ianthistlewood

<Have also posted this in the Canada forum - apologies for duplication but trying to cast the net suitably wide.>

Hi all, I'm new to Fodor's, stumbling across the site whilst looking for info on travelling from Vancouver to Alaska, then looping back. I've read through the existing discussions - really useful so thanks to those contributors - but am struggling a little to pin down the most sensible method of travel. Given the context detailed below I wonder if anyone could share their opinion on the questions I ask and which of the 4 options is best. Any other suggestions are, of course, gratefully received. Thanks in advance fodorites.

The context

My wife and I (both 30, UK passports) will be in the Vancouver area of Canada from mid July to mid September this year (2011).

We will spend approx one month from mid August to mid September with family on the Sunshine Coast, near Sechelt, but wish to spend three weeks from mid July to mid August travelling from Vancouver, to and around Alaska, and then returning to Vancouver.

Budget is £2,000 GBP (approx $3,155 CAN) for us both to include transport, accommodation (we'd happily camp), food, gas, and any excursions. There is a little wiggle room for this budget, to the region of +25% if necessary.

Overall questions

- Is the time of year proposed OK?
- Is the budget in the right ball park?
- Is the amount of time available realistic?
- Given these considerations, which of the potential options outlined below makes more sense, or is there a different, better option?

The potential options

1. Return flight Vancouver - Anchorage
Fly to Anchorage, hire a car, do a nice long circular route (suggestions welcome) before returning car and flying back out of Anchorage to Vancouver. Possibly do-able in two rather than three weeks?

2. Flight to Anchorage, return by Ferry
Fly to Anchorage, hire a car, do a route that either returns to Anchorage or to Haines (or any other suitable ferry port) to drop off car and jump on ferry. As foot passengers: ferry down Inside Passage to Prince Rupert, then on to Vancouver Island and on to Sunshine Coast (this used to be possible, not sure if it still is), or Vancouver. Will lack of own wheels be problematic?

3. Return drive
Hire a car from Vancouver for three weeks, drive up through BC, realistically into SE Alaska (not sure if time will allow us to get any further?), then return via a different route to Vancouver. Any suggestions on a route most welcome.

4. Drive up, ferry back with car
Hire a car from Vancouver for three weeks, drive up through BC, realistically into SE Alaska (not sure if time will allow us to get any further?), then return with car to Vancouver on the ferry via Inside Passage, Prince Rupert, Vancouver Island. Return car in Vancouver, hopefully intact!

Many thanks in advance for any suggestions. Ian

Read my RTW Blog 'Because you can't leave your self behind' at www.helen4ian.blogspot.com

emalloy

If you look on the cruise ship web sites, you might find a cruise that would fit your budget and provide both transportation and lodging. As time gets closer to sail time, rooms that aren't booked often get discounted.

bardo1

The drive is long and not particularly scenic. The coastal area is worth seeing but a cruise works best for it.

Option #1 is will blow your budget. A "regular" tourist cruise ship will also blow your budget.

You should consider going via ferries. Well within budget, you'll see everything, and get a real locals flavor to boot.

BC Ferries bcferries.com

and

Alaska State Ferries www.dot.state.ak.us/amhs

Prince Rupert is where you make the connection between the Canadian ferries and the American ferries. You can rent a car in each port of call for a day or two before returning your group to the ferries (much cheaper than one-way rentals). Post a question on the Canada forum for hotel recs in the various ports.

Connie

My vote is for you to fly up and rent a car if you are only going to get to SE Alaska if you drive from Vancouver. I really think you need to get to South Central Alaska and see the heart of the state. In SE Alaska, there are a lot of towns you can't even drive to including the capital, Juneau--no roads in.

Then you could either fly, ferry or cruise back home--depending on your time and money.

Gardyloo

Let's throw out some numbers then you can decide.

Cruise, Holland America, from Vancouver to Seward via Ketchikan, Juneau, Glacier Bay, Skagway, College Fjord, departing Vancouver July 17, outside (view, not balcony) cabin around US$600 per person. Includes a waterfront hotel room , all meals. You can go "cheap" on the excursion front - city bus in Ketchikan, Rent-a-Wreck in Juneau, Avis in Skagway - and not have the cruise break the bank. Day for day, this is cheaper than the Alaska ferry.

