Given your last statement, my response is moot. But, incase others are interested, a limiting factor is rental cars are especially expensive. The lowest I found was $140/day + extras. That will add up quickly. I chose a Princess Connoisseur Escorted tour. Which includes hotel, transportation, many meals, and a Guide. Doing a tour on your own is fine, but then you are in charge of getting hotel reservations, and driving the long distances between the various cities. Yes, you get to choose where you go, which is an advantage. For me, never having been in Alaska before, I wanted someone else in charge. I may make a different choice on my next trip. YMMV