Zaya 1 Guesthouse
Peace Avenue, Building 63, #12, Ulaanbaatar Mongolia
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Avg. RM 159 /night, 3/23 - 3/24
RM 181
per night
RM 148
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RM 115
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About
#1 of 23 guest houses in Ulaanbaatar
Location
Rooms
Value
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Welcome to our Zaya 1 location. This is our original Zaya guesthouse that started it all in 1995. We renovated the entire property in 2015 to make our guests' stay a comfortable and enjoyable. Our housekeeper is at the property 24 hours a day and we serve breakfast from 07:00 to 09:30. We have a travel desk that provides assistance with organizing tours and transportation tickets including airfares, train, and bus tickets. We also provide visa assistance to Mongolia.
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Property amenities
Free parking
Free High Speed Internet (WiFi)
Free breakfast
Highchairs available
Pets Allowed ( Dog / Pet Friendly )
Airport transportation
Baggage storage
Currency exchange
Electric vehicle charging station
Street parking
Wifi
Vending machine
Car hire
Mosquito net
Newspaper
Non-smoking hotel
Shared bathroom
Shared kitchen
Shared lounge / TV area
Sun terrace
24-hour front desk
Laundry service
Room features
Desk
Safe
Seating area
Telephone
Clothes rack
Coffee / tea maker
Kitchenette
Hair dryer
Iron
Microwave
Minibar
Room types
Non-smoking rooms
Family rooms
Good to know
HOTEL STYLE
Modern
Business
Location
Peace Avenue, Building 63, #12, Ulaanbaatar Mongolia
Getting there
Good for walkers
Places to stay are graded on a 0-100 scale. The higher the grade, the easier it is for travellers to find restaurants and things to do within walking distance.
Grade: 86 out of 100
86
Buyant Uhaa Airport
13 km•
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Buyant Ukhaa International Airport
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46 Restaurants
within 0.5 kilometers
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Detailed Reviews
This guesthouse in central Ulaanbaatar is cheap and good value for money. It is functional with shared bathroom/toilet and hot water in the showers. No breakfast is offered but there are kitchen facilities. I stayed there a few days which entitled me to a free laundry service. Wi-fi worked. I would return.
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Date of stay: August 2024Trip type: Travelled solo
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Stayed at Zaya Hostel for 3 weeks in late February 2011 in a double room. We arrived in Mongolia by train at 6am and the hostels driver was there to pick us up (just as well as it was -27c!). We were invited in and there was no problem with us checking in early (in Russia we had arrived at a similar time and were made to wait until 2pm to check in even after begging and offering more money!), we were even given a free breakfast. It is a complex of rooms with a communal space and kitchen and feels more like an apartment than a hostel. Zaya is very friendly and is only to quick to sort out any issues you have (she frequently made telephone calls for us and spoke in Mongolian including when we went skiing). She also likes to have long conversations over breakfast which are an interesting insight into Mongolian life and the changes the country has undergone in the last 20 years in particular. I saw her deal with a difficalt guest while I was there and she was very fair and polite. It is no longer her daughters working there as the guidebooks state but she seems to have a knack for picking very friendly staff as there was a changeover while we stayed there and someone new started (who I witnessed giving free Mongolian lessons to another guest!). There are some good books on the bookswap shelf and Zaya has guidebooks in her office which she let us borrow and take out during our stay.
The only downsides for us was that the internet was awful and hardly ever worked (they need to sort this out), also there were no other tourists at all staying there, just expats and business people as it was Winter. Also, our first room was supposed to be a double however it was a twin with the beds pushed together and a sheet (pet hate!), however when we asked to be put in a proper double room after our tour they obliged. When we left at 6am Zaya insisted that we would still have breakfast and made sure that there was a special setup in the other kitchen ready for us when we got up even though it is not normally served until 8am. Also, we frequently fell behind paying for the room however she obviously trusts her guests. These touches make it very relaxing to stay there, I recommend this Hostel.
