hbo6

We are arriving Anchorage 9:13 PM July 7th. I just need a few tips on where we should spend that night, near the airport, downtown???? We need to rent a car. We will be heading north to Denali the next day. Thanks for any suggestions!

outwest713

If chain OK with you, check out Ship Creek Comfort Inn. Was there 2 yrs ago and it was clean, had the usual continintal b'fast, perfectly OK for a quick overnight. I'll be staying there myself mid-june for an overnight before heading north by train the next morning. And it's right on Ship Creek so you can walk out back and see the salmon fishing craziness (believe it should still be going on when you are there). It's very walkable, IMO, to lots of downtown restaurants and other sites. There are other hotels more central to downtown but they are more money and parking the rental car may be harder in some cases. I'd pick downtown over airport just because you can spend a pleasant evening strolling around and getting feel for Anchorage without having to find a place to park the car (I don't recall seeing alot of parking options, but I wasn't looking so may not be that big a deal).

outwest713

Just noticed your flight time . . . guess the issue is whether you want to just crash in your hotel room or get out and taking advantage of long daylight hours. For near the airport, I've stayed at Puffin Inn. Ask for the renovated rooms/new section. They used to offer cheap rate on old rooms that hadn't rehab'd - very basis. Not even sure they still have those. If you stay there, there is a great b'fast place just down the rode - can't remember name but you take a left out of Puffin Inn parking, not very far on right side - looks like a log cabin.

travelguy120

I'd also recommend the Millenium. It is very easy to get to from the airport (many flight crews use it as a layover hotel). The restaurant has a patio right on the lake and is a very cool place to watch boats and seaplanes. Decent price, lodge motif, easy access.

Bill_H

When doing something like this we just stay near the airport on Spenard. All the hotels have free van pickup to/from the airport.

The Puffin and Millenium that were recommended are both on Spenard (about a block from each other), and there are also others including a Holiday Inn Express, Best Western and Courtyard by Mariott ... the Millenium is the best but the most expensive. All are fine for one night ... there are also a couple of older, cheaper motels scattered in there as well.

Also a couple of rental car agencies ... I think the Budget agency is just beside the Mariott (across street from Millenium) ... if you rent at the airport there's an additional fee (the state and city taxes are already among the highest anywhere) but if you pick up from this Budget building you avoid the airport tax/fee (even though it's only half a mile from the airport).

Bill

bjay

Last year we stayed at the Puffin Inn after arriving at 10:00 p.m. in Anchorage. We must have had one of the renovated rooms because it was pretty spacious, comfortable and clean. Also it was reasonably priced. Although they had a free continental breakfast in the lobby, my husband and I chose to walk a couple of blocks to Gwennie's for breakfast. That's the name of the cute log cabin style restaurant mentioned in a previous post.

Enjoy your trip.

hbo6

Thank you everyone, you answered completely what I was looking for!