hikrchick

Please help, dear Fodorites --

My boyfriend and I (late 30s/early 40s, very athletic) have decided to go on a 10-day trip to Alaska (Denali and Kenai Pen) for August 2009. Mostly hiking/kayaking. I've been reading some trip reports for the past two years so I'm starting to have a rough idea of what's possible there. I have never in my life planned a trip so far in advance. I'm sort of at a loss as to when to actually start.

Can someone kind of give me a general time line of when I should start thinking about booking hotels, planes, bus rides into Denali? I'm just starting to read and do research so I don't have any "real" questions yet but I want to make sure i've got enough time to think liesurely about it without freaking out that we are too late. My BF is depending on me to make a "presentation" to him on what I've researched and I want to make sure I've got everything right.

Thanks very much, you guys are the best.

BudgetQueen

Lodging and airfare need to be booked ahead, since it can be very limited. Do you have a routing of your 10 days??? You need to have that in place before you book any lodging and tours. Booking your air now is a good idea. Prices go up.

For Denali Park, depending on when you are going, I don't consider Wonder Lake before mid August, IF you are going prior to this, be WELL PREPARED, Deet, bug nets etc.

You can book the shuttle buses 2 days prior at 7am, by calling, but you are not likely to find much if any walk up space. Again, if you get your routing in place, it isn't too hard to figure out when you will be there.

gail

This is a balance betweenplanning ahead and cancellation policies, especially for lodging. We found that many places had strict cancellation policies - long lead times, and even some retaining a portion of the fee. This makes sense since Alaska has such a short tourist season - but be sure to read and reread the find print on any reservations you make.

I would roughly plan on perhaps 3 days at Denali, 4 days on Kenai Peninsula, you will need 2 days for transit between the 2 (one each way) and perhaps a day in Anchorage.

beckydoodle

It is not too early to start making reservations. We went to Alaska in 2008 late August and early September. I made air reservations in November of the prior year. And since we wanted to do a bear viewing trip I also made that reservation in November.

Then in Feb/March I started making lodging reservations. The day trips I reserved after we were there. Like the train to Seward, the glacier day cruise, etc. It worked out fine for us. I reserved the shuttle into Denali early (Feb) by booking online.

The one other reserve I did early was the car rental. I got an excellent rate by reserving in November. 23 Days for $708...still can't believe I got that!

Have fun planning. I wish we were going again this year, but we will wait a year or two and go back again.

hikrchick

Thanks very much. I think I would probably do what Gail is suggesting with 3 full days in Denali. I would like to figure out more days in Kenai, and I would like to spend a day in Anchorage.

At this point I'm thinking going from Newark or LaGuardia on a Wednesday, and coming back the following Sunday, so as to be in Anchorage on a Saturday and go to the market. Maybe go up to Denali first, then go down to Kenai. Or maybe it doesn't matter which one to visit first?

Beckydoodle, you seem to have been really organized to book stuff in November for the following August! I told my boyfriend we can sit and go over stuff on New Year's weekend. That would seem to be the earliest I can do any of this. But it's good to know that it won't be too late then.

To be honest, this is not my dream trip, and I'm really hoping it will be fun for me. I spent 2 1/2 months hiking/backpacking in New Zealand on my own Dec. 2006 through Feb 2007 and that sort of spoiled me for anywhere else on the planet. My BF said he has no interest in NZ (or Nepal, my other special hiking desire, but not in a recession) but would go with me to Alaska. So I'm hoping to make this just as awesome as possible, and maybe I can do it on a budget. I guess I just have to get closer to August to get more excited about it.