Finally, the chain restaurant/pub in the ground floor 'Tse' is really really nice and thoroughly recommended for an authentic modern-Mongolian place to get some decent food and drink (cheapest we found in Ulaanbaatar).
The only downsides for us was that the internet was awful and hardly ever worked (they need to sort this out), also there were no other tourists at all staying there, just expats and business people as it was Winter. Also, our first room was supposed to be a double however it was a twin with the beds pushed together and a sheet (pet hate!), however when we asked to be put in a proper double room after our tour they obliged. When we left at 6am Zaya insisted that we would still have breakfast and made sure that there was a special setup in the other kitchen ready for us when we got up even though it is not normally served until 8am. Also, we frequently fell behind paying for the room however she obviously trusts her guests. These touches make it very relaxing to stay there, I recommend this Hostel.
Finally, the chain restaurant/pub in the ground floor 'Tse' is really really nice and thoroughly recommended for an authentic modern-Mongolian place to get some decent food and drink (cheapest we found in Ulaanbaatar).
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Date of stay: February 2011Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Value
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Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
+1
I stayed with Zaya for four nights interspersed between two day trips to Kharkhorin and Amarbayasgalant. Zaya was incredibly hospitable and allowed me to stay for single nights in between my adventures outside of the city. I stayed in the single room with its own bathroom, so I can't speak for the quality of the group bathrooms, but everything in my room was exceptional. Hot water was plentiful, which I especially appreciated after coming back from staying in yurt camps without hot water showers. The bed was a little hard, but such is to be expected when traveling in certain parts of the world.
I arrived from Seoul and was met at the airport by a friendly driver who made for an interesting conversation partner, as I spoke approximately three Mongolian phrases. He dropped me off at Zaya Guest House (#2, I hear #1 is not quite as nice as #2) and I was greeted by Zaya who taught me the ins and outs of exploring Ulaanbaatar. She was very friendly.
Overall, my experience was amazing. The guest house is within walking distance from Gandan Monastery, the State Dept. Store, Sukhanbaatar Square, the main museums, and Naran Tuul Market, if you're up for a 45 minute walk or so (bring a face mask! Pollution in UB is ubiquitous). Zaya discouraged me from going to Naran Tuul, but really there's nothing to worry about if you're used to traveling in developing nations where petty crime on tourists is commonplace.
I also never had a single problem with the wireless internet, as some of the reviews talk about having connectivity issues.
Go to Mongolia, and stay at Zaya's when in UB. Just be sure to expect to get what you pay for. This is by no means a four star hotel, but amazing quality and cleanliness for $30 per night for a private room with your own bathroom.
I arrived from Seoul and was met at the airport by a friendly driver who made for an interesting conversation partner, as I spoke approximately three Mongolian phrases. He dropped me off at Zaya Guest House (#2, I hear #1 is not quite as nice as #2) and I was greeted by Zaya who taught me the ins and outs of exploring Ulaanbaatar. She was very friendly.
Overall, my experience was amazing. The guest house is within walking distance from Gandan Monastery, the State Dept. Store, Sukhanbaatar Square, the main museums, and Naran Tuul Market, if you're up for a 45 minute walk or so (bring a face mask! Pollution in UB is ubiquitous). Zaya discouraged me from going to Naran Tuul, but really there's nothing to worry about if you're used to traveling in developing nations where petty crime on tourists is commonplace.
I also never had a single problem with the wireless internet, as some of the reviews talk about having connectivity issues.
Go to Mongolia, and stay at Zaya's when in UB. Just be sure to expect to get what you pay for. This is by no means a four star hotel, but amazing quality and cleanliness for $30 per night for a private room with your own bathroom.
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Date of stay: September 2011Trip type: Travelled solo
Value
Rooms
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Room Tip: Ask to stay at Zaya Guest House #2, and get hired pickup from the airport, as the B&B is...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I stayed here for 2 weeks with a Habitat for Humanity team building homes in UB. Zaya accomodated our group nicely. Everyone working there is very friendly. We had breakfast prepared early for us every day, and there is common space for group chats.
