We are travelling in Mid May to Anchorage. Will spend two nights there at the beginning of our trip, travelling to Whittier, Seward and Denali, then back to Anchorage for one night before we go home. Anyone out there have any suggestions on hotels in Anchorage? We'd prefer something with nightlife. Thanks

Definitely the Captain Cook. We stayed there a few years ago and it was wonderful.

Thank you, orangetravelcat. I'd say that's on my short list. Anyone out there have any experience with the Anchorage Hotel? It looks like a place with a lot of character. Thanks.

Last July we stayed at the Millenium Hotel (2 nights upon arrival) and the Puffin Inn, both in Anchorage.

The Millenium's lobby is filled with bear, fish, musk ox and other stuffed wildlife. It is right on Lake Hood and Lake Spenard where you can see float planes coming and going. Our room was nice but not worth the money. The Sunday Brunch was good.

The Puffin Inn was very comfortable and offered a continental breakfast. We stayed there the night before we departed. It was convenient to the airport and they offered free airport shuttles too.

We spent several nights at the Marriott Hotel, which was brand new in 2000. Our room faced Denali and had an enormous picture window, and when the sun came up, there was Denali, crystal clear, for about 30 minutes. Lovely room, indoor pool, beautiful place.

Anyone know any very reasonable hotels that have min suites with free breakfast??

To Lila,

It depends on when you're going. We're staying at the Airport Executive Suite Hotel, near the airport, in mid-May for remarkable $59 a night. I booked it on Expedia. It has a free continental breakfast, a kitchen and free airport transportation. Prices go up all over Alaska on June 1, and we're staying at a bed and breakfast for $90 a night on the nights before we fly out. That's a pretty typical price for lots of bed and breakfasts.

We stayed at Holiday Inn near the airport. It had one of the best free breakfasts we've had for a small hotel. Paid $145 in July 02, which was typical.

As a side note- it is important to plan your Denali trip for arrival after June 1, if you want to get to Eielson- my min. distance in. Any earlier- the roads are not open that far, Wonder Lake June 8. I greatly perfer B&B's in Anchorage and there are many good ones to choose from. Request their visitor guide www.anchorage.net

To Islandpaddler....
I keep hearing that the Executive Suite had so many problems(dirty, poor treatment,terrible breakfast, etc, etc)yet you were just there and say it was great? I don't know what to believe!

To Lila,

Yes, I felt the same way after I read the stuff on Travelocity, but I couldn't pass up the $59 rate. Since my post here, we've returned from our Alaska trip and the night at the Executive Suite Hotel. We were quite pleased with the place.

I even looked under the chair cushions looking for the reindeer sausages one Travelocity poster noted, but not even any dirt. We had a kitchen suite, and I've lived in places lots smaller.

The airport shuttle arrived in a few minutes, and we arrived at the airport at 1 a.m. The staff was friendly and helpful. We were really hungry and the front desk had someone deliver kitchen stuff at 2 a.m. so I could whip up a snack in the kitchen. The breakfast was extensive, with delicious buns etc. I also saw cereal. We ate it in front of the fireplace, which we really enjoyed. There was nothing shabby about the breakfast area as one Travelocity poster noted.

We were only there one night since we headed out the next day with a camper.
There was a McDonald's right next door, and Gwennie's Restaurant was a quick walk away if you wanted a bigger meal.

Maybe the management took note of the bad posts and cleaned up the place, but I was very pleasantly surprised.

If I wanted a place by the airport, I'd surely stay there again.

When we returned to Anchorage before our trip home, we stayed in a small efficiency apartment just off Dimond Blvd. It was called Swiss Efficiency and was in someone's home. It had a queen bed with good reading lights, a small refrigerator, a two-burner stove top, microwave, and toaster. It came with breakfast fixings including eggs, cereal, frozen waffles, juice etc. The rate was $90 a night, which seems to be the same all year. It has a private entrance so you don't have to traipse through the owner's house.

Here is the website:

http://home.gci.net/~swisseff/.

It took about 20 minutes to drive to downtown from Swiss Efficiency. We liked it because it was near shopping, which we needed to do. There were also Fred Meyer and Carr's grocery stores nearby.

Hope this helps.

island paddler
Thanks so much for the info. I had reservations there in July and was soooo worried!( I am going with my family- 4 people)
Tell me again where you got $59 at executive suites? Travelocity?
I got $125.00.But then its July

To Lila,

I booked it through Expedia, but saw that rate on several sites. I'm sure it went up on June 1, which is one reason why we did our trip the last couple of weeks in May. $125 seems like a good rate for the summer.

Enjoy your trip. We loved Alaska, and found the people very friendly and helpful.