Saltwater Lodge in Seward
 

We tried to make reservations for three nights next August. Never got reply to our e-mail we sent two weeks ago.
Can someone please describe this lodge to us. Tell me about rooms, service, food, access road, views.
Please

Is it worthy to wait longer until they graciously answer our e-mail or should we look for another accommodation in Seward? Recommendations appreciated
Thanks

Not sure about the Saltwater Lodge, but if you do decide to look for another place, we really liked Soo's B&B.

Very clean, very nice host, excellent breakfast.

http://www.bbonline.com/ak/soos/

Check out, point of view reservations seward alaska. This web site will give you a large number of selections in Seward. We booked through them last year, and were quite satisfied.

I haven't had a chance to stay at the Saltwater Lodge, but I wouldn't hold your breath waiting for them to reply to your email....I emailed them this summer, they never replied...I finally called (and yes, they acknowledged they HAD got the email, but no explanation or apology as to why no reply other than they were 'busy' - but I waited like 3 days for a reply!) Oh...and the first time I called - they told me they were busy, didn't have the reservation book handy & couldn't take my call!...I said, well reply to my email...they said they would...they didn't...I called back again a day later...only to find out they had no availability. I ended up not staying there because they were full, but I have to admit the whole process of finally getting to a "we're full" response was kind of irritating!

Anyway, if you are really interested in them, I would call, because I don't think they're going to reply to your email. It does look like an interesting place to stay.

Thank you for your help.

KMK, I'm giving up on them. I called twice. One time no answer, then someone answered who said yes, they do take reservations but she doesn't and she didn't know when the owners are coming back.

astein12, I checked Soo's website as you recommended and it looks very generic with small rooms that contain only a small beds, lots of stuff outside the house and other buildings right next to the house. Was this your impression while staying there?

hunt182644, where did you stay? I prefer find out personal opinions about places posters already stayed in

This is very weird! I've been trying also to make reservations for next summer - have e-mailed 2x and called 3x...I never dreamed anyone else was doing the same thing!!!
I do like how the place looks!!

Earlxx,

If you're looking for a view, then Soo's probably isn't the place. It's back on a side street away from the water. Although, there is a nice little hiking trail a short walk away and moose have been known to visit the yard.

As for the house itself, it is definitely not generic. I believe that her son is an archtict and the house is very nice and very clean. The rooms are small, but clean and well equiped.

Breakfasts were excellent and the host is very nice. She sews, does stained glass and scultpure and her work is throughout the house.

After my comment about Saltwater Lodge, I checked and Debra at Alaskasview.com said that Saltwater was the best as far as view and being on the water...So, I got Kathleen. She was very nice - very busy - they were booked the first night I needed, but I got in the next nights (for Aug. 2007)...I thought they were connected to Miller's...they are not!

Does anyone have a place to stay for 5 adults in the Denali area - does not have to be right at the entrance. Has anyone ever taken the back route from Denali to Anchorage? How long does it take?

Farm,

We stayed at both the Denali Lakeview and Touch of Wilderness last year.

Both were very nice, clean and had nice hosts.

Denali Lakeview is a bit closer to the park and has a nicer view. A cold breakfast is delivered to the room each morning (bread, muffins, fruit, cereal, etc.). Each room has a toaster, coffee maker, etc.

Touch of Wilderness is a bit farther away (still only about 15 minutes to the entrance). They serve a very good hot breakfast each morning. They also have guest PC with internet access and a lounge area with lots of VCR movies. Also have a fridge for guests and coffee/tea/etc available all day. They'll also make picnic lunches for taking into the park.

Both were very nice and I'd recommend either.

We had 3 cabins at Earthsong Lodge
http://www.earthsonglodge.com/ for 2nights in Jul 04 and had a wonderful time there. It is located on the tundra and the owners also have sled dogs..very quiet ones at that. This was a very clean & lovely place to stay. The website is very good, lots of info. They have a wide assortment of cabins. We had a great time here and would go back in a heartbeat!

Many thanks for your help. I just booked Touch of Wilderness for 4 nights for next Aug 2007...Can't wait..Hope there is enough to do for 4 days.

4 days will be great... we did three nights and would have preferred one more.

If you hike, I'd recommend taking the bus deep into the partk one day and either hiking on your own or taking one of the ranger guided hikes (we really enjoyed this).

You can spend another day hiking in the entrance area (we did Horseshoe Lake, Mt. Healy and the trail back from the dog sled demo). All were very nice.

I wished we had another day to go deep into the park, but could only manage the one.

The only other time I've been to Alaska we stayed at Kantishna - at the end of the road...very expensive and won't be able to do that again. We dreamed of camping at Wonder Lake, but we're not young and aren't equipped to do that. I'd love to take a ranger guided hike...Are they offered at the entrance and do you travel on the bus and get off w/the ranger?

Yes... take a look at the Denali National Park website and look for the Discovery Hikes. You meet at the normal bus area and then get off the bus with a the ranger.

You can book the hike the day before so that you're assured of a spot and know exactly when/where to meet the bus. If you check in when you first arrive, you'll usually find 2 or 3 hikes per day of differing difficulty.