Anyone else with suggestions?

dfnh

You might adjust your days based on the desire to spend a day in Anchorage and visit the public market on Saturday. Traveling from the East coast there's a good chance you won't get to ANC until late in the day, so your first day of 10 will be all travel. Your return flilght will most likely be early evening and overnighting. So Sat could be your last full day arriving home Sunday morning. Otherwise since Denali is north of Anchorage and KP is south, your Anchorage visit could be the day you travel between those two places. There is also a small market in Homer, on Fridays I believe. Great baked goods and also a source for local oysters.
Like a lot of people, we preferred to be flexible but I did not do my homework on b&bs except for advance booking our weekends. We were spoiled by the first and disappointed in the ones that were merely a room over a garage with a bagel breakfast. (There aren't a lot of hotel choices.)
Don't forget to post a trip report. I'd love to hear how AK compares to being spoiled by New Zealand.

gail

We are not hikers, but did a 2 1/2 week Alaska trip (including a 1 week cruise) last summer. We flew into Anchorage from Boston, arriving 4 PM local time - it flet like 9 PM, the sunlight made it look like noon - we were totally time disoriented. Next day drove to Denali - this took the day as we stopped along the way.

One good recommendation I got here was to stop in Wasilla for supplies - the last real supermarket civilization (this was before it became famous because of Sarah Palin).

We arrived in Denali late afternoon and spent 3 nights - 2 1/2 days.

It is a long drive from Denali to Kenai Peninsula, but we did not have a problem doing it in one day. Then after a few days there, back to Anchorage for a night.

We did not begin any planning other than a general concept until well after Christmas. Did not make many reservations until March/April and had no problem with availability, including bus into Denali. Probably finished reservations a month prior to departure. There are probably some special things that would require more lead time, but we did not find any that did.

As far as budget, Alaska is expensive at all levels of accomodations, food, etc. Again, distance and short tourist season accounts for this. My estimate would be perhaps 25% more than comparable in most other lower-48 US locations.

Even if you do not get excited before you go, it is an incredibly special place. Spend some time talking to year-round locals. They are unique people. I can understand different expectations and other trips spoiling the anticipation. Some years ago I wanted to go to Europe and we ended up in Egypt. I quickly adjusted mentally, but that trip spoiled the anticipation of several future trips.

atravelynn

I'm planning for Alaska in July 2010 now. But that's because the limited Brooks Falls accommodations start booking and filling up Jan 2, 2009 for June-Oct of 2010. Brooks is where the bears fish for salmon on the falls. You could include that as a day trip from Anchorage, or stay overnight in cabins or camp with your own gear. Daytrips can be planned much closer to departure. In this poor economy, even overnighting may have more availability now for 2009.

It is expensive, but offers continual National Geographic moments. You can hike about a 1/2 mile to where the bears fish. You can also climb for hours up steep hiking trails for lovely views, away from the bears.

Seeing those bears fish, swim, watching mothers and cubs and sparring bears, etc. is one of the most amazing wildlife experiences I've ever had. That's why I am planning my 4th visit to Brooks in 2010. I think you should consider it for 2009.

Choosing Alaska for recession reasons may save you on the airfare, but it is darn expensive. Worth every penny, but not a money saving trip.

I hope you fall in love with Alaska this summer. The planning stages can help make the sparks fly.

PHayden

Atravelynn, where do you find out information about Brooks Falls? I too am planning on a 2010 trip to Alaska and this sounds very interesting.

210

http://www.katmailand.com/lodging/brooks.html

http://www.nps.gov/katm/planyourvisit/bear-watching.htm

moezbud

My family's going to Anchorage, DNP and Kenai also in June 2009. I have already booked our flights out of Evansville, IN and booked all our lodging. The flights I had to book early because we had miles to use up - and those need to be booked in advance. I researched lodging mostly on here and Tripadvisor.com before booking anything. What I found is that there are few traditional motel/hotels outside of Anchorage. In Healy - outside of DNP, we chose to stay at Earthsong Cabin for 3 nights (about $175/night). They also have a sled dog kennel on site here. In Seward, we decided on Bear Paw Lodge for 3 nights at $175/night. The owners can arrange your kayaking too - as they're doing for us. I think they own one of the kayak businesses in town. Since, I too, heard the drive from DNP to Seward was a full day - we decided to spend one night in Girdwood at the Alyeska Resort. Seems to be the only thing in town aside from small B&B's. It's pricey though - $295 with tax/night on Expedia. I hope my research may help minimize yours. It really is work planning all this. No we're to the point where we just need to figure out what all to do. We plan on a lot of hiking as well.

