- Mongols like foreigner visitors and travelers, but people there are generally poor, especially in comparison with Westerners. Visitors should try to understand this from their perspective and avoid being perceived as “cheap” or ungenerous.
- For $15-$20/day one can stay in a guesthouse – with a hot shower, laundry and internet services, and access to experienced tour guides -- or at least references to tour guide agencies. They usually serve free breakfast.
- Travelers also need to be wary of thieves – and they are everywhere in the city (Ulaanbaatar), especially at the “Black Market/Naran Tuul” market. Keep your wallet in your front pocket or somewhere not easily accessible, because as stated above, there’s lots of pushing, shoving, bumping, sitting on people in public transport etc – and thieves have mastered the art of pick-pocketing, especially the small homeless children.
- There are special “non-Mongol” prices for things – it’s a simple fact of life there. But as these are clearly artificially inflated, bargaining is also a very acceptable way to procure anything you’d like; and if the salesperson on your left won’t budge, the one on your right will.
- Travelers need to keep in mind that is NOT , and ought to remember this when addressing Mongols. Knowledge of Mandarin will not be useful, and use of this language will not be understood or much appreciated.
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