Originally Posted by
skipaway
chunky, if you're still following this thread: do the denali bus ride! Truly a highllight of the trip (just back this morning). I do think who you happen to get for a driver makes a huge difference. We had a woman named Wendy going out, another driver coming back. Saw many animals, and had a nearly non-stop fascinating narrative all the way to Eilson (sp?) visitor center. I wanted to go back with her, but we ended up getting off the bus. Our second driver, no kidding, lapped her on the way back. No narrative, no animal sightings. The good thing was it was a camper bus and we got to talk with some very interesting hikers, climbers, kayakers. I doubt you can book with Wendy, but if she's working, maybe you can get off your bus and on to hers if your driver isn't much fun. (They don't have to do anything but drive.)
The camper bus drivers generally are not as talkative as the shuttle bus drivers. But the camper buses are generally far less crowded. But some of the drivers of the camper buses are very talkative - Alan, Scott, Gary and Mona for example. And as you said, you can always hop off one bus and on to another.
Originally Posted by
skipaway
Budget tips: fill tank in Wasilla. Check gas price at Talkeetna junction. Yesterday it was the same price as Wasilla and Anchorage, much higher elsewhere up the road, up to $.50/gal higher. You could refill at Talkeetna both ways if price still holding. There's a hundred mile or so stretch from Cantwell to Trappers * (maybe junction? two word town) coming back toward Anchorage, with no fuel,then another 5 or 10 miles to the Tesoro station at Talkeetna turn off.
It really depends. Last time I was on the Parks Highway, it was about the same price the entire way from Anchorage to Denali except in Cantwell. Once the station at the Talkeetna Junction was CHEAPER than Fairbanks. So you just never know.
Originally Posted by
skipaway
Try to eat grocery food instead of restaurant food a couple meals a day. I didn't go that far, but two of us easily spent $100/day on meals, many of which were mediocre. I was really worried about carrying food and water into the park as there is no food or water for sale on the road. BUT, the bus station area has a snack bar with coffee/expresso, plenty of options for the bus, as well as gear, so don't spend a lot of time or mental energy gathering up lunch.
Good point. I actually rarely eat out when I travel in AK. When I camp, I have a grill and cook my own meals. Make my own picnic lunches. I find that I get by eating very well on $10/day (almost all grocery-bought meals, usually 1 meal out).
Originally Posted by
skipaway
Get a good map. Frommers 2010's pullout map is useless, the area maps better. None of the hotel maps, the rental car map, or the Frommers area maps showed the route out of Anchorage. (It's 6th Avenue, just head toward the mountains and it turns into highway 3). I was amazed at how little park information, maps, etc was available at Denali's bookstore. Maybe I missed the section. I did buy an interesting booklet: Denali Road Guide by Kris Capps. $6.95
Few maps of Denali except the topo maps available. Without trails, there is not much to map! But an excellent guidebook for hiking in Denali is the book by Ike Waits. Kind of the Bible for hiking in Denali.
For Alaska, I rarely use a map. So few roads. Many east-west roads in Anchorage lead to Muldoon that heads out of town.
Originally Posted by
skipaway
In Seward, Major Marine has a new high speed Catamaran that can get you out to the glacier on the 1130 6 hour ride. If budgeting, skip the so-so $19 buffet and bring a sandwich and brownie. Bar available and a few snacks.
For someone on a budget, one of the best ideas is to buy a coupon book to get a bunch of tours 2-for-1. But with the OP's itinerary, he hardly has time for many tours.