completed in Dec 1988 it's still pretty busy and it's become a…read moreneighborhood hangout spot of sorts. It's 5mins walk from Quarry Bay MTR, and If you pass by sometime you'll see elderly folks chatting and chilling at the small garden area outside the entrance. Hikers pass by the building because the entrance to the HK Island hiking trail Mount Parker is outside. So while this place is a bit rusty, it is far from obsolete. The sports center is small compared to other Government Sports Centers, only two floors, 6/f and 7/f. In the two floors, they managed to pack a table tennis room, 2 squash courts, basketball court (convertible into a volleyball court or 4 badminton courts), a dance room (189m2) and a small fitness room (165m2). Like I said, the place is a bit old and visibly so, and the ventilation is not so great in certain areas. But the place is still busy during off-work hours and classes are regularly held in the fitness rooms, so the much newer Island East Sport Center (2001) one MTR stop away has become a good alternative. Staff here are mostly similar to their patrons: old-timers who are friendly and talkative. That also pretty much sums up the sports center, a bit barebones, weathered, but genuine and neighborhood-friendly.

Being a part of the dancing community means that you have to actively look for spaces and studios…read morefor rehearsal; whether the place is suitable for dancing is one thing, whether the rent is affordable is another. Rents for dance studios in government sports centers are guaranteed to be cheap, although extra bucks are required in renting their audio sets, but the sum of these is still far lower than that of renting private studios for an hour. Because it is so affordable and economical, these studios are always fully booked and you have to get up early in the morning (like 7 am) to book online; there are even some hardcore fanatics that get up at 5 in the morning to go line up at the entrance of the sport center to book. Right, I might have been sidetracked too much, back to this sports center in particular. Due to recent rehearsal, I have finally set foot into this center that I have not even heard of before. Truth be told, Po Kong Village is as unfamiliar a name as a place abroad; located near diamond hill, it is a 10 minute walk from the MTR station uphill. This makes the center relatively inaccessible to those who are not living in the neighborhood. The facilities are relatively standard, squash courts, a gym room and a basketball court separated into badminton courts. Be warned however that the air con in the entire complex is pretty strong, after a long walk up from diamond hill station, it is most likely that you will be all sweaty. Do remember to dry yourself as soon as possible after going into the complex or you might risk catching a cold~

I love coming to the swimming pool at the SCAA on weekday mornings! It costs HK$28 per entry to the…read morepool, which is a little bit more than the public swimming pools, but it's worth it (this is an extra fee on top of the SCAA membership fee). The water is just so much cleaner than the Victoria Park swimming, the locker room is much bigger and less cramped. You do need to bring your own amenities: towel, shampoo/conditioner/soap, and a lock for the locker, but it's quite easy to manage. If you want to do lap swimming, there are specific lanes for it - look for "circle lap swimming" yellow signs.

I never realized the value of having a sports club sponsor a rugby team up until recently. I've…read moreplayed rugby for Causeway Bay and for many years all we had was a changing room and a couple of showers. Hong Kong Football Club has... Hong Kong Football club and a few other teams have their own fancy clubs. Some how we managed to get the SCAA on board and since then I've discovered things about the place I would have never imagined. It has a huge range of facilities, including bowling as well as the other more boring sports like badminton... or squash. There are also a couple of restaurants within the complex that cater to different preferences in terms of cuisine and cash flow. Most of the time I go there (with my team) to eat in their new Inside Out restaurant, a simple place that serves great burgers, lots of beer, and has one sports or another playing on big screens. It was obviously designed to support sports teams as it's partitioned off from the rest of the floor, which happens to be a DIY barbecue. It's certainly better off that way, for safety reasons, considering the amount of alcohol consumed during the meal. And there was me, walking by the place twice a week thinking why on earth would people want to join that place just for a driving ranger?! It turns out there is a lot more than meets the eye and still more for me to experience. It's a great place to go with a group of friends for a list of occasions - drinking games while golfing, a hardcore gym workout, or just a meal with the family, it's got it all.

