Page 241 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide 2017 - Alaska

WHERE
WHERE T O ST A Y  239 T O ST A Y  239
Bed-and-Breakfasts
While the bed-and-breakfast
idea is relatively new to Alaska,
it has rapidly become popular.
B&Bs come in many shapes
and sizes, but unlike their
European counterparts, they
are not a budget option.
Guests should be prepared to
pay at least what they would
for an average mid-range
hotel room.
The advantage offered
by B&Bs is the chance to
meet friendly locals and
fellow guests while staying
in cozy, comfortable homes
rather than in impersonal
Kenai Princess Wilderness Lodge (see p242) in Cooper Landing on the Kenai Peninsula hotels. Many of these places
are lovingly tended by
Hotel Chains
occasionally be arranged for people who take pride in
couples traveling together. Anchorage and other large their gardening and culinary
While hostels usually provide cities have many hotel chains, skills, and who treat their
basic bedding and linen, including Sheraton Hotels, guests not only to excellent
travelers often bring their own Hilton, Hawthorn Suites, breakfasts but often to
sheets or sleeping bags. Embassy Suites, Extended memorable experiences.
Most hostels offer lockers Stay, Hampton Inn, Super 8 Some of the best B&Bs are
where luggage or valuables Hotels, Best Western, Marriott in quiet neighborhoods or
can be stored, as well as a Inns, and Holiday Inn. There is idyllic rural areas, while the
games or television room and little to differentiate one from more convenient ones in
laundry facilities. In several the other, apart from desired town centers tend to be
places guests are locked out price and location. Many of the functional places.
between 9am and 5pm. For newer hotels have large rooms, For those who have not pre-
this inconvenience, hostelers Wi-Fi access, buffet breakfasts, booked, a good way to find a
can expect to pay less than small fridges and microwaves, B&B is via the brochures stacked
50 percent of the price of a bed and king-size beds. Shuttle in every airport, ferry terminal,
in an inexpensive hotel. services to and from the airport and tourist office. Many, but not
are often available. For cruise all B&Bs, are members of the Bed
ship passengers and visitors and Breakfast Association of
RV Parks
looking for a lavish wilderness Alaska, which can help in
Driving through Alaska in a experience, Princess Lodges finding and booking a room.
recreational vehicle or RV offer interesting architecture and Some of the best choices are
(see pp288–9) is an extremely comfortable accommodation in included in the listings on
popular way of seeing the and around major tourist sites. pp242–5.
state. While most RVs can
be accommodated at “pull-
through” sites in public
campgrounds, only private RV
parks offer such amenities as
hook-ups and dump stations.
The better RV parks also provide
hot showers, bathrooms, and
laundromats. Some even have
cable TV and Wi-Fi access.
Full hook-up facilities can cost
up to $80 per night. Normally,
even those not staying at the
site can use the showers for a
small fee. RV parks are found in
most cities and towns along
the highway system, as well
as in most Marine Highway
ports in Southeast and
Southcentral Alaska. The facade of the Historic Anchorage Hotel (see p242)

238-239_EW_Alaska.indd 239 02/05/17 2:32 pm