American tourists/visitors do need to be aware of a few things. This is a hostel, not a hotel. So that means shared bathrooms. In Mongolia, paper products are pricey/scarce. I highly recommend bringing your own toilet paper as sometimes it would be gone by the middle of the night when the office is closed.
Also, to keep things clean (and the workers are cleaning all the time, they do a great job!!) you can't wear your shoes around the hostel. So you can either wear your socks, wear the public shoes they provide, or bring your own "inside only" shoes.
Internet service is hit or miss, so the public computer is nice when it's working, but that's not all the time.
The beds in Mongolia are not cushy American beds. You may want to run down to the Black Market or the State Dept store and buy an inflatable air mattress to put on your bed. A few of us did that and it made ALL the difference.
Zaya is PERFECTLY located. Close to everything, but back off the street so it's not loud and fumey from the street. This is a good choice, but book early. I think we were full every night we were there!
American tourists/visitors do need to be aware of a few things. This is a hostel, not a hotel. So that means shared bathrooms. In Mongolia, paper products are pricey/scarce. I highly recommend bringing your own toilet paper as sometimes it would be gone by the middle of the night when the office is closed.
Also, to keep things clean (and the workers are cleaning all the time, they do a great job!!) you can't wear your shoes around the hostel. So you can either wear your socks, wear the public shoes they provide, or bring your own "inside only" shoes.
Internet service is hit or miss, so the public computer is nice when it's working, but that's not all the time.
The beds in Mongolia are not cushy American beds. You may want to run down to the Black Market or the State Dept store and buy an inflatable air mattress to put on your bed. A few of us did that and it made ALL the difference.
Zaya is PERFECTLY located. Close to everything, but back off the street so it's not loud and fumey from the street. This is a good choice, but book early. I think we were full every night we were there!
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Date of stay: August 2011Trip type: Travelled with friends
Value
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We stayed at Zaya guesthouse for 10 nights and I would say it helped me to enjoy the experience to the fullest. The staffs are very helpful and the rooms were super clean. I had a trouble with my travel company (I will not say the name), so I asked the owners for help. Not only the guesthouse is amazing, they also arrange one day trips and experiences. I thought this trip would be the worst ever in my life after the situation, but this place rescued it. I can't find the one day trips and travels arranged by Zaya, but they said they will post those soon. I will rate the trips 5 star too. I highly recommend this place to those who wants experience Mongolia to the fullest. And I will definitely come back again.
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Date of stay: July 2019Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Had a wonderful stay at both Zaya 1 and 2. Family run business that goes beyond your expectations. Everything was extremely clean and newly renovated. Amar and Anand are very helpful and will help with all your needs in Mongolia. We went on a tour with them and it was cheap an well organized. We did some price comparison with tour operator and Zaya's was much cheaper. They even got our train tickets. We met other travelers during our stay there which was quite nice to share our experiences. Be sure to book early they seem to stay fully booked.
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Date of stay: September 2014Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Value
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Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Would definitely recommend this place! After staying at a hotel (cold and twice as expensive) and seeing other "guesthouses" in UB, Zaya's felt like an oasis of peace and a home away from home during my stops in between UB and the countryside. The owner speaks English fluently, is kind, and is very helpful with Mongolia's sometimes challenging logistics. The place is CLEAN (remove your shoes at the door kind of clean) with nice bathrooms.There is a good breakfast included, and a shared kitchen for doing meals on your own. The general vibe from staff and guests was friendly, respectful, and quiet. It was a great place to connect with other travelers and share experiences and information. If I ever go back to Mongolia, Zaya's is where I would stay.
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Date of stay: September 2013Trip type: Travelled solo
Value
Rooms
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Full declaration at the outset: I haven't stayed in this place. In spite of paying for one night. That's because I fled into the night within a minute and would in fact have gladly paid another twenty dollars for a get out clause if need be. Filthy is not the word to adequately describe the dark dingy and damp room I was shown into across a smelly corridor leading into the stench awaiting me in it. Likewise with the shared bathroom next door. The ultimate insult to injury being the request to remove my shoes, ostensibly for cleanliness. Make no mistake: this is no guesthouse, simply a couple of apartments knocked together in a squalid building leaving a lot to be desired in terms of aesthetic and surroundings. My jaw dropped when I saw it is rated highest among all UB establishments on this website, proof that sometimes, just sometimes, you can fool all of the people all of the time.
