Beijing to Ulaanbaatar - options/info

Ruth:

Since I posted my earlier message, I contacted Visa to Russia and they told me that if I list hostels on their online application form, that is what they will list on the invitation as well. Also, I have heard that upon arrival in the Russian Federation, all foreigners must register their visa within 7 days. When I was there in 2002, I stayed at fancy hotels in both Moscow and St. Petersburg and so the hotel in Moscow took care of my visa registration. However, I am not sure if hostels provide this service or not. Is it possible to register the visa on my own either in St. Petersburg or Moscow? Is there a place to go to in either city to take care of the visa registration?

Thanks.

Registration is the responsibility of the host but hostels don't automatically do this. Ask visatorussia if they can arrange registration or ask the hostel at which you intend to stay. Check the prices.

Ruth

visatorussia said that the hostel is supposed to organize the visa registration, but they can assist if necessary. One question:

Do I need to go through a visa registration process in each city on my itinerary or is a one shot deal? In other words, as long as I don't violate the 30 day maximum stay rule, do I only have to go through the registration process once during my first 7 days or does it need to be done in each city that I visit on my itinerary?

Thanks.

Ruth:

With respect to the train from UB to Beijing, Selena Travel is quoting $220 for the deluxe 2 berth compartment while Zaya is quoting $180 - which includes her $20 booking fee. Do you know why there is a discrepancy in prices offered by these two agencies?

Ruth:

Actually, Ladysmith and I have communicated using PM regarding this very issue. I have informed her about the price discrepancy. With respect to what class of service they are referring to, I was very specific is saying that I wanted only 2 berth deluxe and the response I got from Zaya also used that term. As an FYI, I am copying the email I received from Zaya on this topic. As you can see, she uses the term "2 berth deluxe" and so I don't think there has been any miscommunication. See below (Zaya's email to me):

The price of deluxe berth for the train No 24,4,34 is 200700 tug rug for the Mongolgolian train and 217750tugrug for the Chinese train.

Hi Guys,

I know this varies from the direction the thread has headed, but i can report that my border crossing was a success thanks to jiejie's advice! (apologies for the late reply, i got distracted and went on a 13 day horse trek near lake khovsgol, a story for another time.)

In short everything jiejie wrote in post 1 was, spot on. prices about right depending on bargaining powers and there was a thursday evening train.

We thought all hope was lost as we headed to the airport because our flight had been delayed by close to two hours, we landed in erlian ~3pm. upon arrival we grabbed our bags, and where the first out of the airport in to a taxi. cost us 80 yuan to the border, got to the border ~3:30pm.

we jumped in a jeep for 60yuan per person for the border crossing, we were through the chinese customs very quickly, and allowed us to hope for the 5:30 train, but alas it took almost an hour for the jeep to clear the vehicle que. so it was almost 5pm by the time the jeep picked us up and we headed through no mans land. the mongolian crossing que wasn't too bad. we went in there with sharpened elbows but didn't really need to use them, maybe 10 minutes through the personnel que. (i got lucky as my visa had been issued incorrectly, the date of issue was also the date of expiry, i.e. the visa was valid for 0 days. The official had a bit of a chuckle, looked at my visa payment receipt, checked with her boss, once ok'd got the whiteout out and changed the dates and let me in without any hassle). Using the mongolian bank after the customs border crossing i was able to change yuan to torgrik at a very good rate (basically matched the rate i had saved in my xe.com iphone app)

on the mongolian side we waited another 20-30 minutes for the car to clear customs. Our driver tried to do a runner on us, but i saw him drive off, so we grabbed our bags and ran out the front gate to see him down the road just a bit talking to a friend, he seemed a little dismayed to see us again but drove us to the train station soon after.

we arrived at the station around 6:15pm, so in all the border had taken just over 3 hours. the train station que was very small, and again prepared for aggressive ques i just stood my ground and said what i wanted as soon as i got eye contact from the lady and promptly received our tickets for the 9:25pm train that evening. i think it was 34,000T per person for a hard sleeper. Train #43/44 does the zamyn-uud/UB route on thursdays. we arrived in UB ~8am.

we had some dinner in the aptly named "green pub" and a beer to celebrate our success. then picked up some very nice salami, bread and cheese from the mini supermarket before boarding the train.

on a side note, we both found the border crossing very funny, in some ways it represented a theme park a little more than a diplomatic process. from the fake dinosaurs on the chinese side, the body contorsions needed to fit in the jeep to get across the border (my door wouldn't shut, because there was no room for my legs in the car, and our bags were sat on the bonnet of the car) and then the bumper cars once in the jeep (in a rush to be at the front of the que of jeeps, our car hit three other cars, which had me a little worried for my legs hanging out the door that wouldn't close...)

Once again thanks jiejie, and if anyone has any questions or info i have missed feel free to ask.

Cheers,
Toby

My most enduring memory of this border crossing, has got to be the body contortions in the jeep! I was crammed into the front seat in pike position, one foot on the windshield and one leg/foot out the window, sprawled across sacks of millet. My traveling companion was behind me squashed between other sacks and the roof, in nearly prone position. :-D

If it's any consolation for those heading south into China, the jeeps mostly all come back from Mongolia empty.