Page 240 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide 2017 - Alaska

238  TR A VELERS ’ NEEDS  TR A VELERS ’ NEEDS
238
WHERE TO STAY

The extensive range of accommodation vegetables and gourmet cuisine. Budget
offered in Alaska ranges from rustic campsites travelers will find a selection of low-priced
along remote hiking trails to business-class hostels accessible by public transport. In
hotel rooms in Anchorage, Fairbanks, and the bush, a number of hunting, fishing, and
Juneau. Those who prefer to experience local wildlife-viewing lodges offer wilderness
flavour have a choice of bed-and-breakfast luxury far from the well-trodden routes.
accommodation ranging from simple lodges For more information, refer to the detailed
to well-appointed houses with home-grown listings on pages 242–245.

airport or ferry terminal to
the hotel. Most cruise ship
passengers will have pre-
booked rooms in finer estab-
lishments near tourist sites.
Most bed-and-breakfasts
within a few minutes’ drive of
a ferry terminal or airport are
happy to provide transport for
booked guests. Hikers and
backpackers hoping to stay in
hostels or campsites will have
to rely on rental cars or taxis.
Hostels
Hotel Captain Cook in downtown Anchorage (see p242) Alaska has a network of
more than 25 official Alaska
Seasonal Pricing Choosing a Hotel and Hostel Association hostels
Getting There
While the summer months of scattered around the state.
June, July, and August offer the In nearly every town, hotels Largely offering no-frills
year’s finest weather, summer compete for visiting business amenities, these inexpensive
prices in Alaska are often two travelers by offering convention options provide a basic place
to three times the off-season facilities and wireless Internet to sleep, most often in a
rates. Between October and connections. Fairbanks, Juneau, shared dormitory setting with
April, many of the hostels, Ketchikan, and Anchorage have toilets and showers down the
hotels, and bed-and-breakfasts the most expensive business hall, as well as communal
located away from urban areas hotels. Most towns also have cooking facilities. Dorms are
are closed, as are most federal comfortable motels providing usually single sex, although, if
and state campsites. In larger decent, relatively inexpensive requested, a private room may
cities, winter hotel rates for accommodation, as well as
luxury rooms may be a true historic and independent hotels
bargain. Exceptions are the filled with period furnishings
Alyeska Ski Resort and those and run with meticulous
hotels in the Interior that cater attention to detail. Virtually all
to visitors wishing to see the historic Alaska hotels are non-
aurora borealis. Here high smoking. In addition, a selection
season can last all year. During of mid-range and budget
the Fur Rondy and the Iditarod choices offer travelers a simple
Trail Sled Dog Race (see p49) in bed, a hot shower, and basic
February and March, prices in amenities.
Anchorage and some other Some of the better hotels
places along the race route have free telephone links in
may be higher than the usual the baggage claim areas at
winter discount rates. Anchorage, Fairbanks, and
Generally, Alaska has two Juneau airports, as well as at
shoulder seasons, in May and many Alaska Marine Highway
September. Hoteliers may offer terminals. Travelers can use
discounts of up to 25 percent these to arrange rooms or free Dating from 1916, the Historic Anchorage
during these months. shuttle transport from the Hotel (see p242) with its old-time ambiance
Fishing adventure by floatplane, with Denali in the background

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