Hong Kong has a sports center in each district & is a great place to play basket ball, badminton,…read morevolleyball, dodgeball, you name it. It's low cost but you need to book the courts in advance which goes quickly.

Given the ubiquity of private clubs in Hong Kong, it takes more than money and status to truly…read morestand out. Where the Aberdeen Marina Club (深灣遊艇會) does this by showcasing world class facilities, top dollar amenities, and the kind of waterfront living atmosphere that strikes the perfect balance between luxury and family-friend comfort. This is more than just a club, it's a destination. Since it's about 20 minutes away from the city, it feels like a world away from the hustle and bustle. There are lovely views of the Sham Wan waterfront and the neighborhood is riddled with international schools, luxury condos, and nice cars. English is widely spoken throughout the property and it's spacious in practically every direction. There are multiple restaurants on the premises, which starts with the Horizon (#1), a high end Cantonese establishment that might be their most legit option. The Deck is their international buffet option, with views from their terrace and plenty of variety. The Bar looks fancier than it is, but it is loaded with an international (#2) selection of whiskey. Thai food is at the heart of the Balcony, which is best enjoyed during their lunch menu hour. The Backroom is their version of an upscale but small'ish western lounge, with an emphasis on wine and a limited fine dining scene. Portside reminds me a little bit of Harbourside, with indoor and outdoor seating options and a buffet that focuses on western and eastern fare. There is the Marina Grill and Marina Deli, with the former offering seafood and upscale western, while the latter is more of a pastry station. Caffè Luna is their Italian option, which is bright and welcoming, and has Neapolitan style pizzas to offer. Their kids club is also so impressive that it reminds me of something one would find in a kid's museum. There are mini-versions of race cars, grocery shopping, construction, hospital, police cars, etc. and a whole dedicated space with limitless possibilities of a child's imagination. I've not seen a better space in Hong Kong, so this is one of their biggest amenities. All of the aforementioned things barely scratch the surface. There are events, swimming pools, yachting and boating opportunities, social gatherings + private events (a wedding here would be amazing), and corporate meetings. There are also a fitness centre, amski (#3), basketball courts, tennis and pickleball courts, and a number of classes for both adults and children. Elite private club memberships don't come cheap, as I'm told it's by invitation only. I would estimate based on secondary market prices (i.e. sold to others by current members) that it can be as high as several million HKD for annual dues. Elite private club membership is serious, so beware of the transfer fees. I would happily come back for any occasion. Whether it's lunch, a wedding, a tennis match, or just an opportunity to stare at the water, there is no occasion too unworthy to justify a visit. This place is outstanding. ____________ (#1) http://www.yelp.com/biz/IfYXK4cSkcMuY0ojFHig5g (#2) When in doubt, go Japanese. (#3) A skiing simulation (#4) Do not quote me.

The Aberdeen Marina Club is one of the more diversified "country club" types in HK. Compared to…read moreJockey Club, LRC, or American Club, it has significantly more facilities - basketball and badminton courts, ice rinks, kids' playgrounds, pools, its own harbor and more. They're all kept in pretty good condition and you can hardly tell that there's any wear and tear. Its restaurants range from an all you can eat buffet to some middling Thai food as well as a Chinese restaurant. The food is passable - solid, in other words. The service here is always great - sort of the silent, acquiescent type that doesn't ever get chatty. I'd prefer they spoke up more but I guess it's a policy here. Great for hosting gatherings and parties - if you book a private room they have karaoke! The fragrance in AMC is usually impeccable but I remember an occasion back in December where there was this pungent odor by the G/F elevators that just wouldn't go away. Overall, definitely recommend coming here either as a member or with a friend who is!

Being able to play outside is great but sometimes you'd want to switch the scene for some indoor…read morerecreational activities. It's fantastic that this nice sports facility exists on such a small island. Even though it doesn't offer a wide array of choices, I still appreciate all that it has available. You can play basketball, pingpong and badminton. They even have a little library in there for bibliophiles. I've only been here a couple of times. From what I've seen, the restrooms are clean and has decent ventilation. The rental equipment is also in good condition. Making reservations is easy but still subject to availability. The weekend rates are higher. Neat place all around.