Ulan-Ude has quite a few hotels, most of them are moderately priced ($5-$50 per night), and quite clean.
Hotel “Geser”: Soviet style ugly building turned out to have nice and cozy interior and furthermore friendly English speaking staff. The 64 rooms equipped with phones, fridges and TV sets.
Double: 140 US$, double with renewed furniture for 46 US$. Single: 30 US$.
They have souvenir shop in the lobby and provide Internet connection. However it is just one computer with bad old monitor for 2 US$ per hour of the connection. Thisc computer can be used from 8.00-17.00, mon to fri.
Address: Ranjurova ul., 11. Tel.: +7 3012 211178, 215383, 216151 (fax), http://www.geser.burnet.ru, e-mail: Hotel_geser@mail.ru
Hotel Buryatia: The largest hotel in the city with not so good staff. There are café, restaurant, the air tickets office and a bank where you can get cash from your credit cards. There is also an ATM machine.
Double – 18$, Single 12$ or 14$ (depends on the floor). Fridge and TV set can be found in every room. The hotel is not clean. The elevators are crappy and seem to be dangerous. The rooms are ok, but smells and the bathrooms need to be renewed. There are many offices in the down floors, so it can be a bit insecure – too many people coming.
Address: Kommunistisheskaya ul., 47a. Tel.: (3012) 31-18-35, Fax: 21-15-05, e-mail: hotel@burnet.ru
Hotel Odon: The most budget hotel in Ulan-Ude, popular among Chinese dealers. Double: $15 US, single: $10 US. The rooms are dusty and not clean, but if you take the most expensive double (about $25 per night), it will be relatively clean.
Address: Gagarina str., 43 (opposite to the railway staiton, 5 minute walk) Tel.: (3012) 44-34-80
Ivolginsky Datsan Hotel: Ivolginsky Buddhist Datsan is the main religious landmark in the region. It is located about 30 minutes from Ulan-Ude. There's a small hotel for travelers (even Dalai Lama stayed there a few years ago). The rooms are very modest, toilets are outside, it is a bit dusty inside, but it may be ok to stay there for 1 night, especially that the price is only $5 per night.
To get there: from the bus station in Ulan-Ude there are buses at 10.00, 12.00, 17.40. It will take you about 40 minutes to get there and will cost 2 US$.
To get back: shuttles leave at 8.00 from the entrance to the monastery. Bus pass at 9.00 and there are shuttles every hour till the evening.
