Flower Hotel Ulaanbaatar

I stayed two nights and had a small single room, but it had what I needed: modern AC, a minibar stocked at fair prices, a TV, and a luxurious shower. I only missed having a toilet brush, which seems to be more of a Western European thing. The building is several decades old and quite large, though it’s still in good condition throughout. The breakfast buffet was easily the best of the four Ulaanbaatar hotels I tried, all rated between three and five stars. There are restaurants serving different cuisines, a free hot bath, and a souvenir shop. I didn’t use those, but they all looked good. The hotel seems to cater especially to Japanese guests. The staff were kind and spoke English with me without any trouble. They let me check in early and kept my luggage after checkout. I don’t usually review a place this big, but I wanted to clear something up: I don’t agree with complaints that staff don’t speak perfect Japanese. You’re in Mongolia, so why travel abroad if you expect everything to be like home?

The breakfast has a nice range of choices and is pretty good. There’s also a sauna and a water bath, like you’d find at a Japanese hotel.

For travelers watching their budget, this is a good option. The accommodation is simple but comfortable, and it’s popular with Japanese visitors to Mongolia. The bathhouse and sauna, along with the restaurants and bar, make up for the lack of polish. Reservations can be a little awkward, especially by phone, since reception somehow never speaks English when we call. Email is the best way to reach them, though it can take a few days to hear back.

After staying at two other hotels in Choibalsan, we were relieved to get back here when we returned to UB. The restaurants are all really good. There’s an elevator, hot water, a tasty complimentary breakfast, and a Japanese spa. Security is solid too, and I felt safe there.