Perplexed about Alaska
 

Hi everyone,

I'm new to this forum and would like to ask some questions about Alaska. Its very difficult to imagine going to a place that you have never been to before and its more much more difficult when its a trip for someone else. I'm planning this trip for my father and father in law and don't have much information about Alaska.

I have visited Alaska.org and got a great deal of help from the site but I would like to know a bit more from everyone's personal experience, and was hoping you all could give me a hand.

Over a span of 15 days I have both of the gentlemen I have them traveling to Fairbanks, DNP, Anchorage, Kenai, Whittier and Seward. I have roughly allotted 3 days for each place. I'm not sure if this is too much or to little. We live in the Middle East and the weather conditions our here are far hotter than the summer of Alaska so I need to be careful of which hotels I pick for them.

I got a quote back for a trip such as this for app. 5,600 per person, a car has been arranged for them. The price does not include a fly into the glacier or getting to Alaska, but this is the train ride, hotel and accommodation and a few activities here and there.

My questions to you guys is a) Is 3 days in one place too much? b) is it a fair price? c) Are there are any places that can be recommended? d) does Alaskan rooms work out on double occupancy?

Taking into account their age they don't want to exert themselves too much and over do it. They are both seniors. I think this will be their first trip out there. My dad or my father in law aren't much of a traveler and would like go by and see Alaska for the first time. I don't know if they will be able to make a trip out there any time soon.

Thanks and hoping to hear back from you guys.

On our last trip we were shocked by the cost of renting a car for three weeks. Expect food and hotel prices to be high unless they are willing to do budget things like eat in a family restaurant or grab a sandwich. But $5600 per person sounds high.
Mostly concerned with the 3 days in each place. I think if you do a search here on Fodor's under Alaska you will see some recommended itineraries. Use that as a guide. Kenai is a town on the Kenai Peninsula. Although we spent more than 3 days there it was because we were staying with family. It's basically a suburban town next to Soldotna. Homer would be a much more interesting destination - about a 2 hour drive further south from Kenai. Whittier is the place DH would not want to visit again although there's a new hotel there now. It's a former secret military base accessible only by boat or thru a toll tunnel. It's a very small town with most of the residents living in a former huge ugly military building. Another building sits vacant. There is no tv reception because of the mountains. There's some ok hiking. You might want to take a boat trip from Whittier but not stay there 3 nights. I would allot a day for Whittier if choosing a boat ride there but drive further south to spend the night in Seward and then at least 2 full days in Seward. There is plenty to see and do between Anchorage and Seward. If going to Homer, some of those things can be done on the return trip to Anchorage. On our first trip to Seward I think a 3 hour trip turned into 5 or 6.
We usually didn't stay in a regular hotel, instead chose b&bs. Some were wonderful and some were uncomfortable (room over the garage). Even in b&bs there were usually 2 beds although the 2nd could be a twin with a bad mattress.

Have you considered a cruise/tour for them? That way everything would be taken care of.We had friends that cruised the inside passage to Seward and than trained to Denali and stayed at the Princess Lodge. We have been to Alaska a couple of times but have family in Seward so we use that as our home base. If I was going for the first time I would want to see Seward,Homer(on the Kenai) Denali and Anchorage. For some reason it is very expensive to rent a car in Anchorage.I think 3 days in each location is way to much moving around. If they drive themselves they can take some day trips without changing hotels.I also would not go to Whittier.

liner80, You have tagged this as a trip report. That means you have been there and are reporting on your trip, not asking planning questions. Post on the US forum and tag it Alaska if you want more traffic on your post. Welcome to the forum!

I'm not a cruise person generally, but I think it works fabulously for Alaska. My parents love it (again not really the 'cruising' type).

liner80, there are many ways to see Alaska but it is a rugged place and difficult for many. The difference in temperatures is but one of many challenges they will face.

For many first-time visitors, particularly ones who are not interested in strenuous activity like hiking, a cruise is often the best option. If you haven't already booked this trip with the travel agent, please look around for more advice (here and on Tripadvisor.com), and do look into a cruise, with a shore excursion add-on.

For example, a cruise from Vancouver, British Columbia to Seward, Alaska, through the Inside Passage and visiting Glacier Bay and the glaciers around Seward---places renowned for their beauty, is from $399 per person on Holland-America Lines. An ocean view is slightly more, and this boat is a bit higher, at $909 per person:

http://www.hollandamerica.com/find-c...de=A&dateCode=

Still, that is very reasonable. After disembarking the boat they can transfer to Anchorage, and take the train to Denali. From there, they can do flightseeing or take a tour into the park. The cruise line can arrange this, although they will pay a higher price than if they did it on their own.

A 14 day cruise on Princess departing from San Francisco and sailing the inside passage and visiting just about all the places you want to see is $2199.00 for a ocean view cabin.A balcony cabin is $2999.00. That includes eveything but airfare.I really think a cruise is the way to go for these travelers.The price you were quoted is very high but things are very expensive in Alaska, I was shocked hiw much restaurants charged.

I have been to Alaska and can tell you that it is both beautiful and a wonderful destination. Based on the information you provided, I think a cruise with some optional shore excursions would meet your planning needs. Of the excursions available, I would recommend the Tracey Arms Fijord to see the glaciers outside Juneau. The large cruise ships cannot make the passage into this area, but it was a highlight of my six weeks trip to Alaska. We saw bald eagles, glaciers calving, whales, seals and other wildlife and took photographs that are as good as any I have ever seen in National Geographic or other nature magazines.

Saige thanks for your response (I did the new post), I guess being a Nubee has its benefits. I will read the rest of the response and want to thank all of your for writing in. I will be in touch shortly :)

With 15 days, you could as mentioned do a very nice cruise and interior Alaska tour. I never recommend "cruisetours" which are the most costly seeing the least. It is simple, and superior to go on your own in Alaska. In 7 days, you could do an overnight in Seward connected with the cruise, then at least 2 nights at Denali park, 2 in Fairbanks.

As for your basic question on days, 3 days in Whittier is too much. A day trip could well be plenty, depending on your activities. You note 6 areas, however, 3 days each would be 18 days. If including Fairbanks, are they flying in/out of there?? Would then need a transit day somewhere to return to Anchorage. What is your "Kenai" reference, I doubt it's the city, and the peninsula is a big place with Seward included.

Two threads going simultaneously, same title. Editors - merge?

http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...a-362316-2.cfm

Just a side note: the weather has been warm and dry so far. Looks like a nice summer ahead. Safe travels to all, and enjoy your visit.((H))

Hi everyone,

Thank you very much all for your help and questions, this has made me think and reconsider certain aspects of this trip. BudgetQueen they are not really into cruises they feel that they would be bored easily. The Fairbanks part that I was talking about would be a fly in and then stay there for a few days and explore around. I'm not very sure if there is much to explore around there. In Kenai they would stay at Spruce wood lodge where they would get to do a bit of fishing.

Gardyloo they posts are the same but I made a mistake and ticked this one as a trip report and was recommended to post it again :) not sure how to change it or merge it :)

Jetset1 thanks for the report on the weather lets hope it holds up.

Thanks to everyone for their input it is greatly appreciated. If you have any more things I could consider please let me know :)