Rent a car for maybe 8 or 9 days once you land. Do the loop - Seward > Anchorage > Denali Park > Fairbanks > Valdez > Anchorage.

Fly one way (around US$250) back to Seattle, not Vancouver. There is only one daily nonstop from Vancouver to Anchorage, vs. umpteen between ANC and SEA; the Air Canada YVR flight is often double the cost of Alaska Airlines to SEA.

Take the train (around US$40 each) from Seattle to Vancouver, or else the Quick Shuttle bus right from the Seattle airport to downtown Van.

That's about 15 - 16 days all in, and you'll have seen both the interior and the southeast coastal area.

This is also doable in reverse, i.e. fly north, cruise south. Prices seem to be a little higher on southbound sailings, but there are some bargains.

In my view, the cruise at $1200 - $1400 for two people for a week, all inclusive, is a price one can't possibly match on land with comparable accommodations. Unpack once, no car to fret, and the scenery is right outside your bedroom window.

ianthistlewood

Thank you so much to you all for your quick and comprehensive responses - it really is appreciated.

Tentative plan based on feedback is fly up (from Seattle if much cheaper than YVR), rent a car, do a loop like the one Gardyloo suggests, then ferry or cruise back (depending on costs and schedule).

Whatever we do finally I will write about it and post a summary here including route/costs/logistics/tips.

Thanks again. Any other suggestions still most welcome, of course.

Gardyloo

You need to understand that the ferry system mainly serves the southeastern panhandle of Alaska (the parts connected to BC) with the exception of weekly sailings across the Gulf of Alaska between Juneau and Whittier. Otherwise you're still 1000 miles short of Denali, Anchorage, etc.

The Juneau-Whittier part of the crossing is on big water in a small ship, and the infrequency of sailings means you have to adapt your time to meet the ferry system's schedule. And, because you have to pay separately for food and cabin accommodations (unless you want to sleep on the deck for a week) it's usually more expensive all in than a cruise. In addition, the ferry may call at some ports in the middle of the night, making shore visits very short or impractical.

Check out the ferry system's website - http://www.dot.state.ak.us/amhs/index.shtml - if you haven't done so already; look at timing and fares as you do your research.

ianthistlewood

Thanks again gardyloo. Have spent all afternoon getting down and dirty with the ferry schedules and the separate costs for each leg back down south. Long story short, you're right, a cruise works out near enough the same price, and is much simpler. Never thought I'd find myself on a cruise, but I figure don't knock it until you try it...

Thanks again for the advice.

ianthistlewood

OK, update on this, only posting as it may be useful to folk reading this thread who live outside of US or Canada...

Legislation introduced in October 2010 means that NON US or Canada residents are unable to book cruises through US or Canadian agents. Instead they are required to book through an agent in their home country, or through the cruise line's website, but filtered to provide your home country's prices.

The result? Massively more expensive. Example - Alaska to Vancouver 7 day cruise with Holland America best price for outside room (category HH) via US cruise agency: $649 USD + $88 taxes ($737 total), per person sharing. Booking identical trip with UK agent or directly via Holland America's website: £731 GBP per person(converts to approx $1,170 USD). A $433 difference per person, maths fans.

Found all this out today after talking to a US based cruise agent who simply couldn't sell me the cruise, and who told me this new legislation has absolutely nailed their revenue.

Viva protectionism!

Back to the Alaska/BC ferries plan now.

ianthistlewood

All - to close the circle on this thread a couple of things...

Firstly, thank you all again for your advice - it really helped us have a wonderful trip.

Secondly, and as promised, I have written up the trip in article form to help the next person who's planning a similar trip. It includes advice on budgeting, route, ferries, camping and anything else I thought was either (a) useful, (b) funny, or (c) both.

Read it here: http://helen4ian.blogspot.com/2011/0...lf-behind.html

I also wrote these more esoteric (read less useful and slightly weirder) articles whilst we were up in Alaska:

http://helen4ian.blogspot.com/2011/0...-frontier.html
http://helen4ian.blogspot.com/2011/0...m-catcher.html
http://helen4ian.blogspot.com/2011/0...get-lucky.html

Thanks again. Ian

MichelleY

Bookmarking for reading later. Thanks for reporting back about your trip!!

sludick

Yes, indeed, many thanks! Love your tongue-in-cheek style of writing.

ianthistlewood

Thanks Michelle and sludick. You're very welcome. Delighted you enjoyed it.