Hi! Will be cruising Alaska for the first time next August on the Ocean Princess. Plan to be in Anchorage one night and Vancouver two. Would you suggest using Princess pre and post or arranging own? Any hotel/motel suggestions Convenient to airport?

I live in Vancouver, and I can tell you that this place is a great place to visit. You might want to look in the Fodors forum under British Columbia, Canada - there's lots of good discussion that is relevant to you. <BR>If you want a hotel in the Vancouver Airport area, you can try the following: <BR>- Sheraton Four Points - about $160-$170 a night <BR>- Holiday Inn (there are 2 of them) - about $129-$149 a night <BR>- Ramada Inn - $113-115 a night. <BR>These are all Cdn funds. There are more which are less expensive (but still really nice), and others that are more expensive (and very well appointed). These hotels are located in a suburb of Vancouver, called Richmond which is where the International Airport (airline lingo is YVR) is located. <BR>Since you are staying in Vancouver 2 nights, you should consider staying in downtown Vancouver where most of main tourist action is. They are generally more expensive, but consider these: <BR>- Pan Pacific Hotel - about $445-525 a night double!! But it is right above the cruise ship terminal, and is a 5 star hotel (one of 4 such in Vancouver). <BR>- Granville Island Hotel - about $199-219 a night. This one is on Granville Island, which has a very popular public market, and one of the local marinas where sailboats and motor boats are constantly coming and going. Check www.granvilleislandhotel.com <BR>- Bosman's Motor Hotel - $109-129 a night. In the middle of downtown core, and is an average hotel but is priced well. <BR>I don't know your budget and what your interests are, but feel free to post lots more questions in the British Columbia forum, or email me direct.

One more thing - any kind of excursion or pre or post cruise travel offered by the line is a convenience to you, but you pay for it. In Vancouver, you will find lots of alternatives to choose from. There is a Visitor's Information center across the street from the cruise ship terminal, and every hotel has a brochure rack with lots to choose from.

Hi Sharon, we did the same last July. I think I saved a lot by making my own arrangements. <BR>We flew into Anch a day early. Stayed at Holiday Inn in downtown, they have a shuttle. The Princess check in is 2 blocks away and the HI van will take you over. Room $130 incl. tax <BR>You don't want to be at the airport. There is lots to see in Anch, and it's all walking. <BR>In VAncouver, we stayed at the Renaissance which is within walking distance of Canada Place(without luggage). I don't recall exact price but it was about $100 us / night. It's owned by Marriott so it's a fairly decent hotel. Just make sure to request a harbor view up high. <BR>I booked it early and got a real good rate. <BR>The Princess add ons seamed very expensive and after all it's just a room. <BR>Save your $ and spend them on the Pilot's Choice Helicopter in Juneau. <BR>Hope you cruise is as good as ours was in July. We only had 2 hours of daytime rain for the whole week. <BR> <BR>Bart

Stay at a B&B in Anchorage like we did. We payed $75/nite & stayed with a real Alaskan family. They even picked us up from the airport late at nite & drove us back the next day to get our rental car. If you book with the cruise line you will pay a lot extra. Please make sure you go to Denali Park & Kenai Fjords Park- they were the highlights of our trip!!! The cruise was good but the week we spent our our own was much better!! E-mail me if you need info. We have travelled a lot & Alaska was one of my favorite trips. It just can't be beat for wildlife & scenery!!

Stay at a B&B in Anchorage like we did. We payed $75/nite & stayed with a real Alaskan family. They even picked us up from the airport late at nite & drove us back the next day to get our rental car. If you book with the cruise line you will pay a lot extra. Please make sure you go to Denali Park & Kenai Fjords Park- they were the highlights of our trip!!! The cruise was good but the week we spent our our own was much better!! E-mail me if you need info. We have travelled a lot & Alaska was one of my favorite trips. It just can't be beat for wildlife & scenery!!

I would also recommend booking hotel accommodation on your own in both Vancouver and Anchorage. Princess Cruises charges $159 US per person per night in Anchorage at one of three hotels. They use the Sheraton, the Hilton and the Captain Cook. If you were to book in those same hotels on your own you'd only pay aprox. $200 to $250 US per night!

Fodors no longer prints responder email addresses. I am very interested in the B and B info mentioned above. If you are reading this, Diane., please write me with your email address. I have the same questions as Sharon about pre-cruise land travel booked by myself! Thanks!!! [email protected] <BR>

<BR>Did an Alaskan Cruise in May, 99. Great trip, I used my miles and went in early and spent 2 days in Victoria. What a gorgeous island, would highly recommend it. I stayed in 2 different B&Bs (used the web sites to book) in different areas of the Island. Went to Butchart Gardens, a must see. The entire area is beautiful but Vancouver island is really special and was recently voted as one of best island in the world. Good luck with your plans.