3 Best Hotels in Anchorage, Alaska

This location offers the best of both worlds: it's walkable to everything worth seeing in Downtown, but it's on the quiet end of 5th Avenue, right next to a small park and the 11-mile Coastal Trail. The small inn was built as a private residence in 1939, and the unobstructed view across Cook Inlet to Sleeping Lady (Mt. Susitna) is a bonus. Rooms have individual themes, a hearty Continental breakfast is served in the comfortable living room, and a dozen good restaurants, including several of Alaska's finest, are within a 10-minute walk.

Midway between the airport and Downtown, the Hampton has all the standard features of a good hotel, and a few that are better than average, such as designer furnishings, an indoor swimming pool, and a whirlpool. All rooms have exceptionally comfortable, supportive mattresses. There is an on-demand airport shuttle and business center too.

Part of the Anchorage landscape since 1916, experienced travelers call this little building the most charming hotel in town. The rooms boast dark cherry furnishings and high-definition flat-screen televisions. The small lobby, its fireplace crackling in chilly weather, has a quaint European feel. The friendly staffers offer concierge services comparable to the city's big hotels. Famous former guests include Walt Disney and Will Rogers.