Decided this morning, we are going to Alaska for a very short visit. Only available accommodations I found around Denali are in Denali Park Hotel. I think this hotel is located in train cars. Never stayed in this place and would like to know what you think about it if you stayed there or heard from someone who spend a night in this hotel/motel. Thanks

Calling Alaska residents and visitors

We haven't stayed there, but we passed it while staying nearby in Healy last summer. It seems to me that there were both train cars and a building - not sure which housed guests. The outside seemed well kept, but we didn't see the inside. It is on the Parks Hwy. Sorry I can't be of more help.

Thank you so much. I think we need to make reservations as this is a last minute trip, I sent e-mails this morning to several places in the area and already got answers from four of them including Denali Lakeview Inn and Earthsong Lodge. As expected they do not have vacancy. We don't want to stay at the entrance in very large, noisy lodges. We need to chose between Perch Cabins, located about 14 miles south of the entrance, and Denali Park Hotel. Not knowing either of them it's make harder to decide.

Earlxx, have you searched Perch Cabins? I think it's one a lot of people here have enjoyed. I wish I could be more help, and I wish Denali Lakeview had had a room - it's so lovely. I will search, too, and top any threads I can find that may help with your decision. Good luck!

Here's some of the Perch info I've found on various posts:

*We liked staying in simple but with private bathrooms Perch Cabins located south of Denali NP entrance. [2006]
*The Perch, is a nice resturant and several cabins for under $100, 9 miles south of denali. Breakfast included. [2005]
*We arrived fairly late (stayed at the Perch-awesome food), spent the next day in the park and then back to the Perch. [2006]
*We had a great dinner at the Perch [2006]
*The Perch cottages were more modern, not fancy, had more room but you were stuck there for eating. We checked out the Perch resturant but never got chance to eat there. [2006}

So far, I think I'd choose the Perch Inn, but I haven't searched for the other one yet.

Here's some of the Denali Park Motel info I've found on various threads:

*A bargain motel is the Denali Park Motel. [2006 BQ]
*Denali Park Hotel, some miles north from the entrance, near Healy. Denali Park Hotel is not bad at all but I still wonder which is the difference from that hotel and an average motel: no restaurant and all rooms on ground floor with external access !! $ 127.33 [2006]

Earlxx, I know you've been before, and if you are like us, you didn't spend a lot of time in your room at Denali anyway, so maybe either of these would be good choices. At any rate, good luck with your decision!

BayouGal, maybe we should chose the Perch. You are right, we need a place to sleep. Can we blame you if something goes wrong? We had a dinner there 12 years ago and there were no cabins. We were planning to visit Alaska this July but had to canceled. Maybe you should come with us and be our guide. Sadly we are going to have many down moments as we are dedicating this sudden trip to memory of our son who died of the same illness Susan Butcher died. We learned this morning of her passing away. Why am I telling you this?

Oh, Earlxx, I am so sorry to hear about your loss. IMHO, losing a child has to be the worst thing on earth to endure. I pray you have a wonderful trip that helps to restore your soul! God bless you and your family.

I would love to go on ANY trip to Alaska, but Alaska is ALWAYS the tour guide.LoL She decides which way she'll lure us on each visit - whether by weather, availability, or time constraints. ;-) But she never disappoints - no, not one!

When are you going? I do hope this turns out to be a very nice break for you.

Where are you staying? Did you decide? We stayed once in Denali Park Hotel. It is more like a motel with a door to your room from outside. No indoor hallways. It was very clean and we had a small refrigerator in our room. The Perch doesn't has refrigerator or alarm clocks. The Perch has a breakfast included in a rate and Park Hotel doesn't