Pre-cruise Anchorage hotel recos.

[Elvis101]

Hello!

I'm looking for reasonably priced, clean downtown Anchorage hotel recommendations. We are arriving in Anchorage a day ahead of our scheduled departure, and would like our group to have the chance to visit the downtown area. So many of the major hotel chains raise their prices in summer to outrageous rates, so we're looking for alternatives (preferably with airport shuttle service). Thanks!

[MeAgain2222]

I don't know if there IS such a thing as a reasonably priced hotel in Anchorage during the summer, lol. I searched online, checking out reviews, etc for a month or so and still never found any deals. We're ending our cruise in Whittier/Anchorage and are staying an extra day to see the area. We ended up booking a B&B in the area. It was given great reviews, priced lower than the hotels, and it includes a nice breakfast. You might want to check into this type of option. I believe a taxi fare will not be too expensive, or look into renting a car to see the sights and just drive it back to the airport when you leave.

[mrell345]

We booked the Copper whale inn, it has good reviews and much cheaper than the hotel rates offered by the cruise lines.

Also if you mention that you read about them in Fodors and ask for the Honorary alaskan rate for may and june you get a discount.
Hope I don't get in trouble for mentioning Fodor's, but 20 per cent is a nice discount.

[frugaltravel]

Originally Posted by Elvis101

I'm looking for reasonably priced, clean downtown Anchorage hotel recommendations.

Without a dollar amount of what you consider "reasonably priced" it is very hard to help. Reasonably priced might be $50 for one person and $200 for another.

[Eppiela]

We're first timers, and we've booked at the Bent Prop Inn & Hostel Downtown at 820 W. 7th Avenue. It's more or less a hostel, and might turn out to be an adventure...but it has new ownership within the last year or two (you can read the differences in ownership on travel advisor, and should be good enough for us. It sounds clean, so what more do we need?

Our private room will cost $65.

A lot of foreign travelers/hikers stay here.

The best part is that it is literally next door to the Marriott, which is where we will be staying the next night as part of our cruisetour. We will just walk right over.

There isn't any shuttle service, so we will have to pay for a taxi.

[AKman2495]

Originally Posted by mrell345

We booked the Copper whale inn, it has good reviews and much cheaper than the hotel rates offered by the cruise lines.

Also if you mention that you read about them in Fodors and ask for the Honorary alaskan rate for may and june you get a discount.
Hope I don't get in trouble for mentioning Fodor's, but 20 per cent is a nice discount.

Ah yes! the Copper Whale Inn! I remember when that placed opened. I used to have an office about 50 feet from there-in the same building as one of the best restaurants in Anchorage-Simon & Seaforts.

I've never been inside, but I have seen the evolution of the exterior over the years.....

[frugaltravel]

Originally Posted by Eppiela

We're first timers, and we've booked at the Bent Prop Inn & Hostel Downtown at 820 W. 7th Avenue. It's more or less a hostel, and might turn out to be an adventure...but it has new ownership within the last year or two (you can read the differences in ownership on travel advisor, and should be good enough for us. It sounds clean, so what more do we need?

I sure hope you weren't duped by all those reviews on Trip Advisor. Many, many reviews from people who only have 1 review (for that property) and who joined the same month they reviewed the property. Many in the off-season when tourism is slow. Regulars and Destination Experts on TA call these people "one post wonders." So many red flags for this kind of "stacking the deck" and obviously planted reviews that it is not funny. But TA is a for-profit business and the more "reviews" it can say it has, the more advertising dollars it can command. Tell me how so many people just "happen" to find TA, "happen" to find the reviews, "happen" to find the reviews for this property and "happen" to decide to review only this property, even though several talk about extensive trips (obviously meaning they have stayed in other places in other cities). Total fraud. Quite sad, but so true.

[huskerdan25]

You might want to consider some of the excellent bed and breakfasts in and around Anchorage. We have a suite at the Alaska House of Jade for $150 a night. That is about half of the cost of many of the top hotels in Anchorage. I know B&B's aren't for everyone but my wife and I love them and feel they are a great bargain and more like a home away from home experience. Whenever we travel to any city, we always research the B&Bs.