NeoPatrick

Several years ago we started planning the month of July in Alaska, and began work in October. What I found was that several of the hotels and backcountry lodges we specifically wanted to stay in were already fully booked for much of the time, and I couldn't make an itinerary work for us. So we gave up, delayed it for a year and booked a full year ahead. If you aren't picky and don't have specific places you want to stay, I suppose it isn't an issue.

hikrchick

Thanks for the advice, everyone. Guess I better start doing some homework -- maybe I will pick up a Lonely Planet guide this weekend. I am more of a hostel sort of person rather than a fancy backcountry lodge type of person, so I don't need to worry about that, at least.

NeoPatrick

"fancy backcountry lodge"? Platform tents in the woods with a shower pavilion and chemical toilets a couple hundred feet away is considered "fancy"? Who knew? I've never heard of hostels in the backcountry -- they sound more "big city" to me than where we stayed.

210

There is a really very nice hostel about 10 miles south of the entrance to Denali National Park but you would have to reserve a cabin as soon as reservations are taken which means in the end of December. There is even a shuttle which takes you to the entrance.

I heard a hostel in Anchorage is very nice too but never stayed there and don‘t know which one.

http://www.hostelalaska.com/ near Denali NP

http://www.alyeskahostel.com/ in Girdwood

http://www.anchoragehostel.org/ in Anchorage

http://www.alaskabackpackers.com/ in Anchorage

http://www.arcticadventurehostel.com/ in Anchorage

http://www.alaskahostel.org/ in Anchorage

www.mobydickhostel.com in Seward

http://www.homerhostel.com/ in Homer

Jana House a Hostel On The Kenai in Sterling #907-260-4151

atravelynn

PHayden
Hikrchick because this is not a fancy lodge and if you camp it is even less fancy:

http://www.katmailand.com/bear-viewi...es.html#brooks

You can call the toll-free number and get more info.

Phone: 1-800-544-0551
Fax: 1-907-243-0649
Email: [email protected]

You are not as secluded here as other bear viewing places. In fact sometimes the platform at the falls gets crowded enough with bear watchers, photographers, and documentary cameramen/women for Nat'l Geo, etc. that you have to take reservations. But there are 2 other bear viewing locations that are never as crowded. One is "the riffles" that is just down from the falls and the other is near the cabins and campground. Mothers and cubs are more common at these 2 locations, away from the big males.

The time before and after the day trips come is the least crowded. Unlike most wildlife viewing, the crack of dawn is not the best time. In fact I've found it to be the slowest.

For Brooks the month of July and then again in early Sept are the peak times. Not August--due to the timing of the salmon runs.

The 3 visits I did were
July 5, 6, 7
July 11, 12, 13
July 22, 23, 24

All were great and I saw dozens of bears, sometimes dozens in one day, often 10 at the falls at one time. Three nights is the most you can book in July in the cabins. I go for the 4-share, where I share with up to 3 other women. You can stay for one or two nights if you don't want 3 nights. You can also fly over for the day.

atravelynn

I see 210 already gave the Brooks website.

hikrchick

Thanks very much for all this helpful information. 210 and atravelynn, your info will come in very handy. I'm sorry you feel insulted nytraveler. I don't know where you stayed or what your budget was, but in my reading some of the "backcountry lodges" have four $$$$ next to them. Even two $$ is expensive for me.

I spoke with my BF on Thursday and it looks like we are deciding Wed. Aug. 12 through Sunday Aug. 23. Alaska Air has some fantastic prices from LaGuardia -- about $485 RT -- for those dates.

Looks like I have a lot of homework to do!

hikrchick

oops, I meant NeoPatrick. Read your monthlong report from NYC and somehow got your name mixed up.

MonicaH

hikrchick-

I have to admit (since you already did) that the trip I did to Alaska last year was not high on my list of places to go...I had a long list of other places I wanted to go first. That being said, I LOVED, LOVED Alaska (August 2008) and thought there was a ton of hiking opportunities and wildlife viewing. We picked a few out of the way places such as Hallo Bay and Cordova which had great hiking, but we found great hiking was not far away from anywhere in Alaska.

I made flight and Hallo Bay reservations around October 07 for the trip in August 08 and made all the hotel reservations the first week of January 08. I would not delay to make sure you get the places you want.

Monica