fti Posted September 30, 2006 #1 Share Posted September 30, 2006 I was looking on Hotwire for rates for next summer in Anchorage. Something caught my eye as I began typing in random dates. Hotwire is offering what they consider a 2-1/2* hotel (often a 2* by other standards) in central Anchorage (mapped according to their diagram online) for $50 + taxes and their fee for a total of $63.33 (multiple nights incur slightly less in taxes/fees). This hotel has amenities of being a suite, having airport shuttle, a pool, business center, laundry facilities, high speed internet access (not necessarily for free) and a kitchenette. It is hard to tell which hotel this is, but my guess is that it might be the Homewood Suites. I can not find any other hotel with all those features. Extended Stay has many of them, but no airport shuttle to my knowledge. Anyone need a hotel and is willing to grab this deal? I won't know for sure if I will need a hotel for my friend until next week. But I think I would try this if I need it. I already have another hotel booked for one night the following week so the only night I might need another hotel is July 1. I checked quite a few dates in June, July and August and they all seem to be available for this rate. For those not familiar with hotwire, you enter your location and dates, and hotwire comes back with various hotels with various amenities, locations in the city and the price. But you don't know the name of the actual hotel you will stay in until you give them your credit card number and pay. Once you pay, no refunds and no changes for any reason. John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alaswhales Posted September 30, 2006 #2 Share Posted September 30, 2006 We stayed in the Creekside Comfort Inn in downtown Anchorage and it had all of that. Our price per night there was $140 with AAA discount. It could be that hotel they are offering. It was great, in a great location, great staff, everything. Was very clean. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fti Posted September 30, 2006 Author #3 Share Posted September 30, 2006 Does the Comfort Inn have suites? If so, then this is a good possibility. Another one is the Clarion Suites. In any case, it seems like a great deal to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alaswhales Posted September 30, 2006 #4 Share Posted September 30, 2006 I thought they did, but we just had a verylarge room with 2 queen size beds, TV, VCR, microwave, refridgerator.....not actual kitchenette, since no plates and stuff that I recall. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alaswhales Posted September 30, 2006 #5 Share Posted September 30, 2006 Anchorage IS a pretty large area though. I would type in downtown, rather than just Anchorage if possible. Totally depends on what you want to do there and if you are going to have a car. Do you have any idea what you may want to do while there, and how long will you be there? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fti Posted September 30, 2006 Author #6 Share Posted September 30, 2006 Anchorage IS a pretty large area though. I would type in downtown, rather than just Anchorage if possible. Totally depends on what you want to do there and if you are going to have a car. Do you have any idea what you may want to do while there, and how long will you be there? Hotwire divides Anchorage into three zones - airport, south and "Anchorage." The $50 hotel is in the "Anchorage" zone. I might need a room for a friend arriving on July 1 just to sleep and wait for me to arrive on July 2. He will be dead tired after traveling 35 hours from S. Africa. But it won't be certain until Monday or Tuesday if he is coming. Airport transportation is the key. But just in the past couple of hours, I've been thinking about it for myself too. I have a 7 hour layover in Anchorage on my way back to Minneapolis on July 12. It might be nice to have a place to hang out, repack, shower, use the internet, etc. I might bite the bullet today shortly after comparing some options. Airport transportation would also be a key in this case since I don't want to rent a car just to get to the hotel and back. I am guessing that it is the Clarion Suites. After you mentioned Comfort Inn, I realized there is a Clarion Suites in Anchorage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wolfie11 Posted September 30, 2006 #7 Share Posted September 30, 2006 I wouldn't bet on the Clarion. More likely it is something like the Long House or some other slightly sleazy place in the midtown area. You might book for one night and see which hotel and then extend your stay or book more nights. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fti Posted September 30, 2006 Author #8 Share Posted September 30, 2006 Thanks for your warning wolfie11. I use priceline a lot so am pretty comfortable with what comes up on that and with the "unknown" factor. After checking if I could again avail myself of any best rate guarantees (unfortunately no), I booked it for July 12. $63 all-in is a great rate for my 7 hours to shower (after being in Katmai NP for 3 nights), repacking, using the internet and the pool. And the winner is.... Extended Stay Deluxe in downtown Anchorage. I am very pleased. They have airport transportation 6am till 11pm which is perfect for me. The rate they charge for booking on their website is over $200/night!! Note that there is this hotel then also the Extended Stay Deluxe Midtown further south. