i am a mature [60+] female solo traveller and wanted a safe but inexpensive place to stay between excursions in mongolia. i chose zaya's because of other reviews on tripadvisor, but held out little hope it would live up to my expectations. i needn't have worried. zaya's is called a hostel, but it is really much more than that. not only does she have shared rooms and/or bathrooms, but she also has a few rooms that are ensuite and that you can have as a single - that is if you book far enough in advance. zaya's is just off Peace ave, the main thoroughfare, but because it is set back in a little alleyway you do not hear the traffic at all. practically anything worth seeing in ulaanbaatar is within walking distance. although a modest breakfast is included in the room price, there is also a dedicated kitchen facility for guests' use if they want to make something more or simply self cater. there is also a lounge complete with tv and wi-fi access for guests in addition to the computer that is at the guests disposal in the breakfast room. zaya, the proprietor, couldn't be more helpful. she can help with everything from taxis to tours and is a wealth of information about the city and the country. she is also a very intelligent and interesting, well-travelled person and fluent in english and in russian. an added plus is the interesting people you meet while there. many charities such as habitat for humanity and earthwatch use zaya's as a base and meeting point, as do solo travellers from all over europe, asia and america. i would recommend zaya's to anyone travelling to ulaanbaatar, but especially to solo travellers as i never for a moment felt unsafe, even in such a large city in a remote destination.

Zaya hostel (behind Peace Avenue) is a great place to stay. We are a couple, stayed 3 nights in september 2011. For $30 a night, we got a clean double bedroom. For $15 we were picked up from the airport. The hostel has a very friendly environment, pleasing and inviting decor and did i mention, its very clean! Zaya insists on leaving shoes at the door and wearing slippers that she provides through out the floor. Zaya also a 2 bedroom apartment on level 2 ( the main Zaya hostel is on level 3). We stayed in one of the bedrooms of this 2 bedroom apartment during one of the nights when all the rooms on level 3 was booked out. Its spanking new.
Free wifi and decent breakfast, i coudnt find a fault with this place.

We are travelling with our 2 year old son and this hostel was a great place to stay. People were very friendly and it really felt like a home away from home with the shared living room. The shared bathroom was great, it even had a jacuzzi tub in it! Enough room for kids to play when it is too cold outside.

This was my first solo trip and I was a little worried about safety. Zaya and her staff made me feel welcomed and safe. I had a private bedroom with a shared bathroom. They arranged for a driver to pick my up from the airport for $15. My room was $25 a night. There is also a phone avalible in the office to make local calls if you need to arrange a tour. There are lockers near the office avalible to lock your valuables during the day when you go out. The breakfast is toast, cereal, tea and coffee and always friendly. The hostel is located just off of Peace avenue, close to the State Department store and just a few blocks from the Square. If I come back to Ulaanbaatar I will come back to Zaya.