[Glaciers]

This site is the Anchorage Bed & Breakfast Association and includes most of the Bed & Breakfast options in Anchorage.
http://www.anchorage-bnb.com/

[mapleleaves]

I haven't stayed in a hotel in Anchorage but my friends stayed at Susitna Place B&B 2 yrs ago, and Oscar Gill last yr. Enjoyed both!
As for utilizing TA for hotels and B&B's, I read the reviews (ignore ones if the person hasn't written several others), then I look at the location on the map. If I'm interested, I use the SEARCH IN feature just above the threads. This will bring up first hand accounts from people who have stayed there and maybe mentioned the hotel in a trip report, or perhaps someone has asked about the hotel and others responded. These are more reliable since they aren't staged like the reviews can be.
So if you want to read comments about Oscar Gill, go to the Alaska forum and type "oscar gill" in the empty box next to Search In. You must use the quotation marks. It's a great way to read about vendors as well!

[Great Sky Girl]

We also stayed at the House of Jade. My husband doesn't particularly like B&Bs, but each room had their own bath. We were absolutely delighted! Not only had a wonderful breakfast, but met some great travelers and had good conversations. The room we stayed in was spacious and very comfortable. The host and hostess were so nice! They were trying to sell it as they had done it for so many years. Do not know if that happened or not.

[frugaltravel]

Originally Posted by mapleleaves

As for utilizing TA for hotels and B&B's, I read the reviews (ignore ones if the person hasn't written several others), then I look at the location on the map. If I'm interested, I use the SEARCH IN feature just above the threads. This will bring up first hand accounts from people who have stayed there and maybe mentioned the hotel in a trip report, or perhaps someone has asked about the hotel and others responded. These are more reliable since they aren't staged like the reviews can be.
So if you want to read comments about Oscar Gill, go to the Alaska forum and type "oscar gill" in the empty box next to Search In. You must use the quotation marks. It's a great way to read about vendors as well!

You are a very wise person but unfortunately most travelers using TA don't have a clue. That is why TA reviews can be so deceiving.

[Ashland]

Sooo...Will someone answer this question

[bearbait]

Inlet Inn Motel, 539 H Street. Downtown Anchorage. Cheap, but not clean. See and experience a side of Anchorage that most tourists would rather not know about......

[huskerdan25]

Originally Posted by Ashland

Sooo...Will someone answer this question

The question WAS answered. I recommended looking at B&Bs as a lower cost option to the more expensive hotels.

The House of Jade does offer transfers from to/from the airport as well as the train depot. We are being picked up from the airport upon arrival and being taken to the train depot the next morning for our trip to Whittier. They do charge for this service.

[mapleleaves]

Originally Posted by Ashland

Sooo...Will someone answer this question

If you don't like the answers feel free to do your own research. There are plenty of on-line resources and travel books to use.

[MSMcDuffy]

We will be staying here - it has a complimentary shuttle to the airport & train station (though the train station is only a few blocks away) -
http://www.alaskaramada.com/

Trip Advisor reviews:
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Rev...ge_Alaska.html

[Ashland]

Originally Posted by mapleleaves

If you don't like the answers feel free to do your own research. There are plenty of on-line resources and travel books to use.

YIKES..No need to be so harsh ..Didn't say I didn't "like" the answers..was just hoping for more suggestions...Isn't that what this board is for

[GweninTX]

We stayed in downtown Anchorage the night before our train trip left for Seward. I highly recommend the Anchorage Grand hotel! It is very close to the train station - you walk right down hill about a block - we rolled our luggage - no problem. we had a queen suite and the 4 of us slept well! Nice continental breakfast that we took on the train and ate instead of the overpriced meals that were offered on the train! Coffee maker in the room and we filled our mugs up and took those with us! good prices - very clean and if there are 4 of you - the Queen suite has 2 separate bedrooms and we saved a bundle sharing a room with my sis and her husband! I did a LOT of research and I do not think you will go wrong with this hotel!

[Ashland]

Originally Posted by GweninTX

We stayed in downtown Anchorage the night before our train trip left for Seward. I highly recommend the Anchorage Grand hotel! It is very close to the train station - you walk right down hill about a block - we rolled our luggage - no problem. we had a queen suite and the 4 of us slept well! Nice continental breakfast that we took on the train and ate instead of the overpriced meals that were offered on the train! Coffee maker in the room and we filled our mugs up and took those with us! good prices - very clean and if there are 4 of you - the Queen suite has 2 separate bedrooms and we saved a bundle sharing a room with my sis and her husband! I did a LOT of research and I do not think you will go wrong with this hotel!

Thanks for your answer..We are looking for suggestions like this hotel for our post cruise stay in May 2013..How far from the airport and is there a shuttle or do you suggest a taxi ?..Any one have any other hotels, prefer 4-5 star (not a B&B please)..Thanks so much..sorry if some (mapleleaves) feel I've hijacked this thread and am not doing my own online search or using travel books