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alaswhales Posted September 30, 2006 #9 Share Posted September 30, 2006 Is the one you are staying on on 34th or 8th street?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NancyIL Posted September 30, 2006 #10 Share Posted September 30, 2006 Thanks for your warning wolfie11. I use priceline a lot so am pretty comfortable with what comes up on that and with the "unknown" factor. After checking if I could again avail myself of any best rate guarantees (unfortunately no), I booked it for July 12. $63 all-in is a great rate for my 7 hours to shower (after being in Katmai NP for 3 nights), repacking, using the internet and the pool. And the winner is.... Extended Stay Deluxe in downtown Anchorage. I am very pleased. They have airport transportation 6am till 11pm which is perfect for me. The rate they charge for booking on their website is over $200/night!! Note that there is this hotel then also the Extended Stay Deluxe Midtown further south. Congrats, John! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fti Posted September 30, 2006 Author #11 Share Posted September 30, 2006 Congrats, John! Thanks, NancyIL. I did a bit more research and this used to be called the Aspen Hotel. Mixed reviews but most negatives pertain to no daily housekeeping. I won't even be there for 1 night:) so that won't bother me. NancyIL, my niece can't come with me next year but a friend from S. Africa is seriously considering it. I would book this hotel for him for July 1 if he comes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fti Posted September 30, 2006 Author #12 Share Posted September 30, 2006 Is the one you are staying on on 34th or 8th street?? This is the one on 8th Avenue. The one on 34th is the Midtown one further south that I mentioned. Are you familiar with it? Used to be called the Aspen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alaswhales Posted September 30, 2006 #13 Share Posted September 30, 2006 NO, I don't know anything about it. I was just trying to figure out how close to things you will be. Most of the things to do in downtown area (shopping, museum, outdoor market, etc) is on and around 3rd and 4th street. So you will be close. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fti Posted September 30, 2006 Author #14 Share Posted September 30, 2006 NO, I don't know anything about it. I was just trying to figure out how close to things you will be. Most of the things to do in downtown area (shopping, museum, outdoor market, etc) is on and around 3rd and 4th street. So you will be close. For this stay, I won't even be there 5 hours though it is pretty close to downtown. I just needed a place to clean up after 3 nights camping in Katmai NP, repack, use internet and this fits the bill perfectly. If I have time I might visit Ship Creek. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alaswhales Posted September 30, 2006 #15 Share Posted September 30, 2006 Yeah, that is pretty cool to see. With our hotel directly in front of it, we walked to it several times. We got to watch them pulling the huge salmons out and running them to get measured for the Salmon Derby going on while we were there. We got to witness a guy coming in 3rd place (at that time) with his 38 pounder. It is also fun to watch how fast the water rises and falls. Did you know that Alaska is in the top 3 places that the tide rises and falls so quickly and so much. We saw men in the water fishing up to their waists in water and 5- 10 minutes later, it was down to their ankles. I have some pictures of that if you would like to see. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fti Posted October 8, 2006 Author #16 Share Posted October 8, 2006 This Extended Stay Deluxe hotel now appears to be going for $37/night + taxes on Hotwire. Wow. I know I should not keep looking after I already have a non-cancellable reservation. But as I said re: airfares - you have to feel like you got a good deal when you booked so that even if the price goes down, you can feel confident you got a good deal, which I do. But, having said that, this is an incredible bargain. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NancyIL Posted October 8, 2006 #17 Share Posted October 8, 2006 This Extended Stay Deluxe hotel now appears to be going for $37/night + taxes on Hotwire. Wow. I know I should not keep looking after I already have a non-cancellable reservation. But as I said re: airfares - you have to feel like you got a good deal when you booked so that even if the price goes down, you can feel confident you got a good deal, which I do. But, having said that, this is an incredible bargain. I hate when that happens! But in your case - the new savings amounts to only $13 - so don't feel bad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fti Posted October 8, 2006 Author #18 Share Posted October 8, 2006 I hate when that happens! But in your case - the new savings amounts to only $13 - so don't feel bad. Not only that, but it was so cheap to begin with. I don't feel bad at all, just always trying to save money! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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