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Date of stay: September 2011Trip type: Travelled solo
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
My stay was in August of 2011. I was with an Earthwatch group, and we spent time at Zaya's at the beginning and end of our trip. It was a remarkably pleasant place, with a friendly, outgoing owner, a kind and helpful staff, as well as comfortable rooms. Nothing not to like about the place. I suspect very interesting people are always to be found there, amid an atmosphere that is conducive to conversation.
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Date of stay: August 2011Trip type: Travelled on business
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
My 18yo daughter and I didn't want to go on organized tours and Anand helped us get English speaking drivers who organized activities and accommodation on arrival and then dropped us off to have our own adventure! My daughter was a vegan providing an extra challenge but the drivers organized vegans friendly meals for her with our ger host and hostess each time. While in Ulaanbaatar we had a great home base at Zaya that was close to everything (even two vegan restaurants). I would recommend this hostel to anyone coming to UB.
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Date of stay: June 2018Trip type: Travelled with family
Location
Cleanliness
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I agree with Sally. Zaya's sent a driver to fetch me from the airport at 2AM and charged me $15, payable to Zaya's in either US dollars or (should you have them) MNT tugrugs. They're great to work with; just email them and it will happen. You don't need to worry about getting a taxi yourself at that hour.
I was with EW in June (2015) on the archaeology project. Tell them hello from Leigh.
テレルジ国立公園へはウランバートル市街から１泊２日の旅行会社催行のツアー参加がベストだと思います。
On the 3rd floor there are several large, clean bathrooms so sharing wasn't a problem, but there were no ensuite bedrooms. They also have a 2nd floor apartment and there is one ensuite room which I would presume you can request. Please email Zaya's to confirm all this info.
"Comparing rooms: the triple was quite small with a good bathroom nearby. However I really preferred the single with private bath."Read full review
"we had the room with it's own bathroom the first stay. but had the share bathroom on return. everything was kept clean."Read full review
PRICE RANGE
RM 115 - RM 204 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
LOCATION
MongoliaUlaanbaatar
NUMBER OF ROOMS
6
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
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Claim Your ListingZAYA 1 GUESTHOUSE: UPDATED 2024 B&B Reviews, Price Comparison and 29 Photos (Mongolia/Ulaanbaatar) - Tripadvisor
Frequently Asked Questions about Zaya 1 Guesthouse
Which popular attractions are close to Zaya 1 Guesthouse?
Nearby attractions include Mary & Martha Mongolia (0.5 km), The State Department Store (0.2 km), and Ulaanbaatar Department Store (0.2 km).
What are some of the property amenities at Zaya 1 Guesthouse?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include free wifi, free breakfast, and free parking.
Which room amenities are available at Zaya 1 Guesthouse?
Top room amenities include a kitchenette, a minibar, and a desk.
What food & drink options are available at Zaya 1 Guesthouse?
Guests can enjoy free breakfast during their stay.
Is parking available at Zaya 1 Guesthouse?
Yes, free parking and street parking are available to guests.
What are some restaurants close to Zaya 1 Guesthouse?
Conveniently located restaurants include Rosewood Kitchen + Enoteca, Caffe Ti-amo, and Sakura Bakery.
Does Zaya 1 Guesthouse have airport transportation?
Yes, Zaya 1 Guesthouse offers airport transportation for guests. We recommend calling ahead to confirm details.
Are pets allowed at Zaya 1 Guesthouse?
Yes, pets are typically allowed, but it's always best to call ahead to confirm.
Are there any historical sites close to Zaya 1 Guesthouse?
Many travellers enjoy visiting Gandantegchenling Monastery (1.0 km) and The Project for Rehabilitation of Railway Facilities (2.4 km).