UB Guesthouse

UB Guesthouse is a great place to stay, and a wonderful place to find drivers and groups with which to go into the Mongolian countryside, whether for a few days or a few weeks. Although caution should be exercised in the city, the Guesthouse is a safe and secure place to stay, and the staff are very attentive to guests' well-being and give advice on how to dress and act while outside. The owners, Bobby and Mr. Kim, are always around and willing to help with any questions guests might have. The Guesthouse will organize free transfers from the railway station and also offer a small free breakfast.

The Location

The Guesthouse is located quite close to Peace Avenue, the main street, and is close to grocery stores, souvenir and cashmere shops, Mongolian fast food outlets, and the central post office. It is located on a busy street, but the entrance is at the back of the building and faces onto a large courtyard with a playground surrounded by other apartment buildings. The hostel building is actually a Mongolian apartment block, and it is necessary to enter a security code in order to open the front door. The entrance is a little difficult to find if you are not familiar with the city, and it is best to take advantage of the free transfer service.

Rooms and Bathrooms

The hostel is very clean, and there are a number of bathrooms so it is not usually difficult to find one that is free. Every bathroom has a bath/shower, sink, and toilet. As is common in this part of the world, there are signs in the bathroom reminding guests to throw their toilet paper in a garbage bin rather than in the toilet, but when we were there, this was always kept clean and was not a issue. The dorm rooms do not have secure storage space, although it is possible to store luggage in a locked room closer to reception. The only problem with this hostel is that the beds and pillows are extremely hard, and therefore a little uncomfortable. It is also possible to have a private room which has a padlock on the door. The beds in the private room are simply bunk beds, but due to the padlock, they are much more secure.

Common Spaces

There is a small shared kitchen that can get quite crowded in the morning when the free breakfast is being served, but it has cooking facilities and a full-sized fridge, as well as free tea and coffee. The hostel also has a free computer with internet located in a room with a washer and dryer, and as there is only one computer, quite a line can form for this sometimes. The main common space is located near the entrance to the hostel and has two large couches, a television and DVDs and videocassettes. The television gets a number of English-language channels, including BBC and CNN. This room is a good place to meet people, as there is always someone coming in and out or sitting and watching television. The UB Guesthouse is not much of a party hostel, and seems to attract a more adventurous traveler who wants to travel outside of the city.

Summary

All in all, we think this hostel is great. The fact that the hostel organizes such a wide variety of tours into the Mongolian countryside is fantastic, and they are most definitely concerned with guests' safety. The location is central and the prices are good. The hostel is clean and well-run, and a great place to stay while in Ulaanbataar.

— Avis exclusif de Hostelz